Hey there, sewing friends! Do you want to add a touch of cozy style to your room? Maybe your sofa needs a little something extra, or your bed could use a comfy, long pillow. Well, guess what? You can make something super special yourself! Today, we’re going to learn how to sew a bolster pillow with ties. It sounds fancy, but I promise it’s a really fun and easy project, even if you’re just starting out with sewing.
Making your own things is so rewarding. You get to pick your favorite fabric and make something that’s just perfect for your home. This bolster pillow cover tutorial will show you every step. We’ll keep it simple and clear, so you can follow along and make a beautiful pillow cover with lovely ties at each end. Ready to make your space even cozier? Let’s grab our supplies and get started!
What is a Bolster Pillow Anyway?
You might have seen them around – bolster pillows are those nice, long, round pillows. They look great on a bed, maybe behind your regular pillows, or even on a sofa or a window seat. They’re comfy to lean against and add a really smart look to any room.
The “with ties” part is extra neat! Instead of a zipper or buttons, the ends of this pillow cover will close up with cute drawstrings or ties. This makes it easy to take the cover off for washing, and the ties look so pretty too. It’s a charming way to finish your homemade bolster pillow.
Gathering Your Supplies: What You’ll Need
Before we start our sewing adventure, let’s get all our tools and materials ready. Don’t worry, you probably have a lot of these things already, or they’re easy to find. Having everything in one place makes the project go smoothly.
Here’s a little list of what you’ll need to sew bolster pillow with ties:
| Item | Description | Why You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Enough to cover your bolster pillow, plus a little extra. Cotton is great! | This will be your pretty new pillow cover. |
| Bolster Pillow Form | The long, round pillow insert you want to cover. | This is the “inside” of your pillow. |
| Thread | Choose a color that matches or looks nice with your fabric. | To sew everything together. |
| Sewing Machine | Helpful for faster sewing, but you can hand-sew too! | To make strong stitches. |
| Scissors | Sharp fabric scissors are best. | For cutting your fabric neatly. |
| Pins | Straight pins to hold fabric together. | Keeps fabric from slipping while you sew. |
| Measuring Tape/Ruler | To measure your pillow and fabric. | For getting the right size. |
| Iron & Ironing Board | To press seams and folds. | Makes your sewing look neat and professional. |
| Marking Tool | Fabric chalk or a washable pencil. | To mark lines on your fabric. |
| Safety Pin | A medium-sized one. | A clever tool to help thread your ties later! |
| Cord or Ribbon for Ties | About 2 yards (or 2 meters) for two ties. Or, you can make fabric ties. | These will be the pretty drawstrings at the ends. |
See? Not too much! This easy bolster pillow project uses simple supplies.
Getting Started: Measuring and Cutting Your Fabric
First things first, we need to know how big to cut our fabric. This is super important for a good fit!
- Measure Your Pillow: Take your bolster pillow form. You need two measurements:
- Length: Measure from one flat end to the other flat end. Write this down.
- Circumference: This is the distance all the way around the fattest part of the pillow. Wrap your measuring tape around it. Write this down too.
- Figure Out Fabric Size:
- Fabric Width: Take your pillow circumference. Add about 1 inch (or 2.5 cm) for seam allowance (this is the bit where you’ll sew). For example, if your pillow is 20 inches around, you’ll want your fabric width to be 21 inches.
- Fabric Length: Take your pillow length. Now, we need to add extra for the casings (the little tunnels for the ties) and a bit for the ties to gather nicely. Add about 6 inches (or 15 cm) to your pillow length. So, if your pillow is 30 inches long, you’ll want your fabric length to be about 36 inches. This gives you room for about a 2.5 to 3-inch casing at each end.
- A Little Tip – Wash Your Fabric! If your fabric is new and washable (like cotton), it’s a good idea to wash and dry it before you cut it. Sometimes fabric can shrink a little the first time it’s washed. Doing this now means your pillow cover won’t get too small later.
- Cut Your Fabric: Lay your fabric out flat. Use your ruler and marking tool to draw a big rectangle with the width and length you just figured out. Cut carefully along your lines with your sharp fabric scissors. Now you have the main piece for your bolster pillow with drawstring!
Let’s Sew! Creating the Main Pillow Tube
Okay, fabric cut? Great! Now for the fun part – sewing! We’re going to turn that flat piece of fabric into a tube.
- Fold Your Fabric: Lay your fabric rectangle on your table with the pretty side (the “right” side) facing up. Now, fold it in half lengthwise, so the two shorter ends meet. The pretty sides should now be touching each other on the inside, and the “wrong” side (the back of the fabric) should be facing out.
- Pin the Long Edge: Line up the long raw edges carefully. Use your pins to hold these edges together. Place the pins about every few inches, pointing towards the edge of the fabric.
- Sew the Seam: Take your pinned fabric to your sewing machine. You’re going to sew along that long pinned edge. Try to sew about 1/2 inch (or 1.25 cm) away from the raw edge. This is your seam allowance. A simple straight stitch is perfect for this. Remember to backstitch (sew backwards a few stitches, then forwards again) at the beginning and end of your seam to lock the stitches in place. If you’re hand-sewing, a backstitch is a great strong stitch to use here.
Once you’ve sewn that long edge, you’ve made a tube! You’re well on your way to completing your sewing bolster pillow project.
Making the Casings for Your Ties
The casings are like little tunnels at each end of your fabric tube. Your ties will go through these tunnels. This is what makes the ends gather up so nicely.
- Turn the Tube (Optional for Pressing): You can turn your tube right side out for this next part if it’s easier to see, or keep it wrong side out.
- Press the Raw Edge: At one open end of your tube, fold the raw edge of the fabric over towards the wrong side (the inside of the tube) by about 1/4 inch (or 0.5 cm). Use your iron to press this fold all the way around the opening. This makes a neat little edge.
- Fold Again for the Casing: Now, fold that same edge over again, still towards the wrong side. This time, make a bigger fold, about 2 inches (or 5 cm) wide. This creates the casing. Pin this fold in place all the way around. Use your iron to press this bigger fold. A crisp press makes it much easier to sew! A little note: The person in the video tutorial I watched decided to make her casing a bit wider than the original instructions she was following. She felt a very thin 1/4 inch casing was too small for her fabric and drawstring. So, feel free to make your casing a comfortable width, like 1/2 inch to 1 inch if you prefer a smaller gather, or 2 to 2.5 inches for a more generous gather and easier drawstring threading. The key is consistency all around.
- Stitch the Casing: Take it to your sewing machine. You’re going to sew close to that first little folded edge (the one that’s now on the inside of your bigger fold). Stitch all the way around the tube. Make sure to leave the end of the casing (the part near the main opening of the tube) open! This is where your tie will go in and out. Don’t sew the casing shut! Backstitch at the start and end.
- Repeat for the Other End: Do these same steps (press raw edge, fold for casing, press, stitch) on the other open end of your fabric tube.
Now you have two neat casings, one at each end of your pillow cover. This is a key part of how to make pillow ties work!
Creating and Adding the Ties (Drawstrings)
It’s time to make or prepare your ties! These will thread through the casings and allow you to cinch up the ends of your bolster pillow.
Choosing Your Ties:
- Fabric Ties: You can make your own! Cut two long strips of fabric (the same or a contrasting one). A good size might be 2 inches wide and about 30-40 inches long (or 5cm wide and 75-100cm long), depending on how big you want your bows. Fold the strip in half lengthwise (wrong sides together), press, then fold the raw edges into the center crease, press again, and then fold in half one more time to encase the raw edges. Stitch close to the open edge.
- Ribbon or Cord: This is often easier! Choose a sturdy ribbon or a nice cord. The video maker used a 4mm craft cord. You’ll need two pieces, each about 30-40 inches long (or 75-100 cm).
Threading the Ties: This is where that safety pin comes in handy!
- Take one of your ties (or your cord/ribbon). Attach the safety pin to one end of it.
- Find the opening in one of your casings. Push the safety pin (with the tie attached) into the casing.
- Now, gently push and pull the safety pin through the casing. You’ll feel it moving along inside. Bunch up the fabric of the casing over the safety pin, then pull the safety pin forward, bringing the tie with it.
- Keep going until the safety pin comes out the other side of the same casing opening (it goes all the way around and comes out where it went in). Be careful not to pull the other end of the tie into the casing!
- Remove the safety pin. Even out the ends of the tie.
- Repeat this process with your second tie in the casing at the other end of the pillow cover.
You’ve successfully added the drawstrings to your DIY bolster pillow!
Finishing Touches and Putting it All Together
You’re almost there! This is the exciting part where it all comes together.
- Turn Right Side Out: If your pillow cover is still inside out, turn it right side out now. Admire your neat seams and casings!
- Insert the Pillow Form: Gently slide your bolster pillow form into your new cover. Wiggle it around a bit to get it settled in nicely.
- Cinch the Ties: Take the two ends of one tie and pull them gently. You’ll see the fabric gather up and close the end of the pillow cover. How neat is that!
- Tie a Bow: Once it’s gathered as much as you like, tie the ends into a pretty bow or a secure knot.
- Repeat on the Other Side: Do the same thing with the ties on the other end of the pillow.
- Fluff and Admire: Give your pillow a little fluff. Step back and look at the beautiful bolster pillow you made!
You can trim the ends of your ties if they are too long. Some people like to tie little knots at the very ends of the cord or ribbon to stop them from fraying and to give them a finished look.
Tips for a Terrific Bolster Pillow
Here are a few extra thoughts to make your bolster pillow project even better:
- Fabric Choice: Think about where your pillow will go. If it’s in a sunny spot, choose fabric that won’t fade easily. If it will get lots of use, pick something strong and washable. Cotton, linen, or sturdy decor fabrics are all good choices.
- Thread Color: Matching thread blends in. A different colored thread can be a fun detail, especially if your stitching is super neat!
- Take Your Time: Sewing is not a race. Enjoy the process. If you rush, you might make mistakes.
- Ironing is Your Friend: Pressing your seams and folds as you go makes a huge difference. It helps everything lie flat and look much more professional.
- Practice on Scraps: If you’re unsure about a step, try it out on a scrap piece of fabric first.
FAQs
How to make bolsters at home?
Making a bolster pillow cover at home is fun! You cut fabric into a big rectangle. Then you sew it into a tube. You make little tunnels at the ends. Then you put ties through the tunnels. This article shows you how, step by step!
Why do Asians use bolsters?
Many people in Asian countries use bolsters. They find them very comfy. Bolsters can give good support when sleeping. They are a nice part of their comfort and tradition.
How to make a pillow for a school project?
Making a simple pillow is a great school project! You need two squares of fabric. Put the pretty sides together. Sew around three sides. Turn it right side out. Stuff it with filling. Then sew the last side closed. This bolster pillow with ties is also a cool project if you want a challenge!
How to style a bolster pillow?
Bolster pillows look great in many places. You can put one on your bed. It looks nice behind your regular pillows. Or, put it on a sofa for extra style. You can match it with your other cushions too.
What is the best filling for a bolster pillow?
There are many good fillings for bolster pillows. You can buy a ready-made bolster pillow form. These are often filled with soft fiberfill. Some people use foam. For a DIY filling, you could even use old, clean fabric scraps or stuffing from old pillows. This article helps you make the pretty cover for any filling!
You Did It! Enjoy Your New Bolster Pillow
Congratulations! You’ve learned how to sew a bolster pillow with ties. You took fabric and thread and turned it into something beautiful and useful for your home. That’s a wonderful skill!
Now you can enjoy your cozy new pillow. And when it needs a clean, you know how easy it is to untie the ends and slip the cover off for washing (just be sure your fabric is washable!). This easy bolster pillow project is one you can do again and again, maybe for gifts or to change up your decor with the seasons.
We hope this bolster pillow cover tutorial helped you create something lovely. Happy sewing, and enjoy your comfy, stylish new creation!
What fabric will you choose for your bolster pillow? We’d love to hear about your project in the comments below! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.