Easy DIY placemat & table runner pillows
July 08, 2009
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You can easily make pillows out of placemats, napkins and table runners! Table linens are inexpensive and an easy way to make seasonal pillows as well.
I moseyed over to the table linens to look for another option to make pillows that I had seen awhile back. YES, table linens. I found these placemats with beaded trim and they were perfect:
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It was sooooo easy to do this. Sew easy. 😂 For this to be as easy as possible, you'll want a placemat that has two layers -- not just one piece of fabric.
I used a seam ripper to open up the two fabrics that make up the placemat:
That took about five minutes per pillow.
I knew I wanted to use it but held off on making the pillows until I found solid pillows to work with.
That took about five minutes per pillow. I made a hole big enough for my hand to get in:
Then stuffed them to the fullness I wanted.
Then stuffed them to the fullness I wanted. You'll need some pillow stuffing to fill your placemat pillow. I used one small bag of stuffing per pillow:
Stuffing always takes me longer than everything else combined, every time.
Stuffing always takes me longer than everything else combined, every time. I finished it up with a really simple stitch with some dark thread and a needle:
Oh my goodness, I LOVE them!!:
I'm so excited because they also had a rust colored placemat that I didn't get yet (I know, I don't learn) but will be back tomorrow to pick up. It will be perfect for the fall and winter months.
Oh my goodness, I LOVE them!!:
I love the beads on the side that add a little pretty detail:
I'm so excited because they also had a rust colored placemat that I didn't get yet (I know, I don't learn) but will be back tomorrow to pick up. It will be perfect for the fall and winter months.
This next option is almost as easy at the placemat pillows, they just require a bit more sewing.
I found this pretty brown, cream and green table runner for $13 recently:
I knew I wanted to use it but held off on making the pillows until I found solid pillows to work with. 
I found some table linens online that would make for beautiful pillows!
- These linen striped napkins would be gorgeous pillows!
- I may have to get these gray and white pinstriped napkins to make some pillows.
- The fringe on these placemats would be a pretty little detail.
- These floral placemats would be great to transition into fall.
- I love this boho table runner -- you could easily make full sized pillows with this one.
See all the ways I've made placemat and table runner pillows below!
Make easy holiday decor pillows with cheap placemats:
These are great! I never would have thought to do something like this!
ReplyDeleteAnother great project! They look fab. Whoever came up with this was definitely outside the box.
ReplyDeleteFab! I've thought about doing this recently, and even looked for some mats, but couldn't find any that worked for what I wanted them for.
ReplyDeleteI bet they'll last forever since table mats are usually thick.
Very cute Sarah!
ReplyDeleteLove the little beads.
I'll guess burlap but I know that's probably not right....:)
I have been making pillows for my home out of place mats for the last 4 years. They are the perfect size and as long as you have 2 sides to stuff, it turns out great! It is also a great way to use something embellished or embroidered that would cost more to buy in fabric. Love the way yours turned out! So cute!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
~Victoria~
Looking good! A few years ago, I made pillows from the dish towels that I loved from Crate & Barrel. So, no, I don't think you are crazy!
ReplyDeletethats amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought of that. I'm going to have to try it out because pillows are so expensive.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea! Wheels turning just thinking about all the holiday and seasonal placemats I've seen.......or have! LOL
ReplyDeleteThose turned out great and I have those placemats! LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever idea!
well, oooh la, la! I recently came across a huge bin FULL of tabel linnens at our local good will (cloth napkins, table cloths, and place mats) and I was thinking surely there is a way to repurpose some of this cheap 'fabric' - viola! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI had never thought of that! Very clever!!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Ack! I love it!! I could totally try that...I do have a seam ripper somewhere. :) Great project!!!
ReplyDeleteAdorable!! I saw something similar in the 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 magazine and added it to my things to do list. Yours turned out so great!
ReplyDeletePerfect! They are beautiful! Now I will be on the lookout for cloth placemats for pillows for my window seat. =)
ReplyDeleteWonderful job! Love love it! Love Pier I!
ReplyDeletelooks great! It may be Bower Power that you got the idea from.
ReplyDeleteSeriously girl, PLACE MATS!?!?!?! Who'da thunk it! I can't believe I didn't think of that one! PURE GENIUS!!! I'll bet you found some beautiful matching napkins to make your accent pillows out of. I raided my closet and was going to consign some dated clothes, and I made a throw pillow from a zebra sequined top which turned out pretty cool, but PLACE MATS??? I'm not worthy!!! I bow to the queen!!! Great job once again girl!
ReplyDeleteJules :)
Uh, yeah!!! These are really cool! What an awesome idea! Leave it to the thrifty folks! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Christina :)
Holy crap,I NEVER would have thought of that! How easy! Awesome idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a super cool idea!
ReplyDeleteThey turned out fabulous! I would never have thought to do that. Very nice! You better get that other placemat before it gets sold out too!
ReplyDeleteOh, yours are sooooooooo perfectly gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw this idea done by Katie over at Bower Power a few months back with her navy/white color scheme. I bookmarked because this idea is wicked brilliant, especially given the prices.
Target throw pillows are now topping $25 to $35 buckaroos. What the ???
I'm so looking for placemats for my family room too.
That's such a great idea! I need to keep an eye out for cute placemats.
ReplyDeleteVERY NICE! Love the pillows and your clever way of doing them! SO FUN to do things ourselves, right?
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Joni
As always, great idea.
ReplyDeleteI love these! They look great, I might even try them myself...eek!
ReplyDeleteAgain, something I never would have thought of, but they're absolutely gorgeous!!! : )
ReplyDeleteMacey
Love this project--very doable and QUICK!!
ReplyDelete~ Sarah
**slapping forehead** DUH! Why didn't I think of that?!?! Great job!
ReplyDeletePerfect! I've done this before too :) It seriously was so easy!
ReplyDeleteI ripped an entire side seam and went and had it embroidered with initials in the center! It looked like it cost MUCH more than I actually spent!
What a fantastic idea! I can't wait to shop for placemats! Thank you! I lurve your blog.
ReplyDeleteClever!! If the colors are right for your home I say go for it. Staci
ReplyDeleteI added some bling to my curtains in my front room come and check it out.
www.designingandmotherhood.blogspot.com
I am just proud of you for sewing...I thought more hem tape was on the way :-)
ReplyDeleteBRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great way to get what you want! So easy too!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Southern Fried Gal material (hee hee)...thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI need some new pillows for our sofa (heck need new sofa too) so this is just perfect for me. I already have stuffing from other projects.
ReplyDeleteawesome idea! Now i need to find some great square placemats and recover the pillows I have! That would be great!
ReplyDeleteToday must be pillow placemat day; I just read one prior to yours about a hammock pillow! Very creative and I like that this was a quick and inexpensive project.
ReplyDeleteGoing placemat shopping today! Love it, Love it, love it!
ReplyDeleteSimply brilliant! Looks easy enough that even I could do it! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love them, they look great. I turned some napkins into square pillows last fall, so I'm with you on the table linens to pillows front.
ReplyDeleteI think that Katie Bower at did the placemat to pillow thing a few months ago. http://allbowerpower.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-into-summer.html
SO CUTE! What an awesome idea!
ReplyDeleteThese are great! And how uncanny [insert Twilight Zone music here]: I just posted a placemat pillow DIY tutorial on my blog last night, but mine is a hammock pillow stuffed with plastic bags.
ReplyDeleteGreat Idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! I've made pillows from napkins and placemats before, but I never thought of separating and stuffing the two layers of a double-layer placemat. Very clever! Too bad I don't need pillows... maybe I'll buy some cute place mats anyway. You know. Just in case.
ReplyDeleteNice job on the pillows. I guess I've never got the double think placemats. I have used Christmas napkins as small seasonal pillows.
ReplyDeleteMy guess for the next project is tea towels.
Wow! What a fantastic idea!! I think my Hubs would certainly go go a accent pillow that cost $3.00 a pop as opposed to one that costs $20.00! Thanks so much for sharing this idea! Your blog is a joy to read!!
ReplyDeleteSo creative! They turned out beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThey look great! I was thinking of doing this very thing. And I was going to make some smaller pillows from the cordinating cloth napkins. But I'm the kind of person that has good ideas, but never actually DO it. LOL
ReplyDeleteLove it, they look gorgeous!! The beaded detail is my fave part!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I am not a huge sewer, so this is perfect for me! I will have to keep my eyes open for some placemats.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteGREAT JOB!!! Guess who's going shopping on her lunch hour, lol. ME!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow. That was brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI am always on the lookout for cute placemats and napkins to make pillows out of. They are so easy! I love my beadboard backsplash. It is painted with semi gloss paint so I can easily wipe it off.
ReplyDeletedid you see it here?? http://theredchairblog.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteboth of ya'll did such great work finding CA-ute mats. ;)
Genius! I do not "sew" but I could "sew" do that!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea!
Stacey
The pillows look great! I might have to try it.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this idea. For the girl who can't sew a straight line, this is perfection!
ReplyDelete~Amanda
You did a fabulous job! Thanks for sharing this today.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful. What a great idea, and yours came out so lovely. I have to try this, there is such a large selection available too.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Beau-TY -- full
ReplyDeleteCheri
www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com
Love pillows - I think this is from Katie at Bower Power, but I didn't read all the other comments to know if someone else said that. Yours look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI have also seen this before and I think it was on trading spaces. I love them and the beads are darling! You gonna make something out of napkins now?? lol
ReplyDeleteI just got done making my place mat pillows and I love them :)
ReplyDeleteI found a clearance mat for 15 cents this morning wahoo!!!! and last week I tried washing my pillows (duh... bad idea) but couldn't swallow throwing the ruined things away, so I ripped the pillows apart and refluffed the batting and stuffed my place mats with that (is that taking the thrifty thing a little too far???) 15 cent pillow YAY!
Total genius!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! Staci here again from www.designingandmotherhood.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question.
Yes, those are the curtains on the side bar of my blog. I have a detailed post under my post tabs called Home Decor, Window treatments. I show more detailed info. on the trim (where I got it etc). Scroll down on my blog for those tabs. They needed some bling! Take care-Come Back and visit soon! Staci
Awesome!! I'm going to dig through my placemats and see if I have any that are worthy of a transformation!!!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I love re-purposing things. How cool that you found the right colors. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
ReplyDeleteNo. Stinkn'. WAY.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! I bought some placemats to make a purse out of, but haven't attempted it yet. Seeing as how my current purse straps are about to break from wear, I better get busy!
Mere
Love this idea! Cheap and easy...bad for dates, good for pillows. :)
ReplyDeleteThose are very creative, and I bet pretty durable too.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog to say hi and wonder at the mysteries of placemat pillow coincidences. And yes, of course I'd love it if you'd link up!
:) Amy
Be careful of those beads...if you have a child that can pull them off....they could choke on those!! Sorry its the nurse in me :)
ReplyDeleteAdorable idea otherwise
Pier 1 has the best Table Linens...I fell in love with a set when I was prego...and bought some, took them to a friend and she made me the best very large and awesome - Diaper Bag...she also makes purses too!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing idea and I'm so featuring this!! There are so many cute placemats to use...LOVE THIS!
ReplyDeleteI love your new pillows. What a great touch the little beads are!
ReplyDeleteGretchen
birdnestcottage.typepad.com
That's a great idea! I've been running across a lot of "outside the box" pillow ideas lately. I'm dying to try some. Thanks for the how-to.
ReplyDeleteMary Lou
I luv the pillows. I am making outdoor pillows out of vinyl tablecloths, can't wait to use them. I luv your blog!
ReplyDeleteCool idea!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-throw-pillow-from-a-placemat/2009/07/12/
ReplyDelete--Anne
I'm also a fan of making (covering) pillows out of cloth napkins. I have bought 2 and stiched together or I bought fancy lined napkins, split a seam and shoved my pillow form inside. Easy-peasy!
ReplyDeleteyou are a genius.
ReplyDeletei must try this out. so that others may think i'm genius.
thanks for the tip!
What a great project! We just made one with great success - so cheap and easy! Right up our alley!
ReplyDeleteWe posted about it on our blog http://homemademamas.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing such a fantastic idea!
Sarah - I've done a few of these now and I've found an even easier way. I've found some beautiful placemats at Wal-Mart where they also have what they call a travel pillow. I just open one side of the place mat, stick the pillow in and fabric glue it back together. People think I'm crazy when I tell them - but it works! Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteI love these! I decided to make some after reading your post! I blogged about mine here: http://thriftyfindsandredesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/placemat-pillows.html
ReplyDeleteI love your blog!