A simple, inexpensive DIY bandana pillow project to add fun and color to any spot in your home…
Welcome to “Camp Heathered Nest.” Today in the craft cabin, we’ll be doing an easy and inexpensive DIY project together: creating a Dollar Store bandana pillow!
Bandanas are great to work and craft with. Have you seen all the bandana ideas there are out there? If you haven’t, check out this post with 29 really creative and unique bandana ideas.
Personally, I love creating things with bandanas because they are colorful, nostalgic, and you can buy them at the Dollar Store for…you guessed it…$1!
Oodles of Bandana Ideas to Make
Back to bandanas.
When it comes to “bandana ideas”, I mentioned we’ve got a few…here’s a short list:
Bandana pillows are on the tutorial docket for today! They are so fun that you can use them for all your bandana decorating ideas (inside the home and outside too).
Bandanas come in a huge variety of colors, so there’s ALWAYS at least one that will work with the rest of your decor. I made the ones I’m showing you today for our son’s room.
Here’s a little video preview…
Oh, and before moving on, if you’re the type who loves decorating your home BIG time, but on a small-time budget? Then you’ll want to grab a free copy of “Builder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!” Click here or on the image below. Your copy will be sent right away!
What Do You Think of When You Hear “Bandana”?
An old western movie? Maybe the cowboy outfit you wore for Halloween when you were 7? Your college boyfriend who wore one when he rode his motorcycle? Brett Michaels from Poison? Andre Agassi? Rambo? Actually, wait…did he wear a bandana, or was it more like the headband from Flashdance?
At any rate, for me, when I think of bananas, I think of the Parent Trap. Not the new version. I mean the Hayley Mills movie. Classic.
The iconic, old-school summer camp with clapboard olive green cabin and orangey wooden sign. The uniforms, canoeing, s’ mores…the whole nine yards.
It seems so perfectly nostalgic! For the record, I never experienced this summer camp type of thing, personally.
And truth be told, I do not care for camping at this point in my life…the bugs, the cold/damp/lack of sleep…I could go on. BUT, my youngest son, “Sweet Cheeks”, he digs anything muddy, buggy, or otherwise “outdoorsy”. Typical boy, he is.
So, when I was working on his room, I thought “bandana”. And, this is how I used them.
Supplies Needed for DIY bandana pillows
- bandanas (2) needed for a simple, stuffed pillow or (3) for an envelope style pillow with removable cover
- BEST bandana sources I’ve found are:
- poly-fil for simple pillow
- square pillow insert for envelope style pillow cover
- stitch adhesive (if planning to do a no-sew pillow)
How to Make a Bandana Pillow
How do you make a bandana pillow? I’m about to show you, my friend.
For a DIY project as easy as this one, I’m willing to bet you won’t just stop at one pillow 😉!
Here’s the step-by-step walkthrough for making your own DIY bandana pillow.
1. Find bandanas.
The most challenging part of this project is finding the bandanas you want to use.
I’ve looked high and low for the best places to find them when it comes to price and selection. You can find my research results in this post (look in the supplies section).
Bandanas are not only sold in tons of colors but also in different sizes, as well. Make sure you purchase a size that is appropriate for the pillow(s) you plan to make.
Mine were 22″x 22″ and, from that size, I created 16″x 16″ pillows.
Below again are some options for purchasing the bandanas…just click on an image to shop:
2. Sew Versus No-Sew Bandana Pillow…
Can’t decide? Well, you don’t have to…yet. I have both options for you. Check them out.
Pulling out my sewing machine makes me feel like a bit of a domestic goddess. So whenever there is the need for a simple straight stitch, I get out the machine. Anything harder? I go the no-sew route, or better yet, I just buy it 😉
I chose to sew these bandana pillows and I used the simplest method imaginable:
EASIEST-SEW Method Steps:
- Place the two “good” sides of 2 bandanas together, and stitch three and a half sides. Use a couple of inches seam allowance (my bandanas were large – 22″ x 22″).
- Flip the bandanas right-side-out and stuff with Poly-Fil.
- Hand-stitch the last couple inches, and you’re done! Ta-da!
BETTER SEW Method (Envelope Pillow Cover) Steps:
This option probably creates the “nicest”, most professional-looking product. For an envelope-style pillow cover, you’ll use 3 bandanas instead of 2.
This style is great because the cover is removable and washable!
NO-SEW Bandana Pillow Cover:
The no-sew technique is a fantastic option. I love this simple tutorial from Homey Oh My which will help you create a no-sew envelope pillow cover.
Like with the envelope cover, you’ll be using 3 bandanas. With the no-sew options, you’ll also use a pillow insert and stitch adhesive instead of thread.
Easy breezy!
Bandana Pillow – EASIEST Option:
Buy them instead! How’s that for easy 😂? For real, sometimes buying something is just way more practical than making it, right?
Here are some options:
3. Use Your Bandana Pillow
Now comes the fun part (wait…wasn’t creating it fun? Why yes it was – now you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor). Use your bandana pillows in all your bandana decorating ideas.
Our bandana pillows have taken a beating and still look amazing, no matter how we decorate with them. They can usually be found strewn around his room, being used for lounging, or this, that…
and the other.
A favorite spot for them is in Sweet Cheeks’ little play tent. He camps out in there with his little lantern, his Spot lift-the-flap books, and munches on the felt s’ mores he cooks over his little felt campfire!
Now that you know how to make some bandana pillows, GO BANDANAS!
And certainly, if you like the Parent Trap, or a vintage camping, fishing, outdoorsy theme, I say definitely go for it!
For $8 a pillow (or less!), this DIY bandana idea is pretty great.
More Bandana Ideas to Make:
Links below to items purchased, or similar products if an exact match is no longer available. Items not shown are likely thrift scores.
- Felt campfire & s’mores
- Fisherman Sconces (behind daybed)
- Hudson-style striped blanket
- Faux Antler Chandelier
- Vintage army blanket | DIY tent
- Fish/Trout wall art
- Ivory and Navy Geometric Rug
- Madras Curtain Fabric (Three Chickadees)
- White bookcase/dresser combo
- Stump Seats
- Vintage Mess Kit
- Wood Canoe Oars (similar)
- Wicker Creel (similar)
- Framed Camping Art
- Paint – Denim technique with Sherwin Williams “Indigo Batik” as top coat
Pin this post for later! And if you make one, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this project, too!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! Sign up now and get a FREE copy of “Builder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!” Click here to enter your email or on the image below. Your copy will be sent right away!
Judy says
I love how the pillows look, and I collect bandannas. So many uses for them. I’m excited to do some of these projects
Shannon @ BabyBird Creative says
Love everything about this. They’d be a perfect fit in my living room.
XOXO
Marie Georges says
Very cute idea! Why not purchase American made bandanas such as Hav-A-Hank? Maybe a little more expensive but also MUCH more durable & long-lasting. They come in just as many colors……
Heather says
Sounds like a great idea! Go for it Marie! 🙂
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
These are so cute! And I love the new sew idea…I am pretty challenged in that dept! 🙂
Frugal Hausfrau says
Heather, this is a crazy cool room! I love the pillows, too! Thanks for sharing this on our Throwback Thursday link party! I love it! I’ll be pinning, too, so be sure to follow us there, and see you next week! 🙂
Mollie
Theresa@DearCreatives says
Oh my gosh love this post & the pillows! Pinned & Shared Thanks for joining in at the Inspiration Spotlight party.see you again soon.
Hannah@SeeingtheLovely says
What a cute and easy diy project! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty!
Leigh says
Cute! I’m looking for ideas for our in-progress home improvements, and this might work!
creativejewishmom/sara says
Love it, looks fabulous especially the shot with the little play tent! And with bandanas like these that have been re-designed (traditional bandanas never had a mandala type center, i have quite a few vintage ones……) well the results are fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Beverly says
What a great use for bandannas and they great in your sons room. Easy and inexpensive way to decorate.
Thanks for sharing at Turn It Up Tuesday,
Bev
Divya says
Lovely, why did I not think of these before……
Gilly @ Colour Saturated Life says
I just love these, they look so good and bandana fabric is usually so soft….great to snuggle with!
Cathy Carroll says
These are really cute – love all the colors they come in. Cathy
Sailorchronos says
I love this themed room! The next time my daughter wants a room makeover I'll definitely consider your pillow idea.
Pam says
These are so cute! I have a couple ugly pillows in desperate need of new covers. Off to browse bandana colors on Amazon…
Erica Sooter says
What a great idea to use bandanas! They fit in so perfectly with your son's outdoorsy room 🙂 Oh, and I never know what the texting lingo things are all about either… just figured out SMH and a few others a couple months ago. Too hard to keep up!
Alexis Middleton says
Let's get together, hey hey hey! Love this room!
Fotini Roman says
These pillows are absolutely adorable, but I'm in awe of the entire space!! I love it all <3
Bharati S says
Love the wall treatment. I have been thinking of doing something similar in my guest room, but worried that i might goof it up. You did an incredible job with wall treatment. Awesome Idea to use the bandanas. Visiting from remodelaholic
Amanda Nellis says
What a GREAT idea! I love it And that room!
Amanda @ The Hatched Home
Robin Johnson says
What a wonderful idea. I love the look, very classic american if I had to give it a name.
Julia Nyanyo says
They are just lovely, I love bandana fabric and patterns, they make great cushion covers.
Heather says
Awww, thanks Amanda 🙂
Jo @ Let's Face the Music says
Really, really cute. I need a pop of color and I already have the bandanas, just need to get busy. Right? Jo @ Let's Face the Music
Heather says
That's always the hard part, right? Just starting!
Diane | An Extraordinary Day says
Thanks for joining us at Project Inspire{d}!
I'm excited to be featuring your Great Idea this week at for our weekend wrap up. Please be sure to grab a button or link back!
I can't wait to see what you bring to next week's party! 🙂
Heather says
Thanks so much Diane!
Erin Sears says
Your title really drew me in and the style of writing kept me reading. Well done!
Heather says
That is SO great to hear, Erin. Very much appreciated!
Tami Michel says
I love the pillows. What a great addition to an already stunning room!
Christine says
Those are gorgeous! What a great idea!
Heather says
Thanks so much Christine 🙂
Mary Burris says
Great use for bandanas! Love it! I think it would be fun to make a bandana quilt or throw cover, too!
Heather says
Absolutely! I concur Mary!
Ashley @ 3 Little Greenwoods says
Fabulous idea for pillows! Pillows are definitely on my to do list this year.
~ Ashley
Heather says
Thanks Ashley! Definitely try these out…SUPER easy and thrifty!!