How to Make a Cute DIY Valentine Pillow in No Time

Want to make a heart-themed pillow? Create this DIY Valentine pillow for a fun personal touch to your home decor.

The step-by-step tutorial makes it easy to sew a heart pillow for a charming Valentine’s Day accent.

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It’s the month of love, and I’ve been feeling a little crafty lately!

There are so many fun and easy Valentine crafts to make from heart topiaries to yarn-wrapped hearts to paper heart garlands, but I decided it was time for a Valentine’s Day pillow craft! And the best part about this project was using supplies I already had on hand in my home!

I love to keep plain throw pillow covers such as these on hand for just such a creative endeavor; however, I found myself without a ready-made option on hand when the inspiration struck. Fortunately, I had a piece of off-white fabric from another project that was perfect for this DIY lumbar pillow over.

A neutral antelope print adds a little pattern and texture to a room, and I thought it would be fun to incorporate this design into my Valentine pillow for a pretty neutral look. I just so happened to have a fabric scrap in an antelope print from a previous pillow project.

I’ve always loved bringing a touch of handmade charm to my home decor, and what better occasion to do so than Valentine’s Day?  This neutral heart-themed pillow combines a classic fabric with a touch of whimsy to create a fun and affordable DIY Valentine accent in your home. I’m excited to share this step-by-step tutorial with you so you can design and create your very own Valentine pillow.

Gather Your Materials for a DIY Heart Pillow:

When it comes to creating a DIY Valentine pillow, you’ll need to gather the right materials to bring the vision to life. For this fun and inexpensive DIY, you’ll need a background fabric and an accent fabric to create the hearts. I used an off-white fabric for my pillow and the neutral antelope print for the heart designs.

To make this project super easy, simply purchase a ready-made off-white pillow cover and you’ll be ready to go!

I chose to stitch my hearts onto the pillow, and used my sewing machine to do so. As an alternative, you could use fabric glue, a glue gun, or fusible bonding web (such as Stitch Witchery) to secure the hearts to your pillow cover. 

You’ll also need thick, fuzzy yarn to outline your hearts. Again, I stitched my yarn to the pillow cover, but you could also simply glue this on.

Once your pillow is complete, you’ll need a lumbar pillow insert for a plump and cozy look.

Supplies

• Off-white fabric or plain lumbar pillow cover
• Antelope print fabric (or fabric in a print design of your choice)
• Thick fuzzy yarn
• Sewing machine
• ​Off-white thread
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Pin cushion
• Paper for heart template
• Pencil
• Fabric glue or hot glue gun and sticks(optional for alternative non-sew method)
• Stitch Witchery (optional for alternative non-sew method)
• Iron  (optional for alternative non-sew method)
• Lumbar pillow insert

​How to Make a DIY Heart Pillow for Valentine’s Day

There are many ways to make this Valentine pillow. I chose to sew my pillow, but I’m sharing an alternative no-sew method as well.

Designing Your Heart Template

I drew my own heart template for the pillow on a piece of card stock paper. I folded the paper in half, drew half of a heart along the fold, then cut out the heart shape. If freehand drawing isn’t your forte, you can easily find heart templates online and print one out. 

When adjusting the size of the heart template for different pillow sizes, consider the proportions and balance. For larger pillows, a bigger heart template might be more fitting, while smaller pillows will benefit from a smaller heart. Keeping the heart proportional to the pillow size ensures a visually appealing final result.

Cutting Your Fabric

To cut out the first heart, pin your heart template onto the antelope print fabric and then cut out around the template pattern. Repeat this process to create the second and third hearts from the additional pieces of fabric.

Sewing Your Pillow

Arrange your three fabric hearts on your pillow cover evenly spaced apart. I used a ruler to make sure the hearts were appropriately spaced.

Use straight pins to secure the heart pieces in place before sewing.

Start sewing from the top-center of the heart, using a 1/8 inch seam allowance. Just stitch as close to the edge of the heart as possible. Continue sewing around the heart shape, pivoting at the curves to maintain accuracy. Repeat for all three hearts.

Adding the Yarn Trim

Outlining the hearts with a fuzzy textured yarn really takes this DIY pillow up a notch! I actually doubled-up my yarn for a thicker, fuller look. Simply twist two long pieces of yarn together, wrap the yarn around the outline of the heart, pinning it on as you go to secure the yarn in place. I did one heart at a time instead of adding the yarn to all three hearts at once.

Once the heart is pinned in place, secure it to the pillow cover by stitching it with the sewing machine. Remove each straight pin as you go.

The end result is such a fun piece of Valentines Day decor to use around your home! Since I chose neutral fabrics, this pillow works beautifully in any space!

Alternative Methods Without Sewing

You can certainly create this pillow using no-sew methods. Simply begin with a ready-made pillow cover. Instead of sewing your hearts and yarn onto the pillow, simply apply a small amount of glue (either fabric glue or hot glue) along the edge of the fabric hearts and press them onto the pillow cover, ensuring the edges are secure. Repeat the process for all the fabric hearts to complete the design. 

​You can also glue the yarn into place around each heart instead of sewing.

An iron-on fabric bonding adhesive such as Stitch Witchery can also be used to attach the hearts to the pillow cover. Make sure to follow the adhesive instructions for a secure attachment. This method provides another no-sew option for creating this charming Valentine’s Day pillow.

Caring for Your Valentine Pillow

To maintain the pristine condition of your pillow, spot cleaning is usually the best course of action. Gently blot any spills or stains with a mild detergent and a soft, damp cloth, taking care not to rub and spread the blemish further. Depending on the fabric and method used, some pillows may be machine washable, while others require hand washing to preserve their beauty. Be sure to follow the specific care instructions for the materials you selected. When not in use, storing your pillow in a clean, dry place will help protect it from dust and potential damage, ensuring that it remains a cherished part of your home decor for years to come.

How to Style the Valentine Pillow

​The neutral heart-themed pillow works beautifully in so many places around our home. 

It’s perfect on our sofa paired with our blue and cream pillows.

I think I love this cute heart pillow best styled in an accent chair in our kitchen bay window next to our buffet! I paired it with this pink and white hand painted bamboo trellis pillow for a classic look. I love how it looks with the faux tulips!

Sharing the Love

Of course, you don’t have to this DIY pillow all to yourself. It makes a wonderful and thoughtful DIY Valentine’s Day gift! The personal touch of a handmade item is a great opportunity to show your care and creativity. Your fun pillow creation has the power to brighten someone’s day and make them feel cherished. 

I hope this DIY Valentine pillow post inspires you to get creative and add a personal touch to your Valentine decor. Crafting this adorable heart-themed pillow not only adds a personal touch to the home but also infuses each space with an air of elegance and warmth. Don’t be afraid to be creative with your design and craft something uniquely your own. The possibilities are endless!

Happy Valentine’s Day!