12+ no-sew DIY Christmas pillows to make with covers and stencils!
Desire a no-sew way to make Christmas pillows? Here’s 12+ ways to design your own DIY Christmas pillows with stencils and pillow covers, saving storage space too!
Every Christmas I like to do a little crafting of a few new holiday season pillows. And before you think, “Man, that’s a lot of pillows to store each year!”, not so in my case!
That’s because I stencil pillow COVERS.
I do not sew. And I do not buy new pillows. But I do purchase new pillow covers that I use with existing pillow inserts, which makes all the difference in the world for cost, storage, and customization!
DIY Christmas pillow covers are one of the best holiday decor accessories ever.
Why use pillow covers?
- saves storage space
- you can design both sides
- budget-friendly when you use existing inserts
If I purchased Christmas pillows every year, I’d surely bust out the seams in my house. I just don’t have the space.
Because storing pillow covers takes such little space, I go full-out Christmas with my pillows, and make more each year.
You can also save even more space by stenciling both sides of the pillow! You only see one side on your sofa at any given time, so why not have all season on one side and a Christmas pillow design on the other? It works great!
Pillow covers are also budget-friendly, since you’re not purchasing duplicate pillow inserts.
Christmas stencils (find pillow size stencils HERE / all Christmas stencils HERE)
Why use stencils?
- the design is already done for you
- pro results
- quick and easy
- customize with mixing designs
- choose your own colors
Using stencils makes designing your own DIY Christmas pillows effortless, with pro results every time since all the hard work of designing is already done. No tracing or masking tape required. Position the stencil, then just add paint.
So put away the sewing machine and scissors. This round, you’ll need pillow covers, inserts, stencils, and paint!
Here’s how:
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12+ no-sew DIY Christmas pillows to make with covers and stencils!
Supplies you will need
IKEA pillow covers in 20″ or 26″
IKEA feather inserts in 20″ or 26″
Christmas stencils (find pillow size HERE / all Christmas designs HERE)
Fusion Mineral Paint in colors of choice (works well on fabric)
(locate a local Fusion merchant HERE)
Stencil brushes (I prefer dome-tipped!)
Something waterproof to slip inside the pillow cover (I use a plastic bag)
Visit craft stores for some added Christmas craft decorations to attach, such as Christmas bells, Christmas ribbon, yarn, etc.
Where to find pillow covers
1. Choose a pillow cover.
I collect pillow covers from IKEA.
My favorites are Gurli that come in 20″ and 26″ in lots of different colours. I collect black and white.
Jofrid is another favorite that come in 20″ and 26″. They have a nubby texture which resembles an antique grain sack which I LOVE, however I’m uncertain if they are still carried.
They come in oatmeal and navy, which resembles a light black to me.
I also team up all the pillow covers with IKEA feather inserts. The duck feather pillows hold their shape much nicer and seem to last forever.
Find on Amazon – Ikea Gurli pillows / duck feather inserts
Where to find Christmas stencils
Christmas stencils (find pillow size HERE / all Christmas designs HERE)
2. Select a Christmas stencil of choice.
Here are many pillow sized Christmas stencils – find pillow size HERE / all Christmas designs HERE
Other personal fav stencils are using Grain Sack Stripe stencils HERE, and all pattern stencils HERE.
How to stencil for flawless results
3. Stencil with paint colours of choice.
I use Fusion Mineral Paint HERE because it’s exceptional on fabric. After washing, the stenciled fabric becomes even softer. I gentle wash then hang to dry.
4. Position stencil on pillow cover where desired, then secure with masking tape along the sides of the stencil.
5. Load stencil brush with paint, then remove most paint onto a rag until your brush feels dry.
6. Stencil images by tapping or swirling the brush over the stencil surface.
Learn more about how to stencil in THIS POST.
Advanced stencil tips
If you’d like the paint to distribute a little quicker or more transparent, try wetting your stencil brush first, dry it off, then stencil.
Use dome-tipped stencil brush like THESE HERE for the most even coverage. Especially wonderful if you swirl your brush with them while stenciling.
7. Once pillow cover is dry, add a feather insert. One good karate chop and your Christmas pillow is ready to decorate your sofa, chair or bed for Christmas!
Snowflake Christmas Sweater stencil
How to stencil repeating patterns
Repeating patterns offer full coverage of a pillow cover if desired and they are easy to use. The key is ensuring the back of the stencil is dry before continuing the pattern.
Here’s how:
1. Position a repeating pattern stencil in the center of your pillow cover. Stencil this image first.
2. To extend the pattern, ensure the back of the stencil is dry, then move the stencil up, down, left and right, overlapping matching painted pattern with stencil images.
Continue until pillow cover is complete.
Poinsettia Christmas Sweater stencil
How to stencil partial patterns
Here’s a fun twist to a pattern stencil using it like a border! This offers a lighter effect.
1. Center the stencil in the middle of the pillow, then stencil entire image or just the parts you desire.
2. Extend the pattern to the left and right only, leaving the top and bottom of the pillow cover bare.
Reindeer Feed Christmas stencil / Grain Sack Stripes stencil G5L / Read tutorial HERE
How to add vintage-inspired Grain Sack Stripes
Adding grain sack stripes can take any plain stencil design and turn it into a charming vintage grain sack vibe!
To get this look, grain sack stripes can run down the center of the pillow, or on the left and right of a given design.
The stripes can be taped with masking tape, or to make this step quick and easy, here are 6 Grain Sack Stripes stencils to choose from!
12+ DIY Christmas pillows to make
Now that you know how to stencil any given pillow cover and design, here’s some inspiring Christmas pillow designs to copy! Have a favorite pillow design in the group?
Reindeer Feed grain sack pillow design – visit tutorial HERE
- Reindeer Feed stencil
- Grain Sack Stripe stencil
- Burlap sandbag
If choosing to run Grain Sack Stripes down the middle first, ensure the stripe underneath is a lighter tone than the image you plan to put on top so there’s enough contrast between the two. You want the image on top to pop!
3 Christmas sweater pillow ideas
Snowflake Christmas Sweater pillow
- Snowflake Christmas Sweater stencil
- Fusion Mineral Paint in Algonquin
- Jofrid 20″ navy-black pillow cover
This cozy Christmas sweater pillow is shown in tan on black for a neutral look!
Poinsettia Christmas pillow
- Poinsettia Christmas Sweater stencil
- Fusion Mineral Paint in Algonquin
- Gurli 20″ white pillow cover with feather insert
This Christmas sweater pillow looks so cozy stenciled with only a partial pattern to the sides only in tone-on-tone colors for a lighter effect! A partial pattern is a nice change.
Christmas Sweater pillows – visit full tutorial HERE
- Christmas Sweater stencil
- Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black and Casement (white)
- Gurli 20″ white and black pillow covers
These black and white Christmas sweater pillows are neutral, traditional and so fun to create! For a more traditional Christmas look, use red and white. (here’s a sample)
Christmas Sweater pillow video
.
Click above to watch a short video on how to stencil a repeating pattern.
Make a plaid pillow that matches a traditional Merry Christmas tree pillow
Merry Christmas pillow / Plaid Christmas pillow – visit tutorial HERE
- Merry Christmas stencil
- Plaid Shirt stencil
- IKEA Gurli black and white pillow covers with feather inserts
Here’s a traditional Merry Christmas pillow, along with a plaid fabric look that is very easy to accomplish with a 2-part plaid stencil! Just choose your plaid colors to coordinate with other pillows.
Plaid pattern video
.
Click above to learn how to achieve a plaid pillow effect!
Create easy cozy argyle pillows
Argyle Christmas or winter pillow – visit original tutorial HERE
- Argyle stencil in large
- Fusion’s Coal Black / Homestead Blue / Algonquin
- Jofrid 20″ oatmeal pillow cover with feather insert
Love a traditional argyle pattern? It’s easy to create with this 2-layered stencil! To get this argyle pillow look, rotate the diamond colors before adding the thin lines on top.
Argyle pillow video
.
Click above to see how to stencil an argyle pillow!
Argyle pillow in neutrals – visit original tutorial HERE
- Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal black / Casement / Algonquin
- Jofrid 20″ oatmeal pillow cover with feather insert
And here’s a timeless Argyle pillow pattern done up in neutrals! I use this look all year around.
Authentic grain sack pillow with a sandbag
Christmas Blend Coffee grain sack pillow – visit full tutorial HERE
- Christmas Blend Hot Cocoa stencil (includes a grain sack stripe stencil)
- Homestead Blend Coffee stencil
- Grain Sack Stripe G6L or one comes with Christmas Blend Hot Cocoa.
Stencil a burlap sandbag to get this rustic grain sack pillow look!
Get a cabin look with Buffalo Check
Cabin Resort Christmas pillow – view full tutorial HERE
- Cabin Resort stencil
- Buffalo Check medium stencil
- Fort York Red / Coal Black
- IKEA white Gurli 20″ pillow cover with feather insert
This Christmas pillow tutorial shares how to get a Buffalo Checked pattern onto any stencil design! Shown in traditional red and black or in neutrals as well.
Snowflake pillow
Snowflake pillow – visit full tutorial HERE
- Winter Graphics stencil
- Fusion’s Coal Black
- IKEA white Gurli 20″ pillow cover with feather insert
This snowflake pillow shares how to get a random falling snow look.
Simple grain sack stripe pillow
Simple Grain Sack Stripe Pillow / view black version and tutorial HERE
- Grain Sack Stripe G1L stencil
- Milk Paint by Fusion in Vintage Laurel
- IKEA 20″ Gurli pillow cover with feather insert
A simple grain sack striped pillow offers year-round decorating! However chime in with the festive season by using your color of choice!
Simple grain sack pillow video
.
Click above to see how to achieve this simple grain sack effect!
Well now that was fun! Have I convinced you to design and DIY your own Christmas pillows this year to either gift or make for yourself?
With many more DIY Christmas pillows or all season unique pillow ideas HERE
Visit all my Christmas projects HERE