Holiday DIY: Jingle Bells for Your Sofa
Add the festive sound of the Christmas season to your sofa or chair with this handmade throw pillow
Jingle bells are a jolly symbol of the season, lending a festive feeling to your home decor. Dress up your sofa for the holidays with a throw pillow that has bells arranged in the shape of a tree.

Tools and Materials
- 1 piece of neutral-colored plaid fabric, 14 by 14 inches
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Light-colored marker
- Embroidery needle
- Neutral-colored embroidery floss
- 28 gold jingle bells, each five-eighths of an inch wide
- Scissors
- 2 pieces of navy fabric, each 11 by 14 inches
- Pins
- Sewing machine (not pictured)
- Thread
- Pillow insert, 14 by 14 inches
Instructions
1. Mark off the three corners of the triangle “tree” on the back side of the plaid fabric with a pencil. For the top of the tree, use a ruler to find the center of the top edge of plaid fabric and measure down 2½ inches from there. Mark that point with a pencil.
Measure up 3 inch inches from the bottom right corner of the fabric, and then measure in 2½ inches from the right side of the fabric. Mark that point. Repeat the process from the bottom left corner of the fabric, measuring up 3 inches from the bottom and in 2½ inches from the left side.
1. Mark off the three corners of the triangle “tree” on the back side of the plaid fabric with a pencil. For the top of the tree, use a ruler to find the center of the top edge of plaid fabric and measure down 2½ inches from there. Mark that point with a pencil.
Measure up 3 inch inches from the bottom right corner of the fabric, and then measure in 2½ inches from the right side of the fabric. Mark that point. Repeat the process from the bottom left corner of the fabric, measuring up 3 inches from the bottom and in 2½ inches from the left side.
2. Using the edge of the ruler as a guide, connect the three dots to form a triangle.
3. Mark off the lines for seven rows of bells. Measure 4 inches down from the top of the triangle and mark the spot. Continue this process for rows three through six, measuring down from the top 5½ inches for the third row, 7 inches for the fourth row, 8½ inches for the fifth row and 10 inches for the sixth row.
3. Mark off the lines for seven rows of bells. Measure 4 inches down from the top of the triangle and mark the spot. Continue this process for rows three through six, measuring down from the top 5½ inches for the third row, 7 inches for the fourth row, 8½ inches for the fifth row and 10 inches for the sixth row.
4. Draw lines at those points from one side of the triangle to the other and parallel to the top of the fabric, as shown above.
5. Using a light-colored marker, mark where each of the bells will go. Plan for one bell at the top of the triangle. The second row has two equally spaced bells, one on each side of the center of the triangle. The third row has one bell in the center of the triangle and one bell set 1½ inches in from each side of the triangle. The four bells on the fourth row are equally spaced 1¼ inches apart.
For the fifth row, the five bells are also spaced 1¼ inches apart, with one bell in the center of the triangle. For the sixth row, equally space the six bells 1⅛ inches apart. Finally, space the seven bells in the seventh row, which forms the bottom of the triangle, 1⅛ inches apart with one bell in the center.
5. Using a light-colored marker, mark where each of the bells will go. Plan for one bell at the top of the triangle. The second row has two equally spaced bells, one on each side of the center of the triangle. The third row has one bell in the center of the triangle and one bell set 1½ inches in from each side of the triangle. The four bells on the fourth row are equally spaced 1¼ inches apart.
For the fifth row, the five bells are also spaced 1¼ inches apart, with one bell in the center of the triangle. For the sixth row, equally space the six bells 1⅛ inches apart. Finally, space the seven bells in the seventh row, which forms the bottom of the triangle, 1⅛ inches apart with one bell in the center.
6. Thread your embroidery needle with embroidery floss and tie a knot at the end. Poke it from the back (the marked side) to the front through the top point of the triangle. Thread a jingle bell onto the floss and poke the needle back through to the back at almost the same point (leave about one-eighth of an inch in between). Pull it tight.
7. Poke the needle through the next closest mark and repeat the process. Make sure to pull the floss taut in between the bells, but be sure that the fabric still lies flat. The back should look like the image above. Once you reach the end, tie a knot and trim the ends of the floss with scissors.
8. Fold over a long edge of the one of the navy pieces of fabric about 1½ inches (wrong sides together). Pin and sew along the cut edge to create a 1-inch seam allowance.
Repeat the process with the other piece of navy fabric.
Repeat the process with the other piece of navy fabric.
9. Lay out your pieces in preparation for sewing them together. Place the jingle bell piece right side up in front of you. Place the navy pieces right sides down on top of it, with the hemmed edges overlapping in the middle. Pin around the edges.
10. Sew around the perimeter with a half-inch seam allowance. Trim any loose threads, turn the pillow cover right side out and stuff the pillow insert inside.
The final piece is one part traditional, one part modern, thanks to the combination of the classic plaid fabric with the contemporary triangular tree shape.
The pillow may not be the most comfortable one to rest your head on, but the embroidery floss makes it surprisingly durable. The subtle jingle of the bells will make you smile every time you sit down.
This pillow also makes a great gift.
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