DIY Outdoor Throw Pillows: An Ultra-Easy Tutorial

Sew your own DIY outdoor throw pillows with this easy step by step tutorial! You can use your outdoor fabric as-is or use paint and fabric stencils.

The Easiest Outdoor Pillows! Collage of images of blue outdoor throw pillows being stenciled, stuffed, and sewn.

Making outdoor throw pillows is exactly the same as making indoor throw pillows. Whaaaaat????? The only difference is the fabric you use- and maybe the choice of filling too. But the making part? Exactly the same! And oh-so-simple.

How to Make Outdoor Throw Pillows

If you never got the chance to make a pillow in home-ec class, here’s your chance! Pillows are pretty much the easiest beginner sewing project out there.

Materials

outdoor fabric
heavy-duty thread
polyester fiber-fill batting (or a waterproof pillow insert)
white acrylic craft paint

Tools

stencil
stencil brush
paper plate
sewing machine
hand-sewing needle
sewing pins
sewing scissors
sewing tape measure

Directions

1. Measure and Cut Fabric

Two rectangles cut from solid blue water-resistant outdoor fabric.

I’m making rectangular lumbar pillows, so I cut two _________ rectangles from the outdoor fabric for each pillow.

2. Place the Stencil

I ordered this set of inexpensive Morroccan tile stencils from Amazon, and I used a different pattern on each of my four outdoor pillows.

It’s probably a good idea to practice stenciling on a piece of scrap farbric before you do the real thing. It’s easy enough, but takes a tiny bit of practice.

Outdoor fabric being stenciled with a Moroccan tile pattern and white craft paint

I found that it works well to do the first stencil in the center of the fabric, and then work out from there. As you can see, I did this one diagonally.

3. Load The Brush

Pour a small puddle of paint on the paper plate. Dip the stencil brush in the paint lightly, and then swirl it on an unused section of the plate to remove any excess paint.

woman using a stencil brush to apply paint to blue outdoor fabric for DIY outdoor pillows

4. Apply The Paint

Hold the stencil brush perpendicular to the fabric, and apply the paint with a dab-dab-dab motion. I like to hold the stencil down with my other hand. Continue until the stencil pattern is all filled in.

close-up of hand using a stencil brush to apply white paint to blue indoor/outdoor fabric using a fabric stencil

Carefully remove and wash the stencil between each use. Continue the pattern to cover all the cloth. Then let it dry for several hours.

5. Lay Out The Fabric

I only stenciled one side of my pillows, and my fabric doesn’t have a “right” side. I laid out the two pieces, with the patterned side on the inside.

Two rectangles of cobalt blue fabric on laying with right sides together, ready to be pinned

6. Pin

Pin the two pieces together with the sewing pins. I started by placing two pins about 5 inches apart on the left side. I inserted the perpendicular to the edge of the fabric to mark where I will leave an opening for stuffing.