How to Make a Throw Pillow from a Placemat

Want to know how to make a throw pillow without starting from scratch? A placemat and some stuffing will do the trick—here’s how.

Two star-shaped throw pillows—one red and one blue—decorated with white stars, styled in a patriotic theme on a white background.

If you’ve ever spotted a cute placemat and thought, “This would make a great pillow,” you’re absolutely right—and it’s easier than you’d think.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a throw pillow from a placemat with just a few simple steps.

No sewing machine required (unless you want to), and it’s a quick win for your couch, bed, or favorite chair.

Let’s turn that table linen into something way more fun!

Jump to:

Craft Video Tutorial
Supply List
Pick the Seam
Stuff with Poly-fil
Ladder Stitch Closed
Final Thoughts
More DIY Decor ideas

Skill Level: Beginner

Total Time:15 minutes

Craft Video Tutorial

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Supply List

Red and blue star-shaped fabric placemats with white stars, sewing tools, and thread, laid out as supplies for a DIY patriotic pillow project.

I found these super cute seasonal placemats at Hobby Lobby. Sadly, they are only available during the 4th of July season.

But have no fear—this tutorial can be used with any double-sided fabric placemat to make throw pillows for any season!

Pick the Seam

When I found these cute placemats at Hobby Lobby, I thought, "These would make such cute pillows!"

First, I looked at how they were sewn together. I wanted this to be a quick and easy project, but it would become more difficult if I had to completely disassemble them.

It looked as though the front and back of the placemat had been sewn with right sides together, turned out, and the open hole stitched up.

I could see the closing stitch along one arm where the tag was attached.

Hands holding a navy blue star-shaped pillow with white stars, pointing to a sewn seam and visible fabric tag, demonstrating where the pillow was stitched closed.

I carefully removed this seam with my seam ripper, and when the stitches were removed, the tag fell away.

Close-up of hands using a seam ripper to remove stitches from a navy blue star-printed fabric, opening the seam near a visible fabric tag.

Stuff with Poly-fil

After that seam was removed, I had a perfectly sized hole.

Hands holding a navy blue star-printed fabric placemat with an opened seam, showing a gap for inserting pillow stuffing in a DIY sewing project.

I grabbed handfuls of polyfill and pushed them into that open hole, making sure it was evenly distributed throughout the pillow.

It takes more filling than you might think. I used a whole 50-ounce bag between the two star-shaped pillows.

Ladder Stitch Closed

Once the pillow is fluffy enough to your liking, it is time to sew the opening shut.

Take a length of matching sewing thread and thread your needle.

I pulled the end of the thread all the way down so the length of the thread was doubled, and tied a knot in the end.

I am doing a ladder stitch because the seam won't even be visible when done correctly.

Start by pulling the needle up through the inside to hide that knot.

The fabric already has a fold from when it was previously sewn. Keep those stitches right at those folds and stitch directly across from each other.

Hands sewing a navy blue star-patterned pillow closed using a ladder stitch, with pillow stuffing visible inside the opening.

Since I am using a matching thread, it is hard to see, so I added red lines to the image above to help explain what I am doing.

Continue that ladder stitch through the opening of the pillow.

Hands sewing the seam of a navy blue star-patterned pillow closed with a needle and thread, completing the final step of a DIY pillow project.

At the end, pull the string taught and the opening will close perfectly.

Hands finishing the last stitches to close a navy blue star-patterned pillow seam, holding the fabric tightly while sewing with a needle and thread.

Final Thoughts

These DIY throw pillows came together quickly, and I love how they look!

They are the perfect holiday touch for my summer decorating.

Two completed star-shaped throw pillows—one red and one navy blue—featuring white stars, displayed on a dark gray tufted couch.

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Hi, I'm Katie!

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