Crafty Ascent: How to Make a Mountain Pillow using our Free Pattern

Step-by-step instructions on how to make a mountain pillow with a free pattern. Bring the spirit of the great outdoors to your home decor in a fun, creative way

In homage to my love for the mountains, I've breathed new life into a few old wool sweaters, giving them a second act as a plush mountain pillow. But fear not if you haven't got a pile of old knits to work with – any soft woolen or felt fabric will work a treat. And for those seeking a touch of opulence, why not venture into the realm of velvet?

For The Love Of Mountains

Nestled here in Bedford, it's flat as a crumpet and about as far from the bracing sea air as you can be on this sceptred isle. And whilst I adore the charm of my locale, it's the majestic peaks and towering mountains that truly tug at my heartstrings.

It's a love that my entire family shares. Each year, my husband and boys embark on a kind of ritualistic pilgrimage, scaling the soaring heights of the UK's most iconic peaks. With all the major British summits already conquered, the whispers of foreign peaks begin to echo enticingly in our ears.

From the exhilarating thrill of skiing and snowboarding down the snow-covered Alps to the breathtaking beauty of the Norwegian fjords where the sea meets the mountains, we find a unique joy in the rugged charm of high-altitude landscapes.

I envisaged creating my range by repurposing my collection of sweaters into a mountain cushion. This miniaturised panorama reminds me of the majestic heights I deeply miss.

How To Make A Mountain Pillow (Cushion

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What you need to make a Mountain Cushion

• Old woollen sweaters (65% or more). Preferably in neutral colours like greys and greyish greens. Or any other soft fabric of your choice suitable for a pillow.
• Small piece of cream felt (or cream woollen sweater).
• Pillow stuffing.
• Needle and thread can either be sewn by hand or by machine.
• Pins, scissors, a large sheet of paper (for pattern) & a pen.

How to Felt Woollen Sweaters

Old wool sweaters are one of my favourite fabrics to upcycle. If you felt them, then they don't fray or unravel when cut. This makes them great for crafting and DIY.

Felting wool is easy. Like me, you have probably done this in the past, where you have accidentally shrunk your sweater in the wash so that it is only fit for a toddler!

To felt my sweaters, I just put them in a hot 'cotton' wash in the washing machine along with my regular washing. I then dry them in the dryer. I have felted sweaters without using the dryer, but it does make them softer.

If this doesn't work for some reason, you can repeat the process. Basically, to felt woollen sweaters, you need heat, water, and agitation.

Felting binds the wool together, enabling the sweaters to be cut without unravelling or fraying.

Making A Mountain Pillow Pattern

Step 1: First, lay your sweater down with the front facing up. Make a paper pattern of a mountain outline as big as possible for your sweater.

Step 2: Pin the mountain pattern on top of the felted sweater. Then, draw a snowy outline for the top of your mountain.

Step 3: Using the pattern, cut out two identical mountain pieces, one from the front of your sweater and one from the back. Cut out your paper mountain top and use this as a template for cutting out two identical cream-felt snowy mountain pieces.

Step 4: Pin the cut-out cream snow pieces to the top of each mountain piece. Both pieces should be right-side up. Sew around the edges of the cream snow piece, attaching it to the sweater pieces.

Step 5: Next, pin the two woollen mountain pieces' right sides together and sew around the edge, leaving a small hole at the bottom for stuffing. This can either be done by hand or on a sewing machine.

Step 6: Turn the mountain pillow right sides out. Then, stuff it with fibre fill through the hole in the mountain cushion. Once the pillow is full then, hand stitch the hole shut.

I love my snowy topped cushion so much that I made another; soon, I will have my mountain range. I think my pillow looks excellent with my Norwegian map chair.

They would also make a great seasonal gift for any mountain craft loving friends or family. You could make it more personal by repurposing one of their sweaters.

I loved my mountain pillow so much that I made it a friend.

Other Related Posts

If, like me, you have a passion for the mountains, you might want to check out these fascinating and beautiful free printable vintage mountain sketches and posters.

Mountain cushions aren't the only shaped DIY pillows you can make from felted sweaters. I've made sweater Christmas tree pillows and felted acorn pillows too.

Even though you didn't use the sleeves of the sweaters for these mountain pillows, keep them for a DIY knot pillow.

Other simple sewing posts you might like too:

DIY Fabric Stags Head
Upcycled Sweater Bunny Cushion
DIY iPhone denim pocket pillow