What you need

50 x 50 cm GOTS certified pillow case

We made this organic cotton pillow case with the best heavy weight cotton quality. It's durable and sustainable!

Textile paint

You'll find two colours of professional textile paint in the box: cinnamon and leaf green

Brushes

We added a round brush and a flat brush. In the video, we'll explain a little more about the brush sizes

Textile marker

This marker has a duotop, which means that you can add more or less detail

Cardboard insert

Make sure your paint will not leak through the canvas. Add a piece of cardboard inside the pillow before painting

Water jar

Rinse your brushes with water

Iron

To finish the design, you'll need to iron it

Before you start

  • You’ll want to have everything within reach so you can focus on crafting. Check the material list in the box on the left and make sure you find a nice space where you can craft. Light a candle, put on some music and get ready for a few hours of cozy crafting.
  • Use templates or freehand your pillow art print. We are focussing on progress, so don’t worry about perfection. The pillow looks even better with an authentically hand painted look.
  • Work slowly and enjoy the process of making something truly unique.

Prep & sketch

  • Slide a piece of cardboard inside the pillowcase to make your surface super neat and keep the paint from bleeding through.
  • Smooth out any wrinkles and tape down the edges if needed.
  • You can also iron the pillow case to remove any wrinkles.
  • Start by brainstorming 6–10 small winter-themed drawings. You can do this online (use Pinterest, Canva or other tools) or by hand. Inspiration is everywhere!
  • Lightly sketch your design with pencil on a piece of paper. Or print your digital design.
  • We have some pre-made designs on our instruction page. Scan the QR to find them.

Create a collage

We'll show you how to make multiple designs that create a cohesive pillow case.

  • Sketch each motif on paper first, keeping them around 8–10 cm wide.
  • Think of them as little illustrations that will live in their own space on the pillow.
  • Cut out your little drawings
  • Space them out evenly across the square canvas, like a gallery wall.
  • You can cluster some in corners, leave breathing room in the center, or even create a loose spiral or grid.
  • Vary the orientation, some upright, some tilted, for a playful collage feel.

Start the design

Now that we have the layout of your pillow design, we can start the creative process!

  • Draw the designs on the fabric with pencil.

Brushes & paint

  • Start with the base layer of paint. This will be your background of the design. Keep your reference drawing next to you, since the textile paint will cover all your pencil marks.
  • Use the flat brush for bold shapes like mugs, mittens, or scarves.
  • Use the round brush for details like berries, pine needles, or candle flames.
  • Alternate between cinnamon and leaf green to keep the palette warm and wintery.
  • Once the textile paint is dry, you can add black details with the textile marker.

Complete & fixate

  • Once dry, use the black textile marker to outline, add texture, or write tiny words like “cozy,” “chill,” or “glow.”
  • Work one motif at a time, letting each dry before moving to the next to avoid smudging.
  • Let the pillowcase dry completely once you finished your design. Ideally overnight.
  • The next day, use an iron to set the paint with heat. Place your iron on the backside of the pillow (so not directly on the design!) for about 5 minutes. Do not use steam. You can also place a tea towel in between the pillow design and iron, to be extra sure.
  • You can also fixate the design in the oven. Place in the oven for 5 minutes on 150°C
  • Add a nice (wooden) 'hand made' button on your pillow for an extra touch!

About the video

Video made by The Good Craft. Do not copy without permission. Music Tell me you love me by Oliver Massa via Upbeat