Make Pillows from Placemats in 3 Easy Steps. You will ask yourself; was that really a placemat? You will never look at placemats the same way again. Check out this fun and easy no sew, upcycle DIY, from placemat to pillow…
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supplies for making placemat pillows
- Dollar Tree placemat (or any placemat with two sides sewn together)
- Polyfil (or stuffing from any old pillow)
- Seam ripper or Scissors
- Glue Gun
- Fabric Glue or Hot Glue
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how to make a pillow from a placemat
Using the seam ripper, scissors, or a sharp razor, carefully remove about 3-4″ of the seam on one side of the double-sided placemat.
Add polyfil until pillow if at desired firmness.
QUICK TIP #1: Overstuff because it tends to flatten over time with lots of use.
QUICK TIP #2: Use a stick, dowel rod, or ruler to nudge the polyfill down into the corners of the pillow. Dispersing the filling evenly will definitely give it a more finished look.
Apply a single line of adhesive along the opening of the placemat and tuck it in to seal.
Allow to dry for just a few minutes or clip it shut with clothespins or straight pins.
easy 3 step placemat pillows
These were super easy to make and turned out so cute! I hope you’ll make a set for your home, too! Using placemats for this DIY means that you can literally make placemat pillows to decorate your home inside and out for every single season!
be sure to check out these other DIY PILLOW ideas!
HOW DO YOU WASH THROW PILLOWS?
These placemat pillows are so easy and inexpensive to make. If the pillow is heavily soiled or has permanent stains it may be easiest to make a new one. I do not recommend machine washing placemat pillows. However, if they just need freshening up a little try these ideas.
- spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent
- spray with a fabric freshener (this is my favorite)
- toss in the dryer on ‘coolest’ setting with some dryer balls and essential oils
- lay out in the sunshine and fresh air for a couple of hours (not too long to avoid fading unless it’s outdoor pillow)
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD OF A PLACEMAT
If you fall in love with a special fabric or pattern or your favorite placemat only comes single sided; you can make that into a pillow, too! Fabric is typically sold by the yard which is equal to 36 inches. For a 54″ wide bolt of fabric here are the dimensions.
FABRIC DIMENSIONS NEEDED TO MAKE A NEW SEW PLACEMAT
16″ x 16″ pillow needs 1/2 yard of fabric
18″ x 18″ pillow needs 5/8 yard of fabric
20″ x 20″ pillow needs 3/4 yard of fabric
30″ x 30″ pillow needs 1 yard of fabric
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How to Make Pillows from Placemats
Equipment
- Seam ripper or Scissors
- Glue Gun (optional)
Materials
- Dollar Tree placemat or any placemat with two sides sewn together
- Polyfil or stuffing from any old pillow
- Seam ripper or Scissors
- Fabric Glue or Hot Glue
Instructions
- Using the seam ripper, scissors, or a sharp razor, carefully remove about 3-4″ of the seam on one side of the double-sided placemat.
- Add polyfil until pillow if at desired firmness.
- Apply a single line of adhesive along the opening of the placemat and tuck it in to seal.
- Allow to dry for just a few minutes or clip it shut with clothespins or straight pins.