Bandana Pillows are so easy to make.
Even with my minimal sewing skills (I specialize in Almost perfect straight lines), I can chunk out a couple of pillows in about an hour.
We found these black-ish and red bandanas at the craft store for 2 bucks each.
The print is very cool, but the cotton is so stiff from the printing process.
The best way to break in a bandana is to actually USE it. I know that may sound gross, but it’s really snot.
(Sorry,)
If you can find old used ones, I highly recommend it. If not, and like us, you want both sides of the pillow to match, you can just buy new ones.
Jamie ran our bandanas through the wash a couple of times, and I ironed them flat.
I lay 2 bandanas face to face and pinned them to keep from shifting while I sewed.
This is where my unbelievable sewing skills come in handy.
A straight line around 3 edges…..
…and just a few inches in on each side of the bottom.
I turn my cases inside out and carefully squeeze a down feather insert through the opening and hand-stich it closed.
I know you will be tempted with polyester filling…but it’s cheap and will look cheap too. It will just clump. Our thought is that if we only spent 4 bucks on bandanas…..we can splurge a little and buy a decent insert (maybe $16 for a 20 inch insert). It will make a world of difference.
Trust us on this one.
Here’s our finished bandana pillow in the living room.
Told ya they were easy.
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
I realize it’s pretty basic stuff, but I love that you sew!!! I love u sew, heehee! The pillow looks awesome and yes, using a down insert is the way to go!
I sew straight lines like a champ. Curves take a little more time. I made the Christmas stocking on the mantle last Christmas.
You never stop Wowing me. Thanks for all the great inspiration
Awww shucks Tina, we like pillows, we like bandanas……eventually the 2 were bound to come together in this house.
LOVE your blog/home/website/everything you do. I’ve made pillows using cloth napkins and no-sew hem tape. After lots of searching, I found that the best places to find good quality, reasonably priced down inserts are Crate and Barrel, and Ikea.
YOu Know we love those Ikea down inserts!!!! I think we get 2 more every trip. There is a fabric place not far from us that had every imaginable size too.
I was just looking at bandana pillows on pinterest and etsy yesterday. Seriously! I may have to give this a shot…
They are so simple….try it …go ahead.
I made these for my Grandkiddos for Christmas…Hot pink and Lime Green, OU Black and Crimson and Classic Blue and Red for the Little Cowboy….I opted for the cheap stuff…cause these will get dirty and WORN OUT….EAsy EASY EASY!!!!! plus they LOVED them!!!!
I think that we both know that washing a down pillow is not a good idea….I see your point.
I like, I like!
P.S. I was in Dallas (Garland) this weekend visiting my Grandpa for his 80th birthday. I saw a few Cavender boot stores and thought of you guys! The weather was so much nicer than NY, too. I greatly enjoyed the 80 degrees – and a nice breakfast place called ‘Poor Richard’s’ in Plano.
The 80 degrees is awesome, but the 110 degree summers will kill you slowly…… When I Google our blog ( which I do often) Cavender’s boots always comes up. I’ll bet you saw that big Cavender’s by the mall in Garland, I had a friend that worked there when he was in High School.
Hello! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the excellent work!
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I have made two of these in orange for my sons room (with down inners – what a difference they make) and he LOVES them! I find it difficult to source 13 year old male friendly fabric here in NZ and these worked a treat in his grey and orange room! I have also used vintage grey wool blankets for cushion covers and also to cover a chair and they add just the right amount of masculine softness. I am currently using your bedroom as inspiration! Love your work guys!
Hi Amanda, Glad that we can spread a little Texas inspiration to the Kiwis. I’m a fanatic for bandanas and buy “used” ones whenever I can, seems like the only way to make them soft. And yeah, pretty sure our bedroom is all boy.