I got back on the sewing machine this week and turned a set of napkins into two decorative pillows. If you remember the original Sue the Napkin set, I used four of those napkins to make two pillow covers, leaving the rest to use at the table. It was an easy, satisfying DIY that gave the napkins a second life as cushions for the sofa.
Materials
- Four printed cloth napkins (two per pillow), preferably identically sized and made of medium-weight fabric
- A sewing machine (or you can sew by hand if you prefer)
- Two old pillows or pillow inserts to use as stuffing
- A needle and thread that matches the fabric for closing the final seam by hand
How I made the napkin pillows
I kept the process simple. I stacked two napkins with the printed sides facing each other so the wrong sides were showing on the outside. With the stack inside out I sewed three sides completely closed on the sewing machine. I also stitched about an inch or two on each end of the fourth side so the corners were neat, then turned the cover right-side out.
Next I slipped a pillow insert into the newly made envelope so the patterned face was outward. I left a roughly 10-inch opening on one side to insert the pillow and then hand-stitched that remaining gap with a needle and matching thread. Sewing the last section by hand makes it easy to remove the insert later if you want to wash the cover or switch designs.
Timing and tips
These came together quickly. I made both covers in the time it took to watch a few TV commercial breaks—about 10–15 minutes on the sewing machine, plus some extra time to hand-stitch the openings. If you’re new to sewing, take your time at the corners so the edges sit flat when you turn the cover right-side out. Pressing the seams with an iron before turning and after stuffing will help the pillow look more finished.
If you want removable covers for washing, sew three sides and leave one side open with a hidden zipper or use an envelope back instead of hand-stitching the final seam. Matching thread color and neat hand-stitching will make the closing nearly invisible.
Real life vs. staged photos
Photos for the blog show the pillows fluffed and perfect, but in everyday life they rarely stay that way. Our chihuahua, Burger, makes it his mission to squash every pillow into a lumpy little blob. He’s the boss, though, and the pillows still look great once they’re fluffed again.
Sometimes Burger even nuzzles the pillow, which feels like his approval of the napkin-turned-pillow project. Pillow validation from an eight-pound dog is surprisingly gratifying.
Final thoughts
Turning cloth napkins into pillow covers is an easy, eco-friendly way to refresh your home decor. It’s a low-commitment project: you can reuse existing pillow inserts, make reversible covers, or change styles seasonally. If you enjoy quick, satisfying crafts and want to repurpose textiles, napkin pillows are a great weekend project.
Have you tried making napkin pillows or repurposing other textiles? It’s a simple upgrade that adds personality to a sofa or chair without needing a lot of time or specialized skills.