DIY Leaf Pillow

This DIY Leaf Pillow tutorial is very easy to tackle using simple materials and leaves from your own backyard. It's a great project for sewing beginners and anyone who loves to craft with nature.

As part of our screened-in porch makeover, I wanted to cover the existing cushion of this sofa and update the pillows. In order to keep the costs down, I decided to use drop cloth fabric and cover both the cushion and existing pillows.

However, I still felt like there needed to be a little color so I ended up printing the pillows with craft paint and leaves from my begonia plant.

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Supplies

Cotton Drop Cloth
Pillow Inserts or old pillows you want to cover
Craft Paint - in a few varying colors
Fabric Painting Medium
Paintbrushes
Brayer
Leaves of any kind

Making a Leaf Print Pillow

First, wash and dry the drop cloth material.

Wrap some of the drop cloth around the pillow and pin it in place. I find this works better for me than measuring and cutting. Folding it over the pillow will give you one edge you won't have to pin, cut and sew.

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Next, cut the cloth just outside the pinned area (about 1/2 inch).

Remove the pillow, and sew. Leave several inches of one side opening for turning, and have enough room to stuff the pillow back inside. Press fabric if needed.

Printing Leaves on Drop Cloth Fabric

I wasn't worried about this paint leaking through the fabric but if you are using a lighter fabric you may want to put a piece of paper between the front and back to prevent the paint from bleeding through.

Prepare a plate with shades of green paint (I also used some black) and fabric medium.

Coat the back of a leaf with the different shades of paint.

I used Begonia grandis leaves because I liked the shape and the veining on the back.

Flip it over and use the brayer, starting from the middle, and roll out in all directions. If you don't have a brayer you could use a small bottle, can, or rolling pin.

Carefully remove the leaf to reveal your print.

Test a few color options and the amount of paint on a piece of scrap fabric, to get a feel for the brayer and the look you like best.

I also added a stem freehand with a thin paintbrush.

Once the fabric has dried you can stuff the pillow inside and use a needle and thread to handstitch the opening closed.

You see, even if you don't have an artist's hand, you can use the beauty of plants to make leaf print drop cloth pillows.

I really love the way they look on the couch on our screened-in porch. An easy, and cheap way to spruce up our porch.

Print

4.50 from 2 votes

Leaf Print Drop Cloth Pillows

These leaf print drop cloth pillows were so easy to make. Using the natural beauty of real leaves and craft paint will allow you to create beautiful printed pillow covers from inexpensive drop cloth fabric.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Active Time1 hour hr

Total Time2 hours hrs

Course: Sewing

Yield: 1

Author: Patti Estep

Equipment

• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing Machine
• Brayer
• paintbrushes

Materials

• Cotton Drop Cloth
• Pillow Inserts or old pillows you want to cover
• Craft Paint - in a few varying colors
• Fabric Painting Medium
• Leaves of any kind

Instructions

• Wash and dry the drop cloth material.
• Wrap some of the drop cloth around the pillow and pin in place.
• Cut around the pins leaving enough for a seam allowance.
• Take out the pins and sew all around leaving about 1/2 of one side open.
• Turn the pillow cover right side out and press.
• For printing place a piece of paper between the front and back just in case the paint bleeds through.
• Prepare a plate with shades of green paint (I also used black) and fabric medium.
• Coat the back of a leaf with the different shades of paint.
• Turn the leaf over and use the brayer to print the fabric. Start from the middle, and roll out in all directions.
• Carefully remove the leaf and see your creation.
• Continue with a new leaf all over the pillow.
• Add stems freehand with a thin paintbrush if you want.
• Once dry stuff the pillow insert inside and hand sew the opening with a blind or blanket stitch.

Notes

Test a few color options and the amount of paint on a piece of scrap fabric, to get a feel for the brayer and the look you like best.

You can make the pillow any size you want even if you don't have an old pillow or pillow form. Just cut out the size you want and sew the edges leaving a small opening as shown above. However, instead of stuffing the old pillow inside you can use poly fill and then sew up the edge.

Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram