Today I’m showing you how to make a pillow insert by using an IKEA FJÄDRAR
inner cushion. But wait; it’s already a throw pillow insert, so what’s the deal?! Well, we’re going to customize the size!

Can you Make Your Own Pillow Insert?

Making your own custom pillow insert is so easy when you have something to start with that you can alter! At only $8 for each insert, IKEA’s FJÄDRAR insert provides a luxe look at a bargain price! You really can’t beat the price or comfort of this feather filled insert!

Maybe you have throw pillows that need rejuvenating? Or you have a special fabric, like a grain sack, that you’d like to make an odd-sized pillow form for. If so, this is the tutorial for you!

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Watch the video ‘ How to Make a Pillow Insert’ or continue on to the written tutorial:

Creative Craft Hop

Today we’re taking part in the Creative Craft Hop hosted by Andrea and Chloe at Design Morsels and Celebrate & Decorate. So don’t forget to check out the other projects at the bottom of this post. And be sure to drop back in throughout the week to visit them all!

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Throw Pillow Inserts

Not all throw pillow inserts are created equally. When I designed my crochet pillow cover (aka, the Kayla pillow), I was pretty disappointed with how the fibrefill insert I bought for it looked (and it was more than double the price of the FJÄDRAR insert!). So I ‘borrowed’ one of the inserts from my throw cushions to try with the Kayla pillow, but sadly it was too big.

See how beautiful the IKEA pillow inserts look in these pillow covers?

That’s when I had a brainstorm to modify the FJÄDRAR to fit the Kayla pillow perfectly. IKEA’s FJÄDRAR inner cushion is 16×26 and is filled with feathers.  At only $8, there’s really nothing to lose, so why not cut it down!

If you can sew a straight seam, it’s well worth the effort. And if you’re worried about having feather’s floating everywhere, I’ve got you covered with a few tricks to keep them contained.

How to Make a Pillow Insert

First step is to grab two plastic bags: one large plastic bag and a second one that will fit the Ikea pillow insert.

Use a seam ripper to open up the seam along the short edge. 

Once it’s fully open, gently insert the form into a large plastic bag, open end first. I used a clear bag, but a garbage bag will work.

Roll back the fabric and push the feather filling into the bag until the pillow case is empty and the bag is full. Remove the fabric from the bag; it will now be inside out at this point.

Roll the edges of the plastic bag and tie it off so you don’t accidentally spill the feathers. We like to keep our feathers numbered here at Birdz of a Feather, like we did for our wacky and fun Foghorn Leghorn clock 🙂

Pick up Cling-On Feathers

Now, run some strips of packing tape along to pick up the small feathers still clinging to the fabric. You can also use a lint roller instead if you have one.

If you want to clean the fabric completely, and you’re careful, you can even use a vacuum cleaner. I have a vaccuum system so gave it a try. First, set the bag of feathers aside and out of the way (you don’t want any vacuum cleaner incidents).

Hold the hose on it’s edge so it doesn’t come into full contact with the pillow case and accidentally suck the fabric into it. Alternately, if you have an upholstery brush attachment with your system, you can likely make full contact with the fabric without fear of sucking it up!

How Do You Measure for a Pillow Insert?

Mark the size you want to alter the insert to right onto the fabric with pencil. Since I’m using this for the Kayla pillow, I’m removing 4″ on the length and 1 1/4″ on the width. A good rule of thumb is to make the insert 1″ – 2″ larger than the pillow cover.

Cut along the pencils lines.

At the sewing machine, adjust to a small stitch length (I’m using 2). I used a seam allowance of 1/2″ on the short edge and 3/8″ on the long edge.

Stitch the short edge first, but leave at least a 6″ gap in the middle so you can re-stuff the feathers.

Turn the corner and continue sewing along the long edge. Then go back and run another length of stitching close to the first line – about 1/8″ away – as shown below. This will help keep the quills of the feather from escaping the pillow insert. I have a serger, so I also serged the edges but it’s not necessary.

Re-Fill with Feathers

Turn the fabric right side out. Along the edge where you left the opening, finger press along the seam.

Remember the second plastic bag I told you to grab? To keep the DIY pillow insert clean, put a plastic bag over the outer fabric and roll the upper edge down around it as shown.

Put the filled bag of feathers into a rigid plastic container. I initially used a tall container but then switched over to a shorter one because it’s easier to reach into!

Re-tie the feather filled bag so only half the bag is open.  Then insert the pillow form right in front of the bag, but still inside the container as shown. 

Grab a handful of feathers and start stuffing. I find that putting the edge of the plastic bag with the feathers into the pillow form will help ‘slide’ the feathers in. Go slow and the feathers will stay contained! This isn’t a good time to sneeze :).

As you fill the form back up, ensure that the feathers reach right down into the corners so everything is nice and plump. 

Close it Up Again

Don’t fill right to the upper edge; you’ll need room to stitch the seam closed again. When you’re happy with the amount of fill, carefully pin the opening. I don’t know the tread count of the fabric IKEA uses, but man it must be high. It was a struggle to get a sharp pin through the fabric!

Remove the plastic bag and take it back to the sewing machine. Now you have two choices: you can permanently close the opening right away. Or you can do what I did. I ran a temporary running stitch along the edge so I could test out the modified insert with my Kayla pillow cover. That way, I could open it up and fill again if I had to, but it was perfect. Once you’re happy with the amount of fill run two rows of small stitching along the opening to seal the opening like you did previously along the other seams.

Save your leftover feathers for another project. If you modify several inserts you’ll probably have enough to make another pillow insert (you’ll just have to buy a high thread count fabric to encase the feathers).

DIY Throw Pillow

Here’s how the Kayla pillow looks with its custom feather-filled insert! Doesn’t it look great? If you like the Kayla pillow, the crochet e-pattern is for sale in our new shop. But the good news is that we’re donating 100% of all proceeds to Alzheimer’s!

Crochet for a Cure

And it’s not just the Kayla pillow – 100% of all e-pattern sales from our shop will be donated to Alzheimer’s so please visit to check us out. You’ll not only get a quality pattern, but can feel good about your money going to a great cause :). It’s a win-win!

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Creative Craft Hop

Now go check out Design Morsel’s Painting Terra Cotta Pots. Then pop back in to visit these other talented bloggers for more creative craft projects:

• How to Make a Patriotic Door Wreath from Dollar Tree
• A Simple Outdoor Lantern Change
• How I Made a Very Starry Patriotic Wreath
• How to Make Fun Fruit Props
• DIY Metal Flower Garden Stake
• DIY Knotted Tote Bag
• How to Paint a Flower Pot with Ceramic Paint
• DIY Copper Rimmed Flowerpot
• Creations Seaside Shell Tray