For about $10 and a bit of time, you can make this modern fortune-cookie pillow.

Need:

• 2 large 100% wool sweaters
• matching thread and needle
• fabric scissors
• pillow form
• fabric tape measure
• tailor’s chalk (or equivalent non-permanent fabric marking pen)
• straight pins

How To:

1. Felt the sweaters in a hot wash with detergent. For instructions, check here.

2. Cut 50 3″ round circles from the felted fabric.

3. Fold the circle in half, and then in half again, and sew through the pointed end to tack the fabric shape. Repeat for remaining 49 circles. At this point, your felt circles sort of look like fortune cookies!

4. Measure pillow form with fabric measuring tape from seam to seam. Mark dimensions on a large piece of felted fabric. Cut this shape out twice, once for the pillow front and once for the pillow back. Add a 1″ seam allowance and cut out pillow cover.

5. Mark on pillow cover front a 9″ diameter circle with tailor’s chalk.

6. Hand tack each felt “cookie” in a herring bone/nested pattern around the circle. It is sort of like making two circles, one on the inside of the chalk circle, and one the outside. It is helpful periodically place a number of “cookies” to ensure you are creating an even circle.

7. Place right-side of back pillow cover fabric to fortune-cookie side of front pillow cover fabric, and pin three sides. Machine stitch with 1/2″ seam allowance. (This makes a relaxed look.)

8. Turn cover right side out and insert pillow form into cover. Tuck in seam allowance on 4th side, finger press in place, and whip stitch closed. (This makes a permanently enclosed pillow. You can modify this cover to include a zipper, overlapped, or overlapped/Velcro closure instead.)

9. Admire your work.

This pattern is time-consuming because of the hand-stitching. But the finished project for $10 is very much worth it. Stay tuned for more felted pillow patterns! 

This project was inspired by a technique I found in Felt Furnishings: 25 Accessories for Contemporary Homes by Ann Kyyro Quinn.