How to Make a No-Sew Fabric Heart Pillow (Not Only For Valentine's Day!)

If you think that you must own a sewing machine to get creative with fabrics, I’m here to tell you you’re wrong! Not all fabric projects require needles and thread.

This post will show you exactly how to make a gorgeous heart cushion without a sewing machine in sight!

It’s true, usually my DIY projects involve a sewing machine. But not this one!

This no-sew fabric craft project is so quick and easy, even the kids can join in. Or even make their own. My daughter finished this one in under 30 minutes!

If you’re feeling crafty but not able to sew, this project is perfect for you! And if you’re looking for a personalised DIY project this Valentine’s Day but short on time, you’re in the right place too! Or maybe you just want some cute new home décor this February (or any time!!).

Whatever your reason is, you’re going to love this no sew heart pillow.

Keep reading to discover how simple this heart pillow is to make, with plenty of photos to guide you each step of the way.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.

When I asked my daughter to help me out with this fabric project she jumped at the chance, saying “Because… PILLOW!!!”. I guess that’s teen-speak for “Well duh who doesn’t love having more pillows to snuggle with?”.

The beauty of this homemade pillow is that you can make it in any size you wish, because there is no specific pattern to copy! I’m all about getting creative without always having a pattern ready to follow 😉.

What you need to make a no-sew heart cushion for Valentine’s Day

Fabric

There are lots of sorts of fabrics you can use for this pillow. We used some fabulous leftover red fleece from my son’s dragon costume to create a fluffy pillow. Woven cotton fabric works well too, though it will fray. But perhaps that’s the look you’re after! Stretch knit also would work well, especially when it comes to tying the knots. Basically, you can choose whatever you’d like to use!

Chalk

For drawing the heart outline on your fabric.

Fabric scissors

To cut fabrics well, you need proper fabric scissors!

Polyester Filling

You know, that stuff that looks like puffy clouds 😉.

How to make a homemade heart pillow, step by step

Step 1: Design the heart pillow template

Fold your fabric in half so that 1 layer is on top of the other.

Using tailor’s chalk, draw a heart outline in the size you wish. You could draw freehand, or print out a heart shape for you to draw around. We actually used a heart-shaped silicon cake form as a guide!

Once you have drawn a heart in the desired size of the finished cushion, you need to draw another larger heart around the outside of it. This extra fabric will end up being for the knotted tassles so you can make them as short or as long as you want.

Tip: Make the outer heart at least 7 cm larger than the first shape, otherwise you will have trouble with tying knots in Step 4.

Step 2: Cut out the heart pillow

Using your fabric scissors, cut the 2 layers of fabric around the larger, outer heart shape.

When you are finished cutting, leave the 2 layers together so they are ready for the next step.

Step 3: Cut short strips around the heart shape

In this step you need to cut the fabric perpendicular to the heart shape, to form a heart-shaped outline of fabric strips. Confused? Don’t be!

Start at one point (we started at the bottom of the heart) and cut from the edge of the fabric in a short straight line to the edge of the inner heart chalk outline.

Once you’ve cut a couple of strips, repeat this step at the opposite end of the heart, making sure the 2 fabric layers stay aligned together.

Continue cutting around the entire outer edge of the heart.

You will now have 2 identical fabric heart shapes with fluttery fabric strips around the edges.

Leave them atop each other!

Step 4: Create the knotted look around the heart pillow

Just like you did when snipping around the edge, start at one end of the heart cushion. Take on strip of the top fabric with its partner from the fabric underneath and tie them together in a simple knot.

Repeat with a couple of strips either side of the first knot.

Repeat on the opposite end of the heart and then continue tying fabric knots almost all the way around the heart.

I say almost all the way around because you need to leave a few centimetres of the heart untied so that you can fill the cushion with that “fluff stuff”, as my kids call it.