DIY Throw Pillows: Gimme Gummy Covers to Sew

You can make squishy, saturated throw pillows yourself with a basic sewing machine, a heavy matte fabric and an insert that is slightly larger than the cover. Sew the cover about 2 inches smaller than the insert and you get the full, plump "gummy" look.

The Gimme Gummy style is candy-bright color in soft-touch fabrics like velvet, boucle or neoprene-style knits. Making the covers yourself means you pick the exact shade and texture instead of settling for what a store stocks. If you want the wider look first, see the basics of playful styling.

Colorful handmade throw pillows with soft textured covers styled on a living room sofa

Which fabrics give the gummy look?

Choose fabric with weight. Thin cotton prints and scratchy polyester blends look flat, and the whole idea depends on a plush, matte surface.

Heavy cotton velvet absorbs light, so the color looks deep rather than shiny.
Scuba or neoprene-style fabric has a smooth matte finish that feels a bit like candy.
Boucle adds a nubbly texture that contrasts well with a smooth sofa.

Stick to solid colors. The shape and the texture are the point, so patterns just compete. Group a few solids in one color family, or pair high-contrast complements. Need palette ideas? Try jelly pink, lime, clear and cream.

Do a quick crinkle test at the store: squeeze the fabric for ten seconds. If it stays creased, it will look rumpled on a sofa within an hour. If you live with a dog, pick a tight weave over loops that claws can snag.

What size should decorative throw pillows be?

Scale matters more than people expect. A tiny 16-inch pillow on a deep sectional looks like an afterthought. For a standard three-seat sofa I'd use 22-inch squares in the corners, 20-inch squares layered in front, and one 18-inch square or a lumbar in the middle.

For the fullest look, use an insert about 2 inches larger than the finished cover. An 18-inch cover gets a 20-inch insert. The extra stuffing fills the corners and stops the sagging.

Bright decorative throw pillows in plush fabric arranged on a couch

How to sew a gummy pillow cover, step by step

These steps make an 18-inch cover for a 20-inch insert, with a hidden zipper.

Pre-wash and dry the fabric. Velvet and heavy knits can shrink, and a cover that shrinks after the first wash won't fit the insert.
Cut two 19-inch squares. That gives an 18-inch finished cover with a 1/2-inch seam allowance on each side. A rotary cutter and mat give cleaner edges than scissors.
Place the squares right sides together. Along one side, sew about 3 inches in from each end with a normal stitch, and baste the middle 12 inches with a long stitch.
Press that seam open, lay an invisible zipper face down over the basted section and stitch it in. Then pull out the basting stitches.
Open the zipper halfway so you can turn the cover later. Pin the other three sides and sew them with a 1/2-inch seam. A walking foot keeps thick layers from shifting.
Trim the corners at a 45-degree angle without cutting the stitches. Turn the cover right side out and push the corners out with a chopstick.
Fold the insert like a taco, slide it in, and check that the corners are fully filled before you close the zipper.

No zipper experience? A deep envelope closure on the back also hides well and is easier to sew.

Soft textured DIY pillow covers in saturated colors made for a sofa

How do you fix common sewing problems?

Pointy "ears" at the corners with a saggy middle usually come from the seam. Start the seam slightly inside the edge at each corner and ease back to the full allowance toward the middle of each side. That pinches the corners in and squares the pillow.

If seams look strained on stretchy fabric, use a slight zigzag or your machine's stretch stitch so the thread can move with the fabric.

Velvet has a nap, a direction in which it feels smooth. Cut one square with the nap up and the other down and the two sides will look like different colors in the light. Stroke the fabric first and mark an arrow on the back of each piece.

If the fabric is too thick for your machine, switch to a denim or topstitch needle, and turn the handwheel by hand over the thickest seams.

What does it cost?

Cost depends mostly on fabric and inserts. Clearance velvet or fleece with inserts you already own is the cheap route. Upholstery-grade velvet or boucle with new poly-fill inserts costs more but looks cleaner. Down-feather inserts and custom piping sit at the top end. Spend where your hands touch: fabric and inserts matter more than trim.

Group of squishy throw pillows in coordinated candy colors on a sofa

How to arrange throw pillows on a couch

What is the 2 2 1 throw pillow rule? It means five pillows on a sofa: two on each end and one in the center, usually with the outer pair largest. It gives a symmetrical look and works well on a three-seater. For a relaxed look, use odd numbers and vary the sizes.

Put the largest pillows in the corners and layer smaller ones in front.
Leave a few inches of visible sofa between clusters so it doesn't read as a pile.
Mix textures: smooth velvet pillows on a boucle or linen sofa, and the reverse on a velvet one.
Spread the bright colors around the room so the eye travels.

Sit on the sofa before you call it done. If the pillows are too stiff, take out some stuffing or use a slightly smaller insert. Also check the colors under daylight and evening lamps, because saturated shades shift a lot.

How to arrange throw pillows on a bed

Put sleeping pillows against the headboard, then two or three decorative throw pillows in front. A long lumbar pillow, around 14 by 36 inches, across the foot of the pillows makes a clear focal point. In a bedroom, use softer, dustier versions of your gummy colors such as sage or mauve. For lighting that suits that mood, see soft glow lamps for the bedroom.

Gummy-style throw pillows layered on a bed or sofa for a colorful accent

Adapting the look room by room

Living room

Go bold with contrast, such as an orange pillow on a navy sofa. Use the heaviest fabric here, since these pillows get the most lounging. Choosing throw pillows for a sofa that is also a dog's favorite spot? Pick covers you can machine wash.

Kids' room

Choose fabrics that are stain-resistant and washable, and keep embellishments off. Round or knot-shaped pillows are a fun use of the same fabric.

Home office

One bright pillow behind your lower back in a desk chair adds support and a bit of color. If the chair sits on a rug, keep the rug flat: a review of rug and carpet falls lists loose throw rugs and carpets with curled edges among the factors most often mentioned as unsafe.

How to wash gummy covers

Check the care label on the fabric bolt. Many synthetic velvets can be machine washed cold on a gentle cycle. Zip the covers shut and turn them inside out first, then air dry, since high heat can damage the soft pile.

Frequently asked questions

What is the point of a throw pillow?

Throw pillows add comfort for leaning and lounging, and they bring color and texture to a room cheaply. They are also the easiest part of a room to swap when you want a change.

What is the 2 2 1 throw pillow rule?

It is a five-pillow arrangement: two pillows at each end of the sofa and one in the middle. It creates a balanced, symmetrical look.

Can I make throw pillow covers without a sewing machine?

Iron-on hem tape can work on thin fabrics, but it rarely holds up under the weight of velvet or neoprene-style fabric. A machine-sewn seam is more durable for those.

What insert gives the plumpest feel?

A synthetic down-alternative insert gives a full, bouncy feel without feather crunch. For a firmer, more structured look, use a foam insert wrapped in batting.