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Easy Primitive Throw Pillow Tutorial (Americana)

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Since I love primitive decor so much, I’m excited to share this easy primitive throw pillow tutorial with you. DIY throw pillows are a great way to change up your decor on a frugal budget. So I’m always looking for homemade pillow ideas to change up the decor in our house just a bit.

I have a love for sewing with my machine, but to be honest, I pretty much stink at it. But that is the awesome part of primitive decor. It uses all these wonderful muted, rustic, and forgiving colors.

If you make a mistake, so what? Since it’s based on a folk art style of early American culture when everything was sewn by hand, mistaking mistakes makes it look even more authentic!

So just how do you make basic throw pillows? Let’s find out!

Easy Primitive Throw Pillow tutorial Step by step

Tools & Supplies:

handmade decorative throw pillow with a primitive star. Americana red white and blue

Directions for This Easy To Make Pillow Tutorial

Measure and Cut Fabric

1). Cutting Red Throw Pillow Front

Of course, you know that a throw pillow has both a back and front. And normally, you would lay the fabric out flat, sides face to face, and measure.

But, since we are making this simple Americana throw pillow, you will need to make the front first and then cut the back piece to size. This is because, with the American Flag design, the fabric will vary or change just a bit with stitching.

I haven’t listed the tools in this image because they are not completely necessary, but they make the cutting much quicker and straighter. This is my Olpha Cutting Mat, my rolling cutter, and my straight edge cutting ruler. The set is called a Rotary Cutting Set.

Easy throw pillow tutorial  red homespun fabric cut to make an Americana primitive throw pillow
Pillow Front Cut to Size + 1/2 inseam allowance

Cut red check homespun fabric for this particular pillow to a 12 x 22-inch piece. This allows for a 1/2 inch seam allowance on all sides. This does not have to be exact. What you will need to pay attention to be wide enough to have at least 3 white muslin stripes.

TIP: When decorating anything, always work in ODD numbers – “3 of this and 5 of that.”

I knew I wanted my finished handmade throw pillow to be at least 21 inches long, so I basically divided the width in half and then made it divisible by 3 this is how I got 12.

2). Blue Star Fabric For Primitive Throw Pillow

Now that you have the front side cut to size, with the blue cotton fabric, measure a 5×7 inch piece and cut it out. (I came up with this size because 7 is 1/3 of 21)

Remember, the primitive decor is so forgiving. Since it is all handmade, every piece is different. If you prefer your star area to be a different size, cut it to the size you prefer. When you have it cut, pin it face-side up to the red-check front.

Now, turn the piece over (making the backside of the red-check fabric face up). Using sharp fabric scissors, carefully cut to remove the red homespun. ****NOTE: cut the red-check fabric 1 inch SMALLER than the blue cotton fabric. SEE the IMAGE below. This will give you seam allowance.

red homespun fabric cut to 1 inch smaller that stars cotton for making handmade throw pillow
Blue cotton fabric star area trimmed out for seaming together

Don’t worry; it will get reattached.

3). Ripping White Stripes of Throw Pillow

Now rip 3 – 2 inch pieces 23 inches long. “Rip or tear” don’t cut!, You’ll want roughly finished edges. These will be a bit longer than your pillow but will trim them off. And using straight pins, pin them to the red fabric spaced about the same distance apart.

PAY ATTENTION to how far you have the top and bottom one from the edges. You will need to leave room for a 1/2 seam. So don’t put them too close.

white muslin strips pinned to red homespun to stitch in place
Muslin strips pinned in place to the front piece

Next, the 2 stripes on top of the blue star square pin this BEHIND, or to the back of the blue cotton fabric.

TIP: Pay attention to where the CENTER stripe is the BOTTOM of the blue cotton fabric. You don’t want the edge to be below the corner of the fabric.

stars and stripes ready to pin onto from homespun fabric of Americana Primitive Flag
Stripes ripped and evenly spaced to Americana Primitive Flag

Using straight pins, pin the white stripes to the red homespun fabric and behind the blue cotton fabric.

4). Sewing Primitive Pillow Front All Together

Since we now have your front side of the primitive throw pillow all pinned together. Let’s start sewing with our machine. Of course, if you don’t own a machine, this is a very simple pillow to make and can be hand-sewn with an easy straight stitch.

Begin with the blue cotton; from the backside, sew a 1/2 inch seam around the 3 sides, being sure to “catch” the white stripes.” Don’t worry; we will sew the top edge to the backside of your primitive handmade pillow.

attaching star corner to front of pillow
Decorative star area stitched to the front.

Next, flip the front side up, and make 2 seams the length of the white stripes about 1/2 inch from the edges. Be careful not to stitch onto the blue star area. I start at the blue cotton star area and sew in the opposite direction.

beautiful decorative throw pillow getting white stripes for American flag stitched on
Sewing muslin stripes on Primitive Pillow

5). Creating and Attaching Primitive STAR For Primitive Pillow

It’s looking awesome! I knew you had it in you to make a designer pillow! Let’s add the star. I’ve included the star in the pattern for you just in case you need it.

Hand drawing primitive stars are not my forte, so I thought it might help. If you don’t need it, great! Great! You are more talented than me.

Cut out the star pattern. TIP: I use card stock or manila folders to cut out all my patterns so they can be reused. I organize them all in file folders with my patterns.

A good idea before we sew on the primitive star is to iron the throw pillow front and start making them flat.

primitive star pinned to blue cotton to sew on throw pillow
Primitive star cut and pinned to attach to the primitive pillow

Cut out one primitive star and pin it to the blue cotton fabric. Pay attention again to how close you are to the edge. Remember the 1/2 seam allowance to attach the back.

Primitive pillow pattern ad $3.95

Sew a straight stitch around the star. Pay attention to how close you come to the “tips” the last stitch needs to be a 1/8 inch or so from the “tip.” This will help to keep the points “sharp.”

sewing primitive star onto handmade primitive pillow
Stitching primitive star to rustic Americana throw pillow

An easy way to do this is for the last couple of stitches, manually turn the wheel on your machine and get really close, then hold the needle down, lift the foot and spin the fabric to sew back the other direction. Do this to the whole star.

6). Embroidering hand Stitching Pillow

Using the Black DMC thread, sew a running stitch on top of the seams of the star and stripes of white muslin. I like to use 3 strands when I work with DMC thread, but this is totally up to you. I enjoy emphasizing the black stitches to appear “hand-sewn.”

7). Attaching the back

We are coming around to the end of your gorgeous primitive pillow. The back is really simple to attach. I used muslin for my pillow back. I love the feel and look of it for the aged primitive look.

Lay the completed pillow front down really flat and cut muslin fabric about 3/4 inch wider than the front around all four sides.

Flip pillow front FACE DOWN on muslin back and pin together all the way around. Begin sewing on the bottom of the pillow about 6 inches from the right side -reversed. In other words, think of the pillow after it’s sewn and ready to fill. You want to begin from the right side bottom about 6 inches.

cutting back 1 inch larger to attach to front.
Cutting back to attach to the primitive handmade pillow

Sew a 1/2 seam all around the pillow, again paying attention to the star and the stripes. Don’t get too close.

TIP: On the corners, do as you did on the star, hold down the needle, lift the foot, and spin the fabric to sew the next side.

When you get to the bottom right, flip the fabric, needle down, sew to about 2 inches from the corner, and stop. This leaves a 4-5 inch opening to fill your pillow.

opening left for stuffing fiberfill into primitive pillow
6 inch opening for stuffing fiberfill

Trim off your longer white stripes to the edge of your other fabrics. Trim corners to reduce bulk, and be careful not to cut stitches.

Turn handmade pillow inside-out which brings your finished side out.

7). DIY Stuffing Your Primitive Pillow

Your easy handmade pillow is now coming to life. I love seeing my imperfections because this is what makes primitive decorating so unique. Now, this simple throw pillow has come to life! Isn’t it a delightful primitive throw pillow!

After turning, use your fingers and press out the four corners to create the shape and remove the bulk.

blinding stitching throw pillow closed
Whipstitch closed the bottom after filling it with fiberfill

Use Fiberfill and stuff the pillow to your desired firmness, and whip stitch the opening on the bottom closed.

primitive throw pillow ad for instant download pattern

Here it is! All finished up. If you see your imperfections – GREAT! This is what makes primitive crafting so unique. This is nothing more than a basic decorative throw pillow.

cute handmade Americana primitive pillow on a bench
Adorable Handmade Decorative Throw Pillow

This simple throw pillow would make a great addition to the couch or front porch for the July 4th holiday, a perfect gift for the holidays, or even a birthday gift.

Don’t you just love this easy primitive throw pillow tutorial? It’s so unique and special!

More Primitive Tutorials You Will Love

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3 thoughts on “Easy Primitive Throw Pillow Tutorial (Americana)”

    1. Hi Nancy,

      I’m excited you are making this. It’s perfect for the upcoming 4th of July! Did you grab my pattern from the store? It walks you through step by step, along with the cutout pattern for the materials. If not, here’s the link so you can grab it. https://payhip.com/b/1qXnZ I didn’t do much to it. I did wash my fabric before using it, though.

      Hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions. I’m happy to help.

  1. Carmen Montmarquet

    This is a very cute pillow! Thank You for the tutorial and for all your fabulous primitive tutorials! I appreciate them very much!

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