Hello fall. Nice to project-meet you. Here is a simple tutorial on how to make a five minute no sew pumpkin pillow. You’ll never believe what it’s made from.


no sew pumpkin pillow on window seat

Sometimes I think this world would be a better place if we all woke up every day…

…told each other we were brilliant.

Right?

I mean there are days when we evaluate and critique and worry about what we need to fix and take notes on what we need to improve on.

Seriously.

When we should take a moment.

And pause.

And simply just remember how amazing we and the people around us are.

I’ll go first.

Today’s brilliant award goes to my mother-in-law who found this pumpkin and gave me the idea to make it into a pillow.

And you’ll never guess where she found it and what it started out life as?

Are you ready?

Here’s how to make a 5-minute pumpkin pillow and be brilliant all at the same time.

no sew pumpkin pillow from place mat

no sew pumpkin pillow

detail of leaves on no sew pumpkin pillow

Can you guess what it is?

IT’S A PLACEMAT.

And she found it at Big Lots for under $5.

You can order it here.

SERIOUSLY.

It looks so high end with its embroidery and jute twine and burlap and stitches and different fabrics.

I tried to take as many pictures as I could close up so you can see all of the details.

Here are a few other pumpkin placemats I found that might fit your decor better.

no sew pumpkin pillow project

But the best part of this placemat?

It can be SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

Here are a few ideas I thought up:

  1. a placemat (hello Captain Obvious)
  2. the center of a wreath
  3. you could fuse two together and make a wall hanging
  4. you could attach ribbon to the top and hang it from a rod
  5. you could frame it

Or.

You could make a no-sew pillow in five minutes.

And here’s how I did it.

How to make a no-sew pumpkin pillow

supplies:

pillow cover

fusible tape

iron

down pillow insert

pumpkin placemat

1. Find your pillow cover

You can find these pom pom pillow covers here.

I love them because they have hand-stitching and quilting that mimics the pumpkins and the cutest pom pom ball fringe.

Here’s one of my best sources for inexpensive plain pillow covers.

Use a pillow cover that you already have to make the project cheaper.

2. Tear off pieces of your fusible tape

Here’s this tape that I got years ago at Hobby Lobby in the sewing section.

It’s almost a fossil at this point.

Tear off six-inch strips—enough to cover the back of the pumpkin.

3. Iron in place

Follow the directions on the packet—but the basic concept is that you iron one side of the tape to the pumpkin

And then?

4. Iron the pumpkin onto the pillow cover

You’ll iron the pumpkin with the tape onto the pillow cover.

You can kind of peel back the pumpkin and see if it’s adhered to the pillow cover.

If it isn’t stuck, keep ironing.

5. Let cool and stuff

Let your ironed on pumpkin cool.

And then stuff the pillow filler inside.

And fluff.

Here are my two pillows on my window seat.

It’s such an easy, inexpensive project that takes minutes.

And now?

My window seat is ready for fall.

Happy Monday friend.

And just in case no one else has mentioned it yet?

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY BRILLIANT. 🙂

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

    1. Image for E. Leypoldt E. Leypoldt

      Steam....and warm water...... but mostly steam. Use the steam setting on your iron. Iron the area that you want to remove.. If you need extra steam then add a damp thin/light weight towel....

  1. Image for Jennifer Jennifer

    Thanks for including a no-sew project for those of us who stopped sewing after sophomore year home-ec class! Super cute! And you, also are brilliant!

  2. Image for Jolyn Jolyn

    I love this! My kids made fun of me last year for all my pumpkins - but they go so great from October through Thanksgiving! Guess who is heading to Big Lots this afternoon?? Who knows, I may just use some at placemats, too!

  3. Image for Shannon Shannon

    I love it!!!!!!! I’m one of those obnoxious sewing geeks (I make pillows for a living Lol) and even I would make that no sew pillow!!!!!! Brilliant idea!!!!! .... and now I need to go to Big Job Lots!!!! Fingers crossed!!!! :)

  4. Image for Kathy Kathy

    All you have to do is post it and they will be sold out! Hoping I can get there before they are all gone! Brilliant idea! They look amazingly cute!

  5. Image for Lou E Gipson Lou E Gipson

    good stormy morning from Panama City Beach. FL! excellent idea1 just wanted to remind you.. aside from being brilliant.. and amazing.. YOU are a ROCK STAR! sparkle and shine..

  6. Image for Connie Connie

    Tell your mother she is amazing and brilliant too - after all, she passed the witty and brilliance on to her daughters. Thank you for sharing.

  7. Image for Elaine R. Elaine R.

    KariAnne, You are brilliant!!! I love the pumpkin pillows. Although my Fall décor items are almost getting as many as Christmas...I don't think I can pass this up. As always, thank you for using the talents God gave you. Even if you never did a project again I would still read your blog. You are a terrific writer. Have a blessed day, Elaine

  8. Image for Sharon Smith Sharon Smith

    What a great idea you have "fall"en into! With fall and pumpkins and Halloween, you are once again brilliant which could cause me to be brilliant and on and on it goes. Thanks for sharing! Happy Day!

  9. Image for Connie Connie

    Tell your mother she is brilliant too! After all, she passed on her brilliance to her daughters too. Thanks for sharing.

  10. Image for Brooksies Brooksies

    I love this!! Can't wait to try it. I also have to ask, where did you get the curtains hanging over the window seat? I've been looking for a solution for the windows over my window seat. This is it! Brilliant!

  11. Image for Marlene Stephenson Marlene Stephenson

    Brilliant way to make a pretty Fall pillow, i love it and will have to check out Big Lots. Thanks Karianne..

  12. Image for Jenn Jenn

    Love it! I had a pumpkin pillow idea this week, but it involves sewing and doggone, I don't think it would be as cute as this! May try it anyway! Thanks to your Mother-in-law for the brilliant idea! The colors are just perfect! Have a great week!

  13. Image for TERESA GONZALES TERESA GONZALES

    Perfect autumn pillow! Now to find those placemats and get on it!!!!!!! Thanks for the idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. Image for Beth Y Beth Y

    How adorable is that?!?! I LOVE this look!!! Big Lots has become one of my new favorite places!! They are really stepping up their trendy decorating game (for those of us on a budget), so I like to go there and see what is new now. Tell your mother-in-law she had a good eye for that find! Happy Monday!

  15. Image for Laura Harrie Laura Harrie

    So KariAnne, I was at Big Lots yesterday afternoon and bought a cute lined table runner that has the little red truck with pumpkins in it. I am going to make to pillows from this. Cut, sew with machine, leave a small opening, stuff, then hand sew the opening. Two new Fall pillows. My eyes where everywhere at that store, wished I had seen those placements. Enjoy your lovely pillows! P.S. I am entering in this year’s county fair, my Ivy coat hanger plant, thanks to you. It turned out so cute. Wish me luck!

  16. Image for Be Be

    So cute and fallish. Could even frame it if you didn't have cushions on hand or hang as banner on door, without the stuffing. My glass door would protect and I always need somehthing thin. Could do soooooo many things. Thanks for the motivation this Monday morning

  17. Image for Barbara Schneider Barbara Schneider

    As usual, You are absolutely brilliant and so creative! Love it! Headed to big lots once I find my perfect pillow! Xoxo

  18. Image for Leslie Watkins Leslie Watkins

    These are the cutest ever! And I love that they are NOT orange. Beautiful. An amazing idea, friend!! Big Lots is calling my name.

  19. Image for Bex Bex

    This is sooo cute! I’ve been to BIg Lots and got the placemats. Can you give me the measurements of the pillow covers for tomorrow’s project? Thanks

  20. Image for Sarah Towles Sarah Towles

    Placemats are awesome. Love those! Some have a front and back and I fill those for cool cheap pillows. Some and be sewn together for cool cheap pillows. I use the felt snowflakes ones from Big Lots on top of buffalo plaid pillows at Christmas. Yes, I’m pillow obsessed. I related to you “pillow budget” comment recently. Also, I have cut up Big Lots and TJMAX. fabric seasonal table clothes to recover my dining chair seats. I decor for seasons hardcore!

  21. Image for Nancy Chambliss Nancy Chambliss

    Karianne I saw these at Big Lots and fell in love with them but thought the hubby would probably spill something on these the first time I use them, so I passed them up, I am heading back to Big Lots after seeing your brilliant idea! Thanks!

  22. Image for Alissa Regitz Alissa Regitz

    Okay now...this placemat pillow idea is one of the most inspiring, easy diy projects that is a must do! Love it- Thank You for sharing💫

  23. Image for Dee Dee

    That is just so clever! 😄 I love the pillow covers, they're so cute and they make the perfect pairing with the placemat! It just absolutely darling!

  24. Image for Gloria Gloria

    Hello, I love your blog! Can you tell me if you can use heat and bond hem for the pumpkin project? Thank you, Gloria

Comments are closed.