How to Monogram a Pillow Without a Sewing Machine

Ornate embroidery patterns begin with simple lines.

A monogram is a design made from one or more letters used to embellish and personalize possessions. The letters may stand alone or be augmented with additional artwork. Monograms are most commonly used on stationery and clothing, but can be used to decorate virtually anything. To add one to a pillow, the easiest method is with embroidery. By varying the stitches, the colors and the types of threads used, the artist has an infinite number of options available to personalize the work. While it is certainly easiest to create the work before the pillow is assembled, this method assumes the pillow is already complete.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing paper
• Pencil
• Toothpick
• Chalk
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needles
• Embroidery scissors

Instructions

1. Design the monogram. Create a line drawing of exactly how you want the finished piece to look.

2. Prepare the design for transfer to the pillow by piercing the lines every 1/4 inch with the toothpick.

3. Position the paper over the pillow. Hold it down firmly. Rub the chalk briskly over the holes. Use light chalk on dark fabric or colored chalk on light. This is called "pouncing."

4. Remove the paper and connect the dots with chalk to complete the lines.

5. Thread the needles with the floss. Preparing each color in advance eliminates the need to constantly stop and rethread needles.

6. Knot the end of the first color and insert the needle into the pillow cover about 2 inches from the starting point. Bring the needle back up through this point and pull the thread taught, but not tight enough to distort the fabric.

7. Insert the needle down through the line creating a tiny stitch. Bring the needle back up through the fabric slightly behind the the insertion point. Hold the thread above the work at all times.

8. For the second and all subsequent stitches, insert the needle down through the line creating a small stitch and bring it back up through the exit point of the previous stitch creating a solid line.

9. Work the stitch to the end of the line; then weave the thread in and out of several stitches, moving backwards. Clip the excess thread.

10. Clip the knot from the beginning point of the work and thread the floss through the needle. Weave the thread in and out of the beginning few stitches.

11. Repeat the process until the entire monogram is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Embellish the design with additional stitches if desired, such as with flowers made with the lazy daisy stitch and French knots.

• Be prepared to repeat the pouncing process in case the chalk rubs off the fabric.

• Another method of transferring the design is to create it on tissue paper and sew through the paper. It will easily tear away when the project is complete.

• Avoid the temptation of using pencil or other permanent markers on the pillow as they will be difficult or impossible to remove when the work is finished.

References

• "Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlepoint"; Reader's Digest Association, Inc.; 1979
• Mary Corbet's Needle 'N Thread; Outline Stitch Video Tutorial