Make It Or Break It Crafts – DIY Pillow
I have a new series called Make it or Break It Crafts. Today I am sharing an Anthropologie DIY Pillow hack.
For this DIY Pillow, I am going to show you how to make something for a lot less than if you bought it. This pillow was very fun to make and so much cheaper as a DIY.
A Fun DIY Pillow
You all know how much I love to share how to make decorative pillows.
I have a new and exciting way to decide what kind of DIY Pillow I want to make. I find a really expensive pillow online and then make a better version for a fraction of the retail cost.
How awesome is that?
For this pillow, I decided to make my own because it cost $330 to buy. I spent under $15 to make mine.
This pillow is from Anthropologie. I like that it was painted and I love the french knot embroidery. I wasn’t crazy about the colors but I knew I wanted to make something similar.
Here is the pillow online:
My decorative DIY pillow looks like this.
I know it looks a bit different. But I honestly think mine is cuter. Ok, I think it is way more cuter.
DIY Pillow
If you look closely you can see that I painted a white pillow pink, but left white circles. Then I used Bernat Blanket yarn and made french knots just inside the outside of the white circles.
I painted the pink paint very loosely because I didn’t want you to think it is hard. It’s actually painted quite sloppy. If you follow me, then you know I love things that are not perfect.
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What You Need to Make This Craft
- One Pillow Cover
- Bernat Blanket Yarn
- Acrylic Paint
- Large Eye Embroidery Needle
How to Make a Painted and Embroidered DIY Pillow
Here are photos of the steps you will need to do this pillow. I used a round jar top for the circle design and a white pillow cover from Amazon (see below).
- It seemed that four circles fit the best in both directions so I found a jar lid that would fit four circles on my pillow. I used erasable chalk and outlined the circles.
- Next, I painted with pink acrylic paint in the areas that weren’t the circles.
- At first I painted the circles perfectly but I didn’t like it. So I went back and messed up all of the edges. I think it looks so much better painted loosely.
- I found a slightly smaller jar, made another outline of a circle and I used an embroidery hoop and tied french knots all along the smaller circle outline.
- The knots are so easy to make. Because I used a very thick chenille yarn, I only wrapped my thread over the needle once, not twice.
- Just move your embroidery hoop around the pillow to make the knots. I like the embroidery hoop because it holds the fabric tight. It is so much easier to tie a french knot when the fabric is in a hoop.
Don’t worry if your circles are all exactly the same. What makes this pillow look so great is that it isn’t perfect. It’s loose and fun.
You can even see that my knots aren’t exactly the same. But it doesn’t matter either.
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Here is an overview of the completed pillow. As you can see, it is far from perfect. And I love it that way!
Which Pillow Do you Like Better?
It’s fine with me if you like the $330 one better than the $15 one. Hehe.
Frequently Asked Questions
A French Knot is a very easy embroidery stitch. You make it by winding the thread one (or more) times around the needle and drawing the needle back through the material near or at the point where it came out.
You make a french knot by winding the thread one (or more) times around the needle and drawing the needle back through the material near or at the point where it came out.
Similar Posts
Here are some of my favorite pink decorative pillows that you can make too.
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YOUR pillow is the cutest by far! I LOVE that you LOVE imperfection (like those circles). I can do that! I tried the painted flower pillow with machine embroidery and it was a big fail!
Love you style and while I cannot afford a lot of what you do, I can tweak for me!!
Love love the idea. Love your inspiration and ideas.
I love DIY knockoffs of expensive items! You did a great job on creating the feel of that Anthropologie pillow. Seriously, who buys a pillow for over $330??? Certainly not me.🙄 Thanks for the inspiration.
I love your pillow and thank you for sharing! Love your idea of your new series of knockoff! I think it would also look cute with two circles of the French knots- I know – more work! Also I think a rectangular pillow would be awesome for a baby’s nursery and would make a great shower or baby gift!
I’m with you Sharon, $330 for a pillow when I can make it for under $15? Have a great weekend!
This is a much prettier and softer looking version of a crazy expensive pillow ! Absolutely love it !
I am so glad Erin! I love it too and under $15!
LOVE IT!!!
So creative, keep them coming.
Thank you Claudette! I am so excited for this new series!
Prefer your pillow, the other is nice too but I am a Pink Purple girl. I think had you done a double row of Knots it would look closer to the original. But it’s your take so works just fine with one row.
Prefer the Pink as it really pops , looks fresh and new just like Spring time.
Blessings to the person who made the original as we know the work involved in making those knots. Lol wish someone would pay us $50 to churn those babies.
OMGOODNESS can you imagine someone buying that little pillow for $330 and thinking it is a bargain must be so nice and then I think how sad that they can’t do the basic painting or embroidery they are surely missing out on the fun we have to DIY or to just challenging ourselves to come up with alternatives.
Have a Blessed Day.
Thank you Angela. I wanted my pillowto be simila, but not the same as the Anthropologie pillow so only did one row. Happy the pillow is there for inspiration and for those who aren’t so crafty! 😊
Love the pillow!
What color do you buy for the pillow covers? White? Neutral?
Cindy
For this pillow, I used a white pillow cover. I get mine at IKEA. I have some tagged from Amazon, but they are more of a neutral.
I love your pillow and it is my pick between the two pillows by far. You are so creative. I love this idea for a new series.
Thank you Carolyn! I am so excited about this new series!
Thank you for this idea. I am going to use your french knot pillow idea to make an initial pillow for my daughter’s couch or maybe she’ll use it on her bed. Anyone who would pay hundreds of dollars for a pillow is a little wacky. Am I right???
What a great idea Pegg! She will love it, I am sure!
I, too, like your version best!
😊 Thank you Joy!
Just ADORABLE !!!!!
Thank you Laura!
Wow Leslie! Love this idea! I’m a huge diy-er and make just about all of our home decor so I love this series you’re starting. I’ve also used the French knot on a project but wow, had not thought about using the thicker chenille yarn. I could see using it for a monogram..my wheels are churning!
Oooo, how much fun Beth! Aa monorgram is such a great idea!
Nailed it! But, of course you did!
Ha! This was so much fun to make Diane!
Your pillow is adorable — fresh, happy, springy, and SO you. The Anthro pillow is more Bohemian and dark. I appreciate both, but would never pay $330 for any pillow. I love your new series. You inspire us so. Thank you, Leslie, and have a great weekend.
Thank you so much Miche for your kind comment. I am so excited for this new series!!! Have a great weekend!
I am so impressed with your creation and I can’t even call it a knock-off because it is so much better than the original. I love your creative mind and look forward to emails and the FB group. Thank you for making my day.
Oh my gosh Linda, thank you so much! I love this pillow so much. I can’t wait to do more of these!
Leslie, this is as CUTE as it gets!!! I look so forward to getting your emails to see what kind of mischief you are making! Pink is my favorite color and I am so drawn to what you do. My daughters and I are going to be doing a once per month craft day together. Your crafts are so inspirational because all 3 of us could do them! I am so happy I found you<3
Oh my gosh Judith, I love that you and your daughters are planning a craft day with your daughters. What a specil and fun day. I am happy that you found me also! Just click on crafts button on my home page and you can plan days and days of crafts!
I’ve done lots of French knot projects, but with embroidery thread. What a fun option to use the blanket yarn – interesting look!! My little Emmie Lou would love that pillow.
Awesome Debbie! I hope you give it a try with the blanket yarn!
OHMYGOODNESS this is absolutely a perfect transformation of the original. How can anyone in good conscience charge SO MUCH, for a little fabric and paint? Seriously! Thank you so much for sharing your “how to’s”. This one is right up my alley!💕
Beautiful. Your pillow should be the 330.00. One. Good job!
Yours is by far cuter!! Mind boggling to think someone would pay that amount of $$!
There is a satisfaction to make something yourself and I,too, like imperfections. I love doing things like this. 👍