A tutorial on how to make some on trend Boho style jeans pillows.
The trouble with staying in gorgeous accommodation whilst on holiday, my home looks knackered on returning. It seems too cluttered, tired looking and a lot of it in desperate need of redecoration.
The solution is to either go on camping holidays so that I appreciate my home comforts more or to tackle the house. As I hate camping it will have to be the house.
So I made a pathetic start by chucking out a load of very old and worn throw pillows. And then I used up some of my craft stashes and made some fresh replacement boho-style jeans pillows.
Boho Jeans Pillows With Upcycled Sari Trim and Pom Poms
I’m a bit of a craft hoarder. As well as piles of fabric and old jeans I have a large stash of yarn. Every time, I catch a glance of my yarn pile in the craft room I feel that it is mocking me for being a terrible knitter and average crocheter. I’m now just resorted to using my yarn to make pom poms.
As well as recycling jeans and using more yarn to make pom poms, I used some vintage sari trim. I found the trim in my craft stash, I had totally forgotten about it. The sari trim was just what I needed to give the jeans pillows that boho feel.
Vintage sari trims are gorgeous strips of brightly coloured and embroidered fabric that were used to adorn lovely Indian saris. I know you may be thinking where on earth do I get sari trim. As with most things, it’s actually really easy to find on eBay and Amazon.

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What you need to make upcycled boho jeans pillows
- Old denim jeans
- Vintage Sari trims – As I’ve already mentioned this readily available to buy on eBay and Amazon. You will need a piece of trim about 90cm length for each jeans pillow.


- Needle, thread and 30cm (12″) zip
- Pillow insert – I used a 65cm X 45cm (16″ x 26″) Ikea fjadrar insert
How to Make Boho Jeans Pillows
2. For the front of the pillow, pin 2 pieces of denim and 1 piece of sari trim right sides together and then sew. Repeat for the back of the pillow.

3. Next, lay both the pillow sides (front and back) flat front sides up (see picture below). Then pin a zip between them and then sew in the zip to join them together. If you are not sure about how to sew a zip into a pillow there is a video tutorial here.

4. Next, pin the rest of the pillow both sides together leaving the newly attached zipper open.

4. Then, using a sewing machine, sew the pillow sides together. Then turn the cushion/pillow cover right sides out and add the pillow insert. I used IKEA 65 cm by 45 cm inserts for these Boho Jeans Pillows.
5. Finish off by making multi colour giant pom poms with your pom pom maker and hand sew one on to each corner of the pillow. To get the mixed coloured effect just wind different coloured yarn in bands around the pom pom maker.



I love how these pillows/cushions turned out. I just love the fact that they are made from recycled jeans but are still so colourful. The only thing is I can’t quite decide where to have them in my home. I think I will need to make some more.
Another way to have combined the sari and denim fabric were to have made a denim pillow first. Then, to applique sari fabric hexagon patchwork to the pillow.
I’m also really pleased that I found a use for the gorgeous vintage sari trim I bought on a whim a couple of years ago.
For more Boho upcycles, check out these DIY wooden ornaments made from old curtain fixings.


Boho Jeans Pillows With Sari Trim

Make gorgeous Boho style jeans pillows with sari trim and pom poms
Materials
- Old jeans
- Sari Trim
- Wool
- Zip
Tools
- Sewing Machine
- Pom Pom Maker
Instructions
- Cut the denim to make a panel 65 cm by 45 cm made up of 2 pieces of denim and one of Sari trim. Make 2 of these panels for each pillow.
- Next, lay both panels face up and join together at one end with a zip sewn in.
- Then, pin the panels right sides together with the zip open
- Next, sew up the sides of the pillow, then turn right sides out.
- Finally, make four multi-colored pom poms and sew one into each corner of the pillow
For more upcycled jeans pillows check out these posts.
- iPhone Denim Pocket Pillow
- Repurposed Denim Fish Pillow
- World Map Denim Floor Cushion
- All The Best Denim Pillow And Cushion Tutorials
For more Boho DIY’s and crafts check out these tutorials.
Marie
Your boho pillows are fabulous, Claire! Love the bright colors you paired with the denim – so pretty!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Marie I love to add a bit of colour when I can.
Lisa // Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing and Crafting
Another fantastic idea! I love the pop of color the sari and pom poms give the jeans! Great idea! 🙂 Lisa
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Lisa. That was the plan to bring a bit of colour to the denim.
Lins @ Boo & Maddie
Wow is there anything you can’t do? These look so so pretty! Thank you for linking up to #HomeEtc X
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. Denim is one of my favourite things to upcycle.
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse
You are a wizard when it comes to recycling jeans. These boho pillows are adorable. Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle. I am featuring your pillows at Snickerdoodle tommorow.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Sharon. Not sure about wizard, but obsessed with recycling jeans, yes I’m guilty of that.
Sandra Garth
My former daughter-in-law is Indian and she gifted my granddaughter with lots of her niece’s beautiful outfits complete with lots of sari trim to play dress up. My granddaughter has outgrown them and they’re taking up space in a closet. I need to channel my inner Claire and get busy with some of that trim. The pillows are gorgeous and thanks for the inspiration and for joining us at Celebrate Your Story.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Sandra. You could combine the old trim with their jeans they have outgrown too to make some special pillows.
Katherines Corner
thank you for sharing your awesome craftiness at TFT. You were pinned and featured. Hugs!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Katherine. I look forward to seeing the feature.
Grandmas House DIY
Thanks for sharing this with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party! I’ll be featuring on my site tomorrow morning when the new party starts!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, that’s great I look forward to seeing it.
Julie
These cushions are beautiful. I love working with sari fabric, I must warn you it doesn’t wear like denim though. We have a cushion cover I made a few years ago from a charity shop purchase sari and it’s starting to wear in a few patches now. Luckily I have a little more so I’m just going to make up another one. It’s one of my favourite cushions! It might be that my teens are just a bit rough with the cushions in our house though!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Julie. I will bear that in mind. That is why I used the trim of sari as this tended to be the thicker fabric as it was the edging and hopefully more robust. They are holding up very well so far but let’s just wait and see.
Dalwi Szyje
Great idea!
Claire Armstrong
thank you!
Pam @Threading My Way
You are the queen of jeans refashioning, Claire. Such fun and colourful cushions – and sturdy, too. I’ve featured your tutorial today…
Claire Armstrong
Ah that’s awesome, thank you so much Pam.
Leanna
Boho always brings me back to my teenage years. I love all the bright colour and laid back attitude of your cushions. Very very pretty and cheerful.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Leanna. I do love a bit of bright colour. My mums house was very Boho in the seventies lots of macrame hanging plants and colour.
Cecilia
How fun, Claire! Thank you for sharing @ Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Cecilia.
Ann
I’ll be adding this to the projects for old denim jeans I’ve got in my mental list. LOVE the bright colors of the sari trims and the pom poms you added.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Ann, I can’t resist a pop of colour.
Julia - Vintage with Laces
I hate camping too. I did it once when I was 19 and never again. The sari trims work so well with the denim. The pillows turned out lovely and cheerful, Claire!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Julia. The thing is I’m supposed to like camping as I’m a Beaver scout leader so shh don’t tell anyone I actually don’t like it.
Michelle Leslie
Love, love, love. The way the hard wearing denim contrasts with the soft, embroidered sari trim is stunning. So completely my style Claire
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Michelle. The idea was to soften the denim by combining with the trim.
Susanne
these are so cute! Love the color and pompoms, you are a genius with denim 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Susanne. 8 couldn’t believe how lucky I was when I found yarn in my stash that matched the colours in the sari trim.
Toni
Those are super fun and you can really customize them for any color scheme or style decor you want. You are so creative 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Toni. The sari trim comes in loads of colours nd styles so you should find one to suit your decor.
Janine
This is so incredibly cute! I love how you have combined such beautiful colors! I’ll have to check out Amazon for supplies. Btw, I’m a hoarder of ribbon!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Janine. My collection of ribbon isn’t that big but my washi tape collection on the other hand is pretty impressive,
Sam - Raggedy Bits
Such a clever idea Claire!! I love the bright happy colours!! It amazes me with all of the clever things you make with denim. So creative!!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Sam. I have a big stash of denim to get through so that’s partly why I keep on thinking of things to make from old jeans, plus I love indigo.
Lea
These pillows are so pretty!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Lea.
Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled
Very cool, Claire! Love the addition of the pom poms and the silk scarf. Visiting from Welcome Home Wednesday party.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Victoria, they are vintage sari trims I’d almost forgotten about.
Liz
Love what you do with old jeans. x
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I just love recycling jeans. I’m always looking for new things to do with denim.
Maarit
Very nice! I love these pillows.?
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much ?