Autumn Leaves Pillow Tutorial (Free Pattern) ♥ Fleece Fun

This Autumn Leaves Pillow Tutorial is perfect for bringing the color of the changing leaves into your home. With a few simple materials you can make this beautiful pillow. While I’ve chosen very traditional colors for this pillow the beauty of making your own Autumn décor is that you can make it any color you choose! Because of how we’re attaching the autumn leaves to the pillow they must be felt or fleece – basically a material that won’t unravel and doesn’t need the edges finished.

One of my favourite parts of the cooler weather is watching the leaves change colour. We are lucky to live in a rural area, with our own little ‘forest’ in our back yard. This pillow is inspired by the changing maple trees, and is a fun way to bring the outside in!

The background of the pillow is a simple white cotton twill. I appliqued leaves in a variety of colours in an oval shape. I used some poly felt, but fleece works very well too! At the center of the pillow is the word ‘autumn’. I cut the lettering from heat transfer vinyl, but I will also show you how to do out with freezer paper and fabric paint if you don’t have a cutting machine.

The back of the pillow is a simple envelope design so it is easy to insert the pillow form and even easier to sew!

Materials for the Autumn Leaves Pillow Tutorial :

1 sheet EACH of red, orange, and yellow felt or scraps of fleece in these colors (I like to get my felt here)

1 yard woven fabric; I used an off white twill

heat transfer vinyl OR freezer paper and fabric paint (you can see a tutorial on how to do that here)

18″ pillow form ( ince this is an envelope pillow you can easily color a decorative pillow you already have!)

Sewing Essentials (pins, scissors, etc.)

a free motion foot can assist with this project

Autumn Leaves Pillow Tutorial

Step 1 – Cut out the Fall Leaves

Using the template provided, cut 3 leaves out of each color. I find it easier to get clean lines by tracing the leaf then cutting it out.

Tip: Use really sharp scissors for a clean cut on the felt.

Also, cut the following out of the woven fabric:

1 square 19″ x 19″

2 rectangles 19″ x 14″ each

Step 2 – Sew the Autumn pillow

Cut the lettering out of heat transfer vinyl OR use a craft knife to create a stencil out of freezer paper and paint the word on the large square (tutorial for that here).

Arrange the leaf shapes in an oval, centering it on the large square. Be sure to stay away from the very outside edge where your seam allowance is. Pin the leaves in place.

Stitch the leaves in place around the outside edge. Optional: stitch the leaf veins in the center. I found it easiest to use my darning/free motion foot, but you can use your regular stitching foot too.