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
This is such a great idea! And how lovely that you now have a tiny, cuddly mountain range to remind you of mountains. I recently saw a crochet pattern for mountain cushions, so there's clearly a mountain movement emerging!
Thank you ! I will definately be adding to my mountain range. Not sure about crocheting some though, I just have too many things on my crochet list at the moment, I'll stick to felting as its quicker and easier. So much crafting to do and just not enough time !
Such a great idea. Love these! Your love of the mountains is like my love of the beach- am always trying to bring more of it into my home.
Stopping by from the Weekend Retreat Link Up.
Thanks ! I love the sea too, that's probably why the Norwegian Fjords are my favourite as they are where the mountains meet the sea the best of both worlds.
So clever and cuddly! Visiting from CraftGossip's Blog Handmade link-up:)
Thank you so much for visiting glad you like them they are lovely and soft.
Such a cool pillow! We have really gorgeous mountains here in Washington, so maybe I should make a similar pillow, too! Thanks for sharing at Submarine Sunday!!
Thanks, you should give it ago, they do make me smile.
I LOVE this idea!!! I live in Colorado so I will definitely be making these 🙂 <3
Lucky you living near mountains. Thanks !
This is so brilliant! And adorable! I imagine these in every mountain cabin in the land. Also looks pretty doable for a beginning sewer like me. Thanks so much for the idea!
Thank You ! It is very easy to do, and I think they would look great in a mountain cabin.
These are darling! Seriously, I can't get over how cute they are!
Thank you very much ! I really like them too and they are really soft and cosy.
So beautiful! I love this idea. You could also make them from colorful/patterned sweaters and create colorful mountain cushions 🙂 (pinned!)
Yes colourful ones would look great too! Cheers!
How clever. I would of never thought of using a sweater like this. I love it. Thanks for linking up to the Home Matters Party with you! #HomeMattersParty Hope to see you next week. http://lauraslittlehousetips.com/home-matters-linky-party-59/
Thank you ! I keep all the families old sweaters for upcycling projects especially the soft ones.
So fun!!! A little sweater mountain range!! I've got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow evening that links to your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=85005 --Anne
Thanks a look forward to seeing it.
Hi Claire, I love these pillows, they remind me of our Mt Rainier here in WA State. Thanks so much for leaving me some comment luv on my spool table post. I tried to reply directly to your comment, but you came up as a non reply blogger. Are you from Norway????? christinevandorm@gmail.com
Thanks for your lovely comments, my husband is from Norway. I was actually born and bought up in Hong Kong, where I lived on Mt Nicholson but it never had snow on it.
What a super cute idea! Thanks so much for sharing and I love the detailing on the pillows!
Happy day friend!
karianne
Thank you ! They really do look sweet on my sofa and are lovely and soft.
love it! and now maybe I'll just have to use my husband's cotton sweater with the bleach stains on it to make something too.....no felting of course, but could still be great...though I just realized it has a zipper down the front, hmmm. thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Thank you ! I'm sure with your creative brain you could come up with something !
What cute cushions. I am always making those felted jumpers without intending to. I also love your map chair. I have an old atlas set aside, with the idea of doing something like this to a table.
Thanks glad you like the cushions I've done a post about a map table my friend did it worked out really well. You should definitely give it ago.