How to Make Down Filled Pillows

Many people consider down, the undercoating of waterfowl, to be the softest material available for filling feather pillows. Legally, a 100-percent down filling can contain up to 15 percent of other types of feathers. When you make down-filled pillows, you can choose the fabric and the filling to suit your personal preference. While anyone can make down-filled pillows, it takes a bit of talent to make professional-looking seams.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Fabric chalk
• Carpenter square
• Straight pins
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• Pencil
• Down filling

Instructions

1. Determine the size of the pillows you want to make. Most fabrics come in a width of 54 inches, but you can cut them to the size you need. Most fabric stores sell their material by length measured in yards. Combine the measurements for all of your pillows to determine how much fabric you need. Add in an extra inch per side for seams.

2. Choose a fabric. Pick one that feels nice against your skin and that has a thread count of 200 or 260. Fabrics with a low thread count can allow the down to poke through. Most manufacturers make pillows from cotton blends or damask material, which breathes well. You may want to make a pillow that you can cover with a pillowcase if you don't like cotton or damask.

3. Wash and dry your fabric. It's better to shrink the fabric before you begin to prevent issues after you make the down pillows.

4. Lay out your fabric, and use scissors to cut out your patterns. To make it easier when you sew, add 1 inch to your measurements for seams. Fabric chalk can help you mark the cut lines. Use a carpenter square to make sure your lines are straight.

5. Use two pieces of fabric with the same measurements per pillow. Lay one piece on your working surface with the exterior side, also called the right side, facing up. The next piece goes on top of the first piece with the right side facing down. Pin one side together so you can flip the pieces to check that the right sides match up. If they don't, unpin the pieces and make adjustments.

6. Pin the fabric pieces using straight pins. Leave an open space on one side. Stitch the pieces together and pull the fabric through the opening so the right sides are on the outside. Use a pencil to poke out the corners as needed.

7. Fill the pillow with down filling and stitch the opening closed.

8. Repeat with each additional down-filled pillow.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're using a fabric with a pattern, purchase extra material so you can match the pattern on the front to the one on the back.

References

• Upholster
• DownStore.com
• University of Kentucky