How to Make Diamond Tuft Pillows
Diamond tufting is a sewing process in which you add dimension to the fabric. Material that is tufted has the appearance of the fabric sinking into itself, thereby forming puffy edges around the point that is tufted. Diamond tufting is commonly used for seat cushions, pillows and quilts. Decorative buttons cover the point that is tufted for both functional and aesthetic appeal. If you want to make diamond tuft pillows, practice creating the tufted pattern.
Things You'll Need
- Material
- Sewing tape
- Scissors
- Fabric pen
- Foam
- Batting
- Extra long needle
- Thread
- Button
- Pillow stuffing
- Sewing machine
Instructions
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1
Trace the dimensions of the pillow onto the fabric using a sewing tape to guide you. Make the traced outline approximately 3 inches longer and wider than the actual length and width of the pillow, to account for the sides that will fold over to be sewn together at the seam. For instance, if you want to make a square pillow that is 24 inches-by-24 inches, you will trace 27 inches-by-27 inches onto the fabric.
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2
Cut out the traced outline of the pillow from the fabric. Take a fabric pen and draw the design of the diamond tuft onto the fabric. You might want to practice the design beforehand. All you need to do is draw small circles where you want the material to tuft in. The diamond tuft is notable for having a diamond shaped pattern. If you want to make three diamonds in the pattern, your first row will contain three markings, the second row will have four markings and the third row will have three markings.
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3
Trim the foam and batting to be the dimension of the pillow, without accounting for the extra 3 inches. If you want the pillow to be 24 inches-by-24 inches, cut the foam and batting to be 24 inches-by-24 inches. The foam and batting are what will sit beneath the material, and over the pillow stuffing, to create the tuft effect.
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4
Create a stack of materials starting with the foam. Lay the batting on top of the foam and the material with the diamond tuft pattern on top of the batting.
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5
Thread an extra long needle with thread that corresponds with the material. Tie a knot in the needle's eye so the thread does not come loose. Cut the other end of the thread at 6 inches. Thread the button with the other end of the thread, and knot it.
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6
Pierce the spot on the fabric with the marking for the diamond tuft with the needle. Bring the needle all the way through the fabric, the batting and the foam. Be careful that you do not stab yourself with the needle as it comes through. Pull the needle down until the button covers the diamond tuft marking and begins to cave in with the material.
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Carefully flip the pillow top upside down to expose the underneath part of the foam where the needle came through. Make a knot with the thread so that the button stays in place and the diamond tuft keeps its shape. To do this, pull the needle tight and form a large, tight knot.
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8
Turn the pillow right side up again, and repeat on the next diamond tuft markings. After all of the tufts are made in the design, you can work on the other side of the pillow with a new piece of fabric, stuff pillow stuffing in between them and then sew the two together using a sewing machine and a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
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Tips & Warnings
Fold the pleats around the tuft buttons neatly so that the pleats lay flat.
References
- Photo Credit Liquidlibrary/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
