DIY Sunflower Pillow: Brighten Your Home with a Cozy Fabric Blossom

Bring cheerful, handmade charm to any room with this DIY sunflower pillow. Using scrap fabrics, burlap, and simple knotting techniques, you can create a textured, cozy lumbar pillow cover that looks like a layered sunflower. Below is a clear supplies list and step-by-step guide to help you complete the project, plus tips to keep the back of your cover clean while glueing.

Supplies

Here are the supplies I used to create this Sunflower Craft Idea.

Lumbar pillow cover

Yellow scrap fabric

Gray scrap fabric

Brown burlap scrap

Brown felt

Permanent fabric glue

Sharpie marker

Step 1 — Plan and Mark Your Design

I suggest drawing your sunflower design on paper first to establish scale and petal placement. Use a round object to outline the flower center, then sketch petals around it to determine how large each will be. Transfer the design directly to the front of the pillow cover using a sharpie; this becomes your glue and placement guide.

Step 2 — Prepare Your Scrap Fabrics

Cut a 1/2" notch at the end of each fabric scrap and pull the fabric to rip it into strips — ripping helps the fabric edge curl slightly for added texture. Remove any loose threads as you go. For the gray scrap, cut a 1/2" wide strip and tie knots along its length as close together as possible. For the felt, cut a 1/4" strip and tie knots in the same way. Keep a supply of knotted and ripped strips ready to attach.

Step 3 — Protect the Backing and Attach Centers

Place a protective barrier (plastic, cardboard, or cardstock) inside the pillow cover to prevent glue from seeping through to the back side. Apply permanent fabric glue to the marked centers of each sunflower and press the brown burlap piece into the glue to form the flower center.

Step 4 — Build the Petals

Work one petal at a time. Add fabric glue along the petal outline, then take a yellow fabric strip, twist it, and press it into the glue starting at the flower center and working outward toward the petal edge. Trim the twisted strip at the petal center and continue twisting and pressing in concentric rows until the petal is filled to your liking.

Step 5 — Finish the Center Texture

Cut apart the knotted felt pieces and remove excess felt from the ends. Add glue to the burlap center and press the felt knots into place to add dimension and texture. Next, circle the knotted gray fabric around the outer edge of the flower center and trim any extra knots. Apply additional knots individually to fill any visible gaps.

Step 6 — Add Stem and Final Touches

Cut a slim strip of brown felt to use as the stem and glue it in place if desired. Once all pieces are securely glued, allow the pillow cover to dry overnight before inserting your pillow filler. After drying, trim any stray fibers for a neat finish and enjoy your new sunflower accent pillow.

Tips: Work in small sections so glue does not dry before pieces are positioned. Keep extra scraps on hand to patch gaps or add more texture. Use a firm protective insert inside the cover while glueing to ensure a smooth back surface.