Placemat Throw Pillow

INSIDE : Check out how to create this beautiful thrifted placemat throw pillow! Not only is it very budget friendly, but it’s a wonderful addition to any room. Learn how to sew your placemat pillow today.

Thrift Store Placemat Throw Pillow

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Today I have yet another amazing maker to share with you all!  As I mentioned last week, we are enjoying some lovely family time in Florida with my in-laws, so I’ve asked a few super talented friends to guest post for me.

Be sure to check out How to paint Watercolor Agate Slices from last week!

And today, I’m so excited to introduce my third guest blogger, Alice from Thoughts from Alice.  I’ve never met someone who can so easily take thrift store finds and turned them into the most lovely decor you’ve ever seen.  She has a true talent! Take it away, Alice…

Hello Delineate Your Dwelling Readers! I am Alice W. and I am so excited to be here with you today. I was thrilled when Amy asked me to guest post for her, as I am one of her biggest fans.

I love the challenge of transforming what others may overlook or discard, into new and creative decor pieces. So, today, I have a fun project that I recently did turning inexpensive thrift store placemats into a cute bohemian style Placemat Throw Pillow.

Throw Pillow on white fur rug

Where to buy 90’s style secondhand placemats

I picked up these placemats from my favorite church thrift store. It was $5.00 bag sale day when I was there. My favorite!

It might seem crazy that these southwestern, pastel placemats stood out to me when I saw them, but they did! They were screaming to be given a second chance.

This style was probably all the rage in the eighties and early nineties, but most people aren’t decorating their dining tables with these anymore.

Thrifted 90's placemats

The pattern, however, is right on trend and one that I personally love. They also have great texture, so the wheels immediately started turning. I knew they would make great throw pillows, and the colors would go well in my daughter Hazel’s room.

How to turn inexpensive thrift store placemats into Bohemian Throw Pillows

I wanted to make these pillows as simple as possible and I liked the fringe on the edges, so I decided to simply sew the two together on the outside and stuff it.

The pattern colors were different on the front and back, so I used one side of each for the pillow, so both could be seen once the pillow was complete.

I started by washing and drying the placemats, and then chose a coordinating thread. I went with a pale mint green.

Aztec placemat design

I sewed the two longer sides and one shorter side with a straight stitch. 

I also decided to do a zig zag stitch to make sure it stayed together well. Even though this part was going to be seen, it seemed to add to the design and texture. You could always use a more decorative stitch if preferred.

Sewing a placemat pillow

To finish it up, I decided to leave one side completely open and use polyester fiber fill to stuff it. I knew it would be trickier to get it sewn up on the machine, but I wanted to have freedom to get the stuffing nice and even without lumps.

Fringe Pillow

I pinned up the open end and then this is where having a super helpful husband comes in handy. I had him hold the pillow for me, as I sewed it up.

It worked out great and this pillow literally only took about twenty minutes to make.

Southwest Throw Pillow

If you like this idea and are out and about at thrift stores, flea markets or garage sales this spring, be on the lookout for placemats, thin rugs, or fabrics with great patterns and textures.

Even if their original purpose was something quite different, these items can often be transformed to something fresh and current, without the cost of buying new.

Bohemian Pastel pillow
Placemat thrifted pillow

I hope you will consider visiting me over on my own blog and following along with me on social media as well! You can find me at the following:

Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter 

Thank you Amy for letting me share this post on your lovely and creative blog!

Till next time…

~Alice W.

Wow, I would have never seen these placemats and thought lovely throw pillow but goodness, I love them!  Thank you so much Alice for inspiring us to take a second look the next time we head to a thrift shop.  Be sure to stop by and send her a big hello from me!

And if you are interested in more Thrifting content, check these out…

25 Comments

  1. I love this idea! I also love the pattern and colors of this pillow. Now if I could only find something similar 🙂

  2. Aww, so sweet! This little pillow give those place-mats a whole new outlook on life! :o]

    Tania

  3. This is such a great project! (And I just love Alice BTW) The fringe on the edging works perfect for a pillow. Who knew! Thanks so much for sharing on Found & Foraged.

  4. Amy, I freakin’ LOVE this placemat pillow, what a great find! Oh and your photos are beautiful too, the whole space is inspiring 🙂

  5. oooh my…such a treasure! love to see those placemates turn into a beautiful pillow…I really love this DIY idea..cheers..

  6. I love this idea! What an easy project and great way to re-purpose a placemat. Awesome. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week. 🙂

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Ah, thanks so much for the feature Desiree! Can’t wait to link up again this week.

  7. What a great tutorial- thank you for posting. I’m currently trying to figure out what to do about throw pillows, because I don’t love what I currently have. I’m also loving the placemats you used- great find!

    I stopped by from the Inspiration Spotlight link party.

  8. Love this. I have made some of these before its so frugal & easy. I also have made them out of small throw rugs too!
    You did a great job! This caught my eye on Inspiration Spotlight Link up today!

  9. What a great idea to make a pillow out of a placemat! I never would have thought, but will now!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks Elizabeth! Alice definitely has me thinking twice when I go into a thrift shop now.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      I know, I bow down to Alice and her thrifting skills!

  10. LOVE this! Great thrift find, and great way to use them 🙂
    Pinning as inspiration for feature thrift store trips.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks so much, Alexandra! I’m inspired, too!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks for the follow, Val! I just started following you, too.

  11. i need to sew more- i love this! love the colors- what a perfect find!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      I know, the colors are great! Alice did an amazing job.

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