DIY Leather Pillow Tutorial & How To Sew A Zippered Pillow Cover (The EASY Way!)

By Mandi 07/30/2013

These leather pillows are one of my favorite projects to date. There is just something so satisfying about taking an unwanted item that was destined for the thrift store and/or dump, and turning it into that perfect something that you were unable to find.

DIY Leather Pillow Tutorial vintagerevivals

If you remember a couple of weeks ago I shared this post (that has the best title of my life. I mean, I know I will never top So…I Skinned A Couch. It is one for the ages.)   For those unfamiliar with this tale,  I bought a couch off of Craigslist with the sole purpose of cutting it apart to make pillows. Strange? Yes. Welcome to Vintage Revivals.

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Did you know that if you make a pillow with leather on both sides it is the equivalent of laying down on a floatie? You know floaties like the orange things you put on kids arms while they are swimming? It will take an hour for all of the air to drain out of your pillow…and 2 days to fill back up.

I wanted my pillows to be really slouchy and a little saggy and really used looking. A floatation device was not a good look for this project.

This simple fact left me at a crossroads. I could try and match the fabric to the leather and fake it. Or I could embrace the change of plans… what do you think I did?

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This is so much more than embracing. This is a full contact body hug,  the kind that lasts 15 seconds too long… with a bit of uncomfortable breathing.

I was a little concerned with the whole sewing through leather thing. But with the right needles it was like buttah. They make needles just for this type of job. They are called Leather Needles. Mind Blown.

Start by literally skinning a couch. Leave the leather as intact as possible.

Cut roughly the size of your pillow out of the leather (you may have to piece it together, which makes it all the more awesome. FYI.

DIY Leather Pillow Tutorial vintagerevivals.com

Fine tune your cut so that it is a perfect square. My pillow insert is euro size (26×26) AND I wanted it to be shluppy so I made it 29” square and allowed for a 1/2” seam.

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Cut the contrasting fabric to the same dimensions. I LOVE using  Duck Cloth for throw pillows. It is a really thick canvas that comes in about a billion colors at Joann’s. It usually runs $10.99 /yd,  so use a 40% of coupon to save a bit of cash! You are also going to want to snag a coordinating zipper. Don’t be scared. Zippers are easy.

The easiest way to sew a zipper into a pillow!  No skills required!!

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Place right sides together.

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Turn your machine to the longest stitch length.

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Sew your 2 pieces together with 1/2” seam allowance.

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Press your seam open and for goodness sake, the leather has already been tanned,  take care to not tan it more.

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Pin your zipper facedown in place. Now, I am a rule breaker at heart and sometimes just cant bring myself to do things the right way. Feel free to pin your zipper the whole way down, or if you are a rebel looking for a cause you can pin it at the top like me.

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Sew and backstitch over the upper part of your zipper a few times to tack in in place.

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Now with your sides still separated sew down one side of the zipper and then the other. Make sure your zipper stays lined up with the center seam.

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When both sides of your zipper are sewn in sew a horizontal stitch at the bottom of your zipper,  just like you did at the top.

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Now unpick the stitch between the leather and the canvas and TADA! There is your zipper! This is the best kind of magical surprises.

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Line up the right sides together again, and stitch the remaining 3 sides. Unzip the zipper a little to get it started and the finish unzipping it when everything is in place.

For really sharp corners cut off the excess before you turn it right sides out.

How To Sew a Pillow

 

Turn it right side out,  clip your threads,  stuff,  and enjoy!

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Leather Pillow Tutorial vintagerevivals.com

DIY Leather Pillow Tutorial www.vintagerevivals    Pillow from Homegoods,  Antique Kilim Rug

I actually made 3 of these cute guys for my bed,  but couldn’t wait until my wicker headboard was done to show you how great they turned out.

So what do you think? Was it worth a couch dying?

63 thoughts on “DIY Leather Pillow Tutorial & How To Sew A Zippered Pillow Cover (The EASY Way!)”

  1. It was definitely worth a couch dying!
    Looks awesome, also with the pink!

    And I'll be forever thankful that you showed how to sew a zipper the easy way – that's just a great idea. Thanks!

    Love, Midsommarflicka

  2. yes i love this!! although every time you wrote 'skinned a couch' i kept having awful flashbacks of silence of the lambs. (creepy) but i love the rough leather with bold happy color- it makes a good contrast!!!

  3. Oh dear, I've been sewing for so long and had no idea that was a way to install a zipper. that is SO FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

  4. It was totally worth it! Those came out great, and I love your coordinating color choice. Awesome job Mandi! …and I love the rest of what's going on in the pic. Love the MCM sofa, Aztec design pillow, Vintage Kilm Rug, and Potted Fig Tree!!!

  5. Oh, honey. That couch was already dead. You didn't hurt it a bit! It looks like it might have good bones though…any chance of a nice reupholstery job in the hands of the right person?

    Love that last photo…so simple and pretty.

    Love your blog.

  6. the leather and pink is SO GOOD! pillowcases can be so easy to make and they make such a difference, don't they?! It's my favorite thing to switch up a space and save some money by doing it myself!

  7. Totally worth the couch's sacrifice. They look amazing. Thanks for the tutorial. I stay away from zippers because I always mess them up. I thought it was because I don't like to carefully pin everything either but maybe this will help!

  8. This is so fun and creative! Loved the sewing zipper tip too.
    Unrelated question since you’re a spraypaint and leather whiz…. Ever spray painted leather? I’d love to update a couple ottomans on the cheap until we move and wondered if any brands are particularly flexible and adhesive. Many thx!

  9. Couldn’t you have used a leather jacket or a bag? To waste a couch like that is a false economy for 3 cushions. It only makes sense if you think about the money you spent and not about what happens when you just throw the rest of the couch away. This kind of recycling isn’t environmental it’s just selfish.

    1. Do you know how many couches end up at the dump anyway? Most people who thrift couches – myself included, more than once – have another couch at home that goes straight to the land fill.

      I love this project. In my mind I’m singing some made-up song now – “I did it all for the leather, for the leather, for the leather…” It’s late, I don’t even know.

      Seriously impressed with this. Perfect contrast.

  10. Pinned this for reference recently as I’m reupholstering a lounge (for the very first time) and knew I’d have to sew zippers (for the very first time!). I’ve just finished a zipper using your very clever technique and it worked beautifully, nowhere near as daunting as I thought it was going to be. I was so excited that I jumped straight on here to share my success! Thank you for sharing 😀

  11. What kind of sewing machine do you use for your projects? I am on the hunt for a sewing machine, and wanted to know if you had any recommendations.

    1. Hey Anna!
      I have a singer industrial. They are the gray ones. I bought it at Joann’s and like it!!
      xo
      m

  12. i love this!!! and skinning a couch…genius! love your blog, you are hilarious! and i am so jealous of your homegoods, the one in orem, ut just isn’t the same!

  13. Mandi,
    Will you please please please tell me what you used for filling and where you found it?

    1. Hey Erin!
      I usually search Homegoods first for clearance pillows with down inserts! That is what I did with these guys!
      xo
      m

  14. I love the couch the pillows are on!!!

    Needing new couch for living room.

    Where did you get it??

    Thanks!!

  15. I’ve heard it isn’t good to backstitch when sewing leather. (Those holes are permanent — they don’t “self heal” like woven fabric — and too many stitches can effectively “cut” the leather.) The pillow looks great — myself, I would’ve chosen a fabric closely resembling the leather, so it didn’t draw the eye, but hey — I’m a big fan of pink, so it’s all good. 😉 Also, I routinely find leather skirts for a few bucks at my nearby thrift store, so I’m thinking I’ll do that before I’d buy/skin a couch. (Fewer left-over parts to worry about disposing.) If you can save a couch from the landfill, though — do it! Thanks for the tutorial — enjoyed it! 🙂

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