How to Easily Make DIY Throw Pillows Out of Thrift Store Finds

Katy | LaughCryDIY
by Katy | LaughCryDIY
7 Materials
$10
1 Day
Easy

If you can’t find the throw pillows of your dreams, you can make your own DIY throw pillows out of thrifted finds!


I have a room makeover coming up and I’m having trouble finding the right throw pillows. We’re on a tight budget and my chosen color scheme is not particularly popular right now (orange and teal), so I ventured to the thrift store to see what I could find.

Tools and materials:

  • Thrifted fabric
  • Marker
  • Shapes to draw around
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Stuffing
Thrifted items for the throw pillow covers

I checked bedsheets, napkins, clothes, and other textiles, as well as existing pillows and cushion covers. Men’s shirts are good to look at as they usually have more surface area to work with.

Prepping the shirts for the DIY

1. Prep the shirts

Turn the shirts inside out and iron them flat. Obviously, you don’t need to do this if your fabric is not in shirt form.

Measuring and drawing the shapes

2. Draw and cut out the shapes

I’m using some photo frames to draw the shapes I want, but you could use something else.

Pinning the layers of fabric together

3. Pin

Pin the edges of the two layers of fabric together.

Hand-sewing the throw pillow covers

4. Sew

Now it’s time to sew. I’m just hand-stitching them with a needle and thread, but you could use a sewing machine.


You could also use hot glue or fusible webbing, but I want my throw pillow covers to be washable. Hot glue and fusible webbing can’t be washed and dried.

Stuffing the throw pillows

5. Stuff

For the stuffing, you could use polyfill, an existing pillow, or anything of your choosing. I actually have some recycled denim packaging that came with a food order recently, so I’m using that.

How to make throw pillows


DIY throw pillows

DIY throw pillows

Here’s the big reveal! Thanks for joining me on this thrifting adventure. What do you think of these colorful DIY throw pillows? Let me know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.

Resources for this project:
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3 of 10 comments
  • Felicia Felicia on Mar 19, 2023

    I did something similar but used a plastic backed canvas I found at the local Home Dep. store and painted patterns. I can leave them in the rain and they dry by the next day, since the stuffing doesn't get wet inside.

  • MsTiff MsTiff on Mar 23, 2023

    What does the denim food packaging look like? I dont think ive ever heard of it or seen it? (I hope i'm not the only one confused by this ) lol 🤔🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️😏

    • Katy | LaughCryDIY Katy | LaughCryDIY on Mar 23, 2023

      Oh, yes. If you get a meal delivery kit, sometimes the padding they use in the box is this sort of denim stuffing wrapped in plastic.

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