I’ll show you the tricks so you get all the treats with these Halloween pillows! No bones about it, ever since I took anatomy and physiology in school I have incorporated skeletons in my Halloween decorations. I have three pillow cover designs for you today that will get you well on your way to a haunting Halloween porch all the neighbors will want to copy.
Black Cat Pillows
Never underestimate your fabric stash. The nearest fabric store is a good 30-40 minutes away. Often times the fabric stash is my go to so I can avoid a long drive. Fortunately, I had some gray linen type fabric that was left over from my purse making days. (I used to design and sell purses. Thank you to all who supported that endeavor as it helped to fund my oldest son’s first stage of braces.) This gray fabric gave just the right background to my black cats with the glowing eyes pillow.
I drew the cat silhouette on a large sheet of paper and then cut it out. After tracing in onto the fabric with a light colored pencil, I painted it in. Pretty simple. Flip the stencil over when tracing the second pillow cover so the cats face each other when pillows are side by side.
Simple Skull Pillows
The remnant piece of white fabric was just enough to make the fronts of the simple skeleton face pillow. I paired the basic pillow fronts with some bold print outdoor fabric remnants. Years ago the fabric store was getting rid of the discontinued custom order fabric sample swatches so I bought a few for a song. They are the perfect size for the pillow backing and it adds a fun bit of interest to the pillows.
Sugar Skull Pillows
There are some colorful sugar skull plates at Williams Sonoma right now that inspired these front porch pillows. The light aqua broadcloth makes for great contrast to the skulls. The flower adornments can be painted. Or, if preferred, attach some bright artificial flowers to add some dimension to the pillows.
Supply List
Black Cat Pillow Covers
- Fabric squares (front and back) to fit the dimensions of your pillow forms
- Pins
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Cat Pattern
- Light Colored Pencil
- Craft Paint in black and citron green
- Artist’s paint brush
- Piece of foil to protect the work surface while painting
- Pillow Forms
Simple Skull Pillow Covers
- White Fabric for the pillow fronts to fit the dimensions of the pillow forms
- Fabric for the backs of the pillows to fit the dimensions of the pillow forms
- Pillow Forms
- Skull Face Pattern
- Pencil
- Black Craft Paint
- Piece of foil to protect the work surface while painting
- Artist’s Paint Brush
- Zippers, 12 inches will work (this link is for more than you need right now, but could be handy for future pillow cover projects)
- Pins
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Painter’s Tape
Sugar Skull Pillow Covers
- Bright Colored Fabric, enough for the front and back to fit the dimensions of the pillow forms
- Pillow Forms
- Sugar Skull Face Pattern
- Pencil
- Fabric Paint in white, black, and any bright colors you like
- Artist’s Paint Brush
- Piece of foil to protect the work surface while painting
- Painter’s Tape
- Pins
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Artificial Flowers in bright colors, optional
- E6000 glue
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Instructions
Black Cat Pillow Covers
Step 1:
Print off the cat pattern in the size that will best fit your pillow form. Cut it out, including the eyes. If I was to do this again, I would probably leave a larger border around my cats. I noticed that when the pillow is inserted into the cover, the details around the edges sort of bend out of view.
Step 2:
Cut out four squares of fabric. I was able to cut so each square had a selvage edge along one side. That will come into play later.
Step 3:
Trace the cat pattern on to one of the pillow fronts. Be sure that the selvage edge is on the bottom. Flip the pattern and trace onto the second pillow front, again being sure the selvage edge is along the bottom.
Step 4:
Place a piece of foil under your fabric to protect the work surface from any paint bleeding through. Paint the eyes a citron green or yellow. Paint the silhouette in with black paint.
Step 5:
Once dry, place right sides together of a pillow back and pillow front. Pin. Sew around the perimeter of the square leaving a good half inch seam allowance. Only sew about 2-3 inches in on each side along the bottom. Due to the selvage edge, there is no need to finish off the opening. This is one option for finishing off a pillow.
Step 6:
Clip the corners and turn pillow cover right side out. Insert pillow form and you are good to go. Repeat for second pillow.
Simple Skull Pillows
Step 1:
Cut out fabric squares to the size of the pillow form, allow for a seam allowance. The black and white outdoor fabric swatches were about 18 inches square. Lay the square of fabric down on the fabric to be cut and then cut around the perimeter, like a pattern piece. This technique eliminates the need for measuring.
Step 2:
Tape the printed pattern of the skull face onto a window. Find the center of the white fabric by folding it in half one way and then folding it in half the opposite way. Crease the center fold with your thumb to mark the center lines. Center and tape the fabric over the pattern. Trace with a pencil.
Step 3:
Put foil under the fabric to prevent the paint from leaking through and sticking to the work surface. Use black paint to paint in the features. **This would also be cute with orange fabric and jack-o-lantern face, or green fabric and zombie face, etc.**
Step 4:
Once paint is dry, sew the zipper to the bottom edge of the pillow. This is the second option for finishing the closure of the pillow.
Step 5:
Sew the remaining edges of the pillow. I had about a 3/4 inch seam allowance because the fabric was 18 inches square and my pillow form was only 16 inches square. Clip the corners. Turn right side out and insert the pillow form. So cute! Repeat with the second pillow.
Sugar Skull Pillows
Step 1:
Cut out two squares of fabric for the front of the pillows. Be sure to account for the seam allowances.
Step 2:
To do an envelope closure on the back side of the pillows, do as follows: Cut two pieces of fabric the width of the other squares and about 2/3 of the length. What I did to make it easy was to cut an 18 inch band across the width of the original fabric. I folded it in half- short end to short end- and cut it in half. I now had two panels 18 inches tall and about 24 inches wide. Fold the two panels in half again- short end to short end- and cut. There were now 4 panels 18 inches tall and about 12 inches wide. Proceed to ironing and sewing a hem.
Step 3:
Fold over the 18 inch side of fabric one inch and press. This will leave you with a piece of fabric that is 18″x 11″. Fold the cut edge into the crease of the ironed fold and press again. The raw edge will be hidden and you will have a nice, crisp edge to sew. Sew a 3/8 seam allowance. If one of the edges is a selvage edge, you won’t have to do this step on that piece.
Step 4:
Use the same light box/window technique as previously mentioned to trace the skull onto the large squares of fabric.
Step 5:
Paint the skulls white. Notice that I painted right up to the maxilla and mandible but not over the pencil line completely. I wanted to be able to use the pencil mark as a guide when I used the fabric paint later. I painted a solid light coat over the teeth so that they were white but so I could still see the lines through the paint.
Step 6:
Paint in the eyes, nose and any other large shapes. Use the colored paint to make any flowers, designs, and patterns that you wish. Googling for sugar skull images provides plenty of inspiration. To make dots, turn your paint brush around and dip the handle into the paint to dot on to the fabric. I used fabric paint in a bottle to trace the outline of the skull and teeth.
Step 7:
Once dry, sew the back to the front. Place the painted square down with the image facing you. Add the top hemmed panel with the finished side facing the painted image. Then place the bottom panel down, overlapping the top panel. Pin in place. Sew all four side, using a seam allowance that you specified when cutting out the panels. I used about a half inch to three quarter inch seam allowance.
Step 8:
Once sewn, clip the corners and turn the pillow cover right side out.
Step 9:
If you are going to glue on a flower head piece, place a piece of foil in the pillow cover to prevent the glue from soaking through and gluing the pillow sides together. Use the E6000 to glue on flowers that have been trimmed close to the base. I do not use hot glue because the hot outside temperatures on my front porch will soften the hot glue and the flowers will fall off. This was experienced in previous wreath projects. Just passing my learning experiences on to you in hopes of saving you some grief. Let glue completely dry. Remove foil and insert pillow forms. So cute!
Three different ways to spruce up, or spook up, your porch for Halloween. Providing different finishing off methods- selvage edge, zipper, and envelope closure- should eliminate some of the excuses to try something new. The different designs should also provide enough variety for your skill level so that you can find a pillow that best matches what you feel comfortable creating.
I’m so excited to provide some fun porch decoration ideas that you can totally accomplish. Even though it is September, I am getting pretty antsy to start decorating for Halloween now. Ha ha. Creating a fun environment for different holidays not only brings in a festive spirit, but it helps make your place unique. I like to think adding that personal touch helps with making a house a home.💙
More Sewing and Front Porch Posts:
Reversible Buffalo Check Table Runner
I especially love the sugar skulls! The 3D effect with the flowers is great.
Thank you! They are definitely my favorite in terms of textural impact. I have been rotating the different pillow covers on my porch chairs and I am saving the sugar skull ones for closer to Halloween. I look forward to the reactions from trick-or-treaters young and old!