Updated on March 2, 2023
How to Make a Sequin Christmas Tree Pillow. Learn how to make a sparkly rainbow sequin Christmas tree pillow for your holiday decor.
Lately, wreaths and pillows are my favorite things to DIY. Pillows can instantly change out the look of a room. And I especially like to make pillow covers specific for each holiday. Since you can re-use the pillow inserts, the pillow covers can be neatly stored and don’t take up too much space!
I have teamed up with Fairfield World for a Holiday Pillow Party! Thank you to Fairfield World for sending my pillow inserts to use in my project.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge. Please read my full disclosure policy.
How to Make a Sequin Christmas Tree Pillow
This pillow is fairly easy to make, but sewing on all the sequins can be a bit time consuming. Grab your favorite hot beverage, put on a cozy holiday movie, and let’s get started.
Supplies:
- Fairfield World Pillow Insert
- Pillow Cover
- Fabric
- Heat ‘N’ Bond Interfacing
- Sequins
- Seed Beads
- Quilter’s Thread
- Sewing Machine
Note: When choosing a pillow cover for the pillow insert, choose a size that is slightly smaller than the insert to ensure a nice, full pillow. My insert is 20″ x 20″ and my pillow cover is 18″ x 18″ and it turned out perfect!
Cut Out a Fabric Christmas Tree
Draw or print a template for a Christmas tree. You can search “Christmas tree coloring page” or “Christmas tree printable template” on Google. I found a Christmas tree coloring page that I liked. I opened it in Adobe Reader. Under print settings, I chose the poster option and increased the size to 150%.
The tree pattern prints out on four pages. Use the guides in the corners to trim the paper and tape it together to create the tree template.
Note: You could also use a Cricut machine to cut out the Christmas tree shape, as well.
Using the tree template as a guide, cut equal size pieces of the fabric and iron-on adhesive. Make sure the piece is big enough to fit your template but not so giant that you waste a lot of extra fabric.
Follow the instructions on your particular iron-on adhesive. For mine, you place the adhesive on the wrong side of the fabric with the paper liner facing up. Place and hold the iron on the fabric for 2 seconds. Repeat until all of the surface is bonded. Allow to cool and peel off the paper backing.
For this project you are using fusible interfacing for several reasons:
- Create a stiffer fabric for hand stitching on sequins and beads.
- Hold the fabric in place while you attach it to the pillow cover.
- Keep the fabric from puckering while you attach it to the cover.
Pin the Christmas tree template to the bonded fabric. Carefully cut around the edge of the template using scissors or a rotary blade.
I left the paper backing from the interfacing on my fabric while I cut it out. It helped to keep the fabric from shifting while I cut. Then, I peeled it off after I unpinned the template.
Attach Sequins to Christmas Tree
I found with the interfacing, I didn’t need to use an embroidery hoop while stitching.
You can find many different ways to attach sequins to fabric. Today, I am going to show you how to use a bead to attach them. You can find lots of colors of sequins inexpensively at Dollar Tree.
Related: More Pillow Craft Ideas
Start by cutting a length of thread about 12 – 18″. I used cotton quilting thread because it is thicker. I chose a white thread so I could use the same thread for all the sequins.
Tie a knot in one end of the thread and then thread the needle.
Helpful tip: When choosing a needle to work with, make sure it is not too big to easily slide through a seed bead.
Use your needle and thread to come up through the wrong side of the fabric to the front.
Thread on a sequin, and then a matching seed bead.
Hold on the the sequin and thread your needle back down through the center hole.
Continue this process for each sequin. When you no longer have enough thread to comfortably grab a sequin, knot the end of the thread on the backside and start with a new piece of thread.
I used lots of different colors of sequins in a random pattern, but in rainbow color order. You could easily choose a random color pattern for your sequins or create rows of sequins to look like garland or lights on the tree.
Below you can see the backside of the fabric with the threads holding on the sequins.
If you don’t pre-plan out a pattern, be sure to stop periodically and check to see if you have any gaps or places in your work that look too busy or too open.
Attach The Tree to the Pillow Cover
Normally to attach fabric with interfacing, you place the fabric with the interfacing sandwiched between your fabrics and iron on the right side of your applique piece.
Because we have all the sequins and beads, I didn’t want anything to melt or not get secured properly. So, I pinned the tree at the top and the bottom and ironed it on the inside of the pillow cover. This is the backside of the tree and the front inside of the pillow cover.
Next, either hand-stitch or use an embroidery stitch on your sewing machine to stitch down the raw edges of the tree. I used a loose zigzag stitch in a matching green thread to attach my tree.
My sewing machine was being finicky and you can see a couple spots where the thread skipped. I need to take it in to have it serviced, but I kind of like the handmade look it gave this project.
I think this pillow is so festive and fun! The sequins sparkle and anything rainbow just makes my heart happy!
I would recommend spot cleaning or hand washing this pillow cover inside out, as needed. I do think it would hold up in the washing machine, but the sequins may begin to come loose over time.
This craft is part of Fairfield World’s Holiday Pillow Party! Be sure to check out Fairfield World to see all the other fun Poly-Fil pillow projects being shared.
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