How to Sew Pillows for the Floor

By Katie Adams · Jan 22, 2025 · This post may contain affiliate links · 23 Comments

Add comfort and style to your home with DIY floor pillows! Follow this easy sewing tutorial to create cozy, versatile seating perfect for any room.

It's 107 degrees here in Texas, so I've let my normally outdoor dog, Stewart, inside to escape the heat.

I'm vacuuming nonstop with all his shedding, and my kids playing on his bed only worsen the dog hair problem.

To solve this, I decided to sew them their own "dog" beds-cozy floor pillows just for them!

This easy pillow project is perfect for keeping everyone comfy and hair-free.

Jump to:

Supply List
Handles
Zipper
Piping
Sides
Corners
Bottom
Pillow Form
Insert the Pillow and Enjoy!
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More Sewing Tutorials

Supply List

2 yards Home Decor Fabric
2 yards Muslin - for pillow form
Coordinating Thread
5 yards Piping
Poly Fil
18-inch Zipper
Scissors
Sewing Machine

Cut out all your fabric pieces.

2 - 19x19-inch squares (top and bottom)
3 - 19x7-inch rectangles (3 sides)
2 - 19x44-inch rectangles (zipper side)
4 - 3x9-inch rectangles (handles)

Cut pieces of navy blue fabric laid out on a cutting mat with measurement markings, ready for sewing into a project like a floor pillow or cushion.

A cutting mat and rotary cutter make cutting the fabric quick and easy, but these pieces can be cut with scissors as well.

Handles

Use the standard ⅝ inch seam allowance unless otherwise stated.

This cushion will have two handles, so all of steps will be done twice.

Pin the raw piping edges to the right side of the one of the 3 x 9 inch rectangles. Do this on both long edges.

Two navy blue fabric strips with red trim, pinned with colorful sewing pins, placed on a cutting mat, ready to be sewn into handles for a sewing project.

Using the zipper foot, sew along the piping.

Place another 3 x 9 rectangle on top with righ sides together and pin.

Turn the pieces over so you are sewing on the back of the piece with the piping.

Sew along the seam from the piping.

Two navy blue fabric strips with white stitching along the edges, sewn together with visible red trim, placed on a cutting mat for a sewing project.

Turn the tube right side out, fold in the edges, and stitch closed.

A completed navy blue fabric handle with red trim edges, neatly sewn and placed on a cutting mat with grid lines for alignment.

Next, attach the handles to the sides of the floor pillow.

Center, the handle on one of the 19x7-inch pieces. Stitch a box with and X in it, double stitch to make sure it is sturdy

A navy blue fabric piece with a red-trimmed handle securely sewn onto it, featuring reinforced stitching in a square and X pattern, laid on a cutting mat.

Do this again on another side piece and set those aside.

Zipper

On the two 19 x 4 inch pieces, attach the zipper.

Here is an excellent tutorial on Installing a Basic Zipper.

Piping

To add the piping around the edges, pin it all the way around both 19 x1 9 inch squares on the right side of the fabric.

Match up the raw edges of the fabric, just like on the handles. Then sew it down using the zipper foot.

Do this to both the top and bottom pieces

A navy blue fabric panel with red piping pinned along the edges, neatly placed on a cutting mat with grid lines visible in the background.

Sides

Attach the side panels to the top panel.

Make sure the two sides with the handles to are opposite each other.

Line up the side panel, right sides together with the square, and sew along the stitching where you attached the piping.

This ensures that your piping has a very clean edge.

A navy blue fabric piece with red piping detail sewn along the edges, neatly placed on a wooden table, showcasing clean and precise stitching.

Once all of the sides have been sewn it should look like this.

A navy blue fabric piece with red piping outlining the edges, fully assembled with handles securely attached, displayed flat on a wooden table during the sewing process.

Corners

Match up the short sides and sew them up.

Don't sew onto the top panel, but get close enough to close it up.

This is what it looks like.

A close-up of a navy blue fabric corner with visible stitching and edges aligned, showing progress in assembling the fabric pieces on a cutting mat during the sewing process.

Bottom

Unzip the side with the zipper.

Take the 19 x 19 bottom side, line up the edges, and sew along the stitch line from the piping.

When you are done, you will have a box!

A completed navy blue fabric floor pillow with red piping along the seams, neatly sewn and displayed on a wooden table with a cutting mat underneath.

Pillow Form

To make the pillow insert, cut all of the same pieces, except I did four identical side panels since I didn't need a zipper.

Follow the same instructions as above, just no need to worry about piping.

Don't forget to leave one edge up to turn and stuff.

The sew up your hole and now you have a pillow insert.

A white, handmade pillow form stuffed and neatly sewn, displayed on a wooden surface with soft natural lighting highlighting the fabric texture.

Insert the Pillow and Enjoy!

These pillows are perfect for sitting and playing.

Kids can sit on them, fly on them, drive them, drag them, and likely throw them!

My son already loves his and drags it all over the house.

A child sitting on a navy-blue floor pillow with red piping, holding a colorful toy blaster, showcasing the comfort and practicality of the handmade cushion.

Pin for Later:

More Sewing Tutorials

Have more fabric than you know what to do with? Here are some ideas!

Finished Pink Minky Rag Quilt displayed on a chair. — How to Rag Quilt a Minky Blanket

pillow cover with envelope closure 03 — Sew a Pillow Cover with Envelope Closure

DIY fabric wallet in a black-and-white herringbone design, showcasing a functional silver grommet accent and soft white interior fabric for a sleek handmade look. — How to Make a Fabric Wallet

Comments

sstone

August 24, 2011 at 3:33 pm

That looks so fun! I had a quick look at all your tutorials, and they look like they are going to be very helpful.:) I'm a new follower from Woot Woot Wed.:)

Reply
Johanson Family

August 24, 2011 at 5:04 pm

Looks fun-- if I could sew, so for now I just admire from afar and clap for you b/c you always come up with great ideas!

Reply
sweetybird09

August 24, 2011 at 9:56 pm

Great job on the dog beds, looks so professional, I used to have my golden retrievers in all the time :)Hair all over but now that they are gone I would take the hair just to have them back 🙁

Reply
door hanger template

August 25, 2011 at 12:22 am

Looks really nice! My kids loves sitting on floor than on chairs, so this would be great to have. Its good that I have some fabrics left it'll be nice to make one. It seems easy, thanks for sharing that on details!

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BluBabesCreate

August 25, 2011 at 3:02 am

That little boy is a really cute prop! Thanks for the tute! Love these floor pillows.

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Shelley

August 25, 2011 at 12:09 am

That is so funny to me because mine does the same thing! I'll see her making a move for it right as we're about to leave the house - I'm all "NOOOOOO!!!!!" in slow motion as she hurdles her body into the mess of dog hair. Egh!LOVE the floor pillow. I think I'll have to do this :DShelley

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Nicole@Thrifty Decorating

August 25, 2011 at 3:43 pm

Those turned out great! Thanks so much for linking it to Thrifty Thursday! 🙂

Reply
Brandi

August 25, 2011 at 8:37 pm

sooo cute!! fantastic tutorial! thanks for sharing!

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At The Picket Fence

August 25, 2011 at 10:10 pm

That looks fantastic! Like something from Pottery Barn. Thanks so much for sharing it at Inspiration Friday this week!
Vanessa

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Shona

August 27, 2011 at 12:55 am

This is really cute! and the little man seems to like it too! thanks for sharing!

Reply
beautiful swag store

August 27, 2011 at 1:46 pm

great instructions! chck out my blog you are getting an award

Reply
MJ @ 517 Creations

August 28, 2011 at 2:48 am

I love this! It looks similar to pillows found at Land of Nod...but in custom colors and (I'm sure) much more budget-friendly! Great job!

Reply
- Laura

August 28, 2011 at 4:51 pm

Perfect timing!! I saw your link over at A Law Student's Journey just now!! Just yesterday I was thinking about pillows like for our youth group's room but they're expensive. I wake up today and see your tutorial!!! Thank you so much!!

I'm going to be a new follower in about 10 seconds!! 🙂

Reply
Anne

August 28, 2011 at 1:35 pm

I love it!!! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing

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April

August 28, 2011 at 10:26 pm

great job! I've been wanting to do this but haven't had the time. Thanks for the great tutorial!

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Heather

August 29, 2011 at 1:42 am

I love that pillow. I need to make some of these for our play room. Thanks for the tutorial and thanks for linking to the So Creative Party!

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Heather

September 02, 2011 at 2:30 pm

I featured your cute pillow at So Creative.

Reply
Blooming Sisters

September 08, 2011 at 8:45 pm

These would be invaluable for camping too! Do you mind if I link to your bost in our Saturday Tutorial Round-Up?

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Dianewr

September 08, 2011 at 10:49 pm

You are doing a wonderful job with the tutorials! You might want to enter our contest at Blooming Sisters! We are on WordPress.

Reply
Courtney McAulay

October 06, 2011 at 6:33 pm

This is so awesome! I just love it!

Reply
Lisa

September 22, 2012 at 11:01 am

Thank you so much for your great tutorial! 🙂 Look what I published on my blog today! 🙂
Regards from Lisa

Reply
- Katie
  
  September 23, 2012 at 6:08 pm
  
  Thanks so much Lisa! Love how yours turned out! : ) SO glad you shared it with me!
  
  Reply
Lory

November 29, 2012 at 4:44 pm

Great idea...........great for bench sitters, too........at baseball games, etc.

Reply