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DIY Fringed Dish Towel Pillow Cover

March 10, 2020

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Kitchen Towel With Green Fringe

Perhaps you hadn't noticed, but I have a thing for pretty fabric. I don't know when it started, this obsession of mine, all I know is that I love being surrounded by beautiful patterns.

I mix checks and stripes with flowers, big and small.

There are valances on every window, skirts on tables and chairs, pleats covering my glass cabinets and pillows everywhere.

Oh those pillows.

I think they may be my favorite way to accent a room.

And since they're small and easy to make, I can get my new fabric fix easily and inexpensively.

My favorite.

Today's fringed kitchen towel pillow cover is a perfect example.

I was in JoAnn's looking around for material to cover my Christmas placemat pillow and I came across this brightly colored dish towel.

Kitchen Towel with flowers and fringe

The green was the exact same tone as the green in my bedroom and newly redecorated master bath. Interesting.

It also had some bold colors and a cute saying about gardens, appropriate for spring and summer. Even better.

Plus, it was on sale for $2.99. Sold.

Now, if you've seen my Easter Bunny Pom Pom pillow you know I've already cheated my way to a great pillow without the extra step of adding trim, by using a kitchen towel.

Pom poms and fringe, trim of any kind really, make such a difference in design. Unfortunately, adding it can be tedious and annoying. At least that's how I feel.

Anyone else?

Well, if you feel the same, you're going to love this pillow.

Not only is the trim already attached, but I made this pillow with two quick passes through the machine. Two.

How To Make An Easy Fringed Kitchen Towel Pillow Cover


As I said, I already made one of these dish towel pillow covers last year, but I wasn't thrilled with the way I closed it up.

So this time, I came up with a better plan.

And it's actually an easier plan, because it only involves those two seams. Plus the fringe really stands out this way.

Originally, I was going to cover my Christmas pillow, but at the store I noticed the inserts were 50% off, so I bought a new one...a 12x12 square which worked out really well for my needs.

Pillow Insert

1. Measure It Out


I started by laying my towel out, printed side down, placing my pillow on it and folding the sides in to get a proper size. They needed to be even with the pillow width, so it'd be tight when I stitched it up. No wrinkles allowed.

DIY Easy Pillow Cover with Kitchen towel

2. Wrap It Up


Next, I wrapped the pillow in the towel, bottom first, then top, so it overlapped. I made sure the top did not get pulled all the way down on purpose. I had the fringe float an inch or two from the bottom. Then I pinned it together.

Dish Towel Wrapped Around Pillow T0 make A cover

3. Sew It Up


I turned it inside out and ran it through the machine on the two open sides. If you don't sew, you can use an iron on tape to close up those sides, as well. I don't recommend fabric glue, I like the fusible web (like this kind) much better.

Making A Pillow Cover From A Towel  Folded over and stitched up the sides

4. Flip It


At this point, I just flipped it back, so it was right side out. Note the very big opening at that flap. That is where you will place your pillow. Also note the fact that I didn't stitch the folded ends of the towel with the fringe in place. That's fine, once I stuffed the pillow they were snug.

Pocket Pillow Cover With Fringe

5. Stuff It


And that's what I did. I stuffed my pillow inside that opening and then I fluffed it until it all looked smooth. I used my pinky finger to pop the corners out. Lastly, I pulled that bottom flap up and over the pillow and tucked it underneath the top fabric with the fringe.

Easy DIY Fringe Pillow Cover

When I was all done...and seriously, this took me all of about 5 minutes...I had a darling new spring home decor accent for my master bedroom.

A super sweet envelope pillow cover constructed in mere minutes. From an ordinary dish towel.

Fringed floral pillow cover made from a dish towel

And I didn't even have to add that delicious trim, since it was already attached.

Fabulous.

Of course, along the way, I did make a pitstop at my desk and popped it on my new office chair. I couldn't resist...and while I loved the way it looked, it really was meant for my bed.

Floral fringed DIY dish towel pillow on a chair

So I kept walking.

But don't worry.

I have a new pillow in the works for the chair.

It's much more appropriate for a kitchen space.

Although what could be more appropriate than a dish towel in a kitchen is beyond me.

Guess you'll just have to trust me.

Gotcha thinking now, don't I?

Floral Kitchen Towel Easy Dish Towel Pillow Cover Tutorial



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  1. So cute! The fringe is perfect and the beauty of it is that you don't need to add a zipper. Yup, you got me thinking...

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    1. Thanks Donna!! Zippers are my nemesis, so this is a super simple way to close it up. And that fringe…

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  2. You made such a pretty pillow Kim and it's just perfect for spring home decorating! Yay for spring weather. :)

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    1. Thanks Julie...and yes, my forsythia hedge is already blooming!! C'mon spring!!

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  3. How fabulous is this Kim. I love that garden saying and the fringe already being attached is awesome! Love how easy this was to make into a pillow cover. Love it Kim.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris! Suuuper easy. Just the way I like it. 😉

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  4. This came out so pretty! You are so talented. I end up cursing and wanting to throw my sewing machine out the window whenever I attempt to sew.

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    1. Thanks Briana!! Oh, but don't be fooled, trust me, I have had my share of mishaps...my sewing machine and I have a rocky relationship. I have a good mess up story to share later this month. This one was easy, two seams!!

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  5. I love these kind of nifty tricks of the trade Kim! This pillow looks amazing, and how wonderful that it took you all of 5 minutes to create it! It looks lovely on your chair :) Always fun to do these kinds of DIYs!! Blessings :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Marilyn! I love those 5 minute crafts. And sewing has been a lovely diversion from the news…Blessings to you!

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  6. Kim, you are so crafty. Ilove how it turned out.

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    1. Thanks Linda! It was a quick and easy one to make.

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  7. Kim such cuteness! I love it and sounds sew easy! Once I dig my machine out from under (don't ask what of) I will attempt one..Happy Tuesday..xxoJudy

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    1. It really is sew easy, Judy! This one took me about five minutes from start to finish. If you make one, you'll have to let me know!

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  8. Very clever and I think that having the trim on the front instead of on the edge is perfect

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    1. I really like it there, too, Lorri! It’s not getting squished at the bottom!

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  9. That is so adorable! I like the way you think!

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    1. Thanks Mandy! I'm just always looking for the easy way out.

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  10. Kim,

    This is so dang cute!! Love the fringe. I don't have a sewing machine. Would fabric glue do the trick?

    Of course I'll look for towels similar with fringe and won find them.

    Cindy

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    1. Thanks Cindy!! You can definitely make this with iron on tape. I don't really recommend fabric glue since I don't like the way it bonds, but you could try it.

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  11. It's beautiful! I especially like that it mentions "garden." And that is one of my favorite shades of green, which is my favorite color.
    Brenda

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    1. Thanks so much, Brenda! I love that color green, too. Green is actually my favorite color as well. There's lot of it in my house, the red is mostly for the pop!

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  12. You are so clever! Now I need to go through the linens I found at that estate sale and make pillows...oh, and find those pillow inserts on sale!

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    1. Thanks Ann! Hope you share what you make!

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  13. So cute!!!!!!! I admit, I cannot use a sewing machine. Never learned. Wish I could, I would sew curtains and pillow covers and all sorts of cute things!

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    1. Oh my goodness Debbie, with your skills you could totally sew. It's like driving a car. So easy...

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  14. You have some very pretty fabrics . I had some I got from my late mother in law who was a professional seamstress.

    My son is 47 and my daughter is 40. So will get those fabrics someday.

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    1. Thank you so much. I really do love it. Funny as a kid my aunt used to drag us around to quilt shops and I was bored out of my brain. Now I could spend hours in those stores looking at fabric. Times change...And I bet your fabric is lovely from your mother in law. They don't make things like they used to...thanks so much for sharing with us today!

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  15. Okay at the risk of sounding crazy, but she looks like a little dancer with her fringed hem. She's beautiful Kim. One of a kind.

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    1. I hear you, Michelle. I get it...and I love what your artist's eye sees...amazing.

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