How to: Make These Simple + Stylish DIY Geometric Pillows

Pillows placed on a chair. — Photo: Jeran McConnel

I can’t get enough of graphic grid patterns. It’s a clean, less busy version of plaid. Add a grid pattern to a space, and it instantly seems modern and current. I few months ago I hand drew an entire wall in a grid pattern. Ever since, I’ve been on the hunt for all for more grid patterns to add to my home. These bold pillows in a classic black and white grid are sure to stand out in any space.

A black pillow with white squares stacked above a white pillow with black squares. — Photo: Jeran McConnel

Black and white colored checks pillows. — Photo: Jeran McConnel

Here’s what you’ll need:

1/2 yard of white a black cotton duck cloth
1/4″ black or white grosgrain ribbon (about two spools)
sewing machine
scissors
14″ square pillow insert

A pillowcase and a ribbon near a pillow.

Begin by cutting the fabric. For a 14″ pillow form, the top of the pillow needs to be 16×16 inches. Instead of messing with a zipper, I decided to just make this pillow with a simple envelope enclosure. So, you will need to pieces of fabric that are 12×16 inches.

Three white square pieces of white cloth

Turn over twice and press the 16″ length side of the two back pieces of the pillow. Sew these down. These will make the opening to the envelope enclosure.

A white sheet of paper has been folded into fourths.

Take the top piece to the pillow and fold it in half twice and iron it so that your can see where the middle lines of the pillow are. These ironed lines with be your guides for sewing on the ribbon.

A black + plus sign dividing the white paper into equal fours on top of a gray and white counter top.

Start with these middle lines, sew the ribbon down with a simple straight stitch. I wanted my grid pattern to be a little organic and not perfectly straight lines, so a purposefully didn’t sew them right on the ironed line.