Is It Cheaper to Make a Tufted Velvet Pillow Than to Buy One?
Tufted velvet pillows are one of those home decor items where the retail markup is genuinely steep. A single tufted velvet throw pillow at Target, HomeGoods, or Pottery Barn typically runs $35 to $75. The materials to make one at home — velvet fabric, a pillow insert, a button kit, upholstery twine, and a long needle — often total $25 to $35.
What Goes Into a DIY Tufted Velvet Pillow
- Velvet fabric: You need about half a yard for a standard 18x18-inch pillow. Craft velvet at JoAnn costs $8 to $15 per yard on sale; upholstery-weight velvet runs $15 to $30 per yard.
- Pillow insert: An 18x18 insert from IKEA (FJADRAR) costs around $5 to $8. Amazon square pillow inserts fall in the $7 to $12 range.
- Button kit: A self-cover button kit lets you cover buttons in your velvet fabric so they match perfectly. A 10-pack runs $3 to $6 at craft stores.
- Upholstery twine: Upholstery waxed linen twine (a spool) runs $3 to $5 and will last you many projects.
- Long upholstery needle: A 5- to 7-inch upholstery needle is essential. A 3-pack runs $2 to $4. These are reusable indefinitely.
At mid-range prices, a single 18x18 tufted velvet pillow costs about $25 to make versus $45 at retail — a savings of 44%. Making four matching pillows for a sofa can save $60 to $80 over buying them at retail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much velvet fabric do I need for one tufted pillow?
For a standard 18x18-inch pillow, you need about half a yard of fabric (cut two 20x20-inch squares with seam allowance). For a larger 20x20-inch pillow, three-quarters of a yard gives comfortable working room.
What type of button kit works best for tufted velvet pillows?
Self-cover button kits (the Dritz brand is most widely available) are the standard choice. They let you cover the button top with your velvet fabric so the buttons blend seamlessly with the pillow. Size 36 (about 7/8 inch) is a common choice for pillows.
Can I tuft a pillow without a sewing machine?
Yes. The tufting step itself is entirely hand-sewn — it requires only your upholstery needle and twine. If you want to skip machine-sewing the pillow cover, you can purchase a plain velvet pillow cover (often $8 to $15) and then simply add tufting buttons to it.
How many tufts should a decorative throw pillow have?
A single center tuft is the simplest and works well on small 14x14-inch pillows. A 3x3 grid of nine tufts gives a classic channel-tufted look on an 18x18 or 20x20 pillow. For a lumbar pillow (12x20 inches), a single row of three or five evenly spaced tufts is common.
Does velvet fray when cut, and how do I handle that?
Velvet frays moderately at cut edges but less aggressively than woven cottons. Since the raw edges are hidden inside the seam allowance, fraying is rarely a practical problem for pillow covers. Applying a thin line of Fray Check to the open edge before stitching keeps it tidy.