DIY Monogram-Button Pillows

Smooth 1 yard of fabric flat on your work surface. If necessary, remove wrinkles from the fabric with a clothes iron. Fold the fabric in half, and use the clothes iron to create a straight, strong crease. Using a yard stick or straight-edge ruler as a guide, draw a square measuring 10 1/2 on all sides with a fabric marker.

Cut out the square carefully with fabric scissors while keeping the fabric folded in half and cutting through both layers of fabric. The result will be two fabric squares to create one pillow. Set the remainder of the fabric aside, and place the two fabric squares flat on the work surface.

Turn one of the squares so its "right side" faces up. The "right side" is the fabric side that will be the final pillow's exterior side. Decide what type of monogram you want to trace on the pillow front. Options include a first name initial, an initial for the first, middle and last name, and only a last name initial. Center an alphabet stencil for the first initial on the fabric square, and trace the stencil's design with the fabric marker. Repeat the procedure for each initial you want on the pillow.

Place the pillow front on the work surface with the traced initial or initials facing up. Choose buttons to cover the monogrammed design. Thread a sewing needle with a color of thread that coordinates with the fabric's color. Unwind at least 5 inches of thread. Cut the thread straight across, and tie a knot in the end.

Put one button against an initial or a monogram design. Pinch the button to keep it in place. Working from the back of the fabric, push the threaded sewing needle through one of the button's holes. Pull the thread all the way through the button and fabric until the thread's knot is flush with the back of the fabric.

Push the needle down through the next button hole to create a parallel line with the thread. Pull the thread taut. Push the needle back up through the original hole and down through the second hole. Repeat the procedure until the button is secure. When sewing on a button with four holes, repeat the process using the second set of holes. Continue sewing on buttons until you cover the entire monogrammed design with buttons and the fabric marker lines no longer show.

Place one fabric square on top of the other fabric square so that their right sides -- the pillow's exterior sides -- touch. Use straight pins to attach the two pieces of fabric together. Thread a sewing machine with color-coordinating thread. Set the machine to a basic, straight stitch setting.

Sew a straight line up one side of the pillow, removing the straight pins as you sew. Continue to sew together two more sides of the pillow. Turn the pillow right side out through the pillow's open end. Stuff the pillow with a pillow form or polyester fiberfill.

Tuck the open side's fabric edges in toward the stuffing, and use straight pins to secure the open end's fabric sides together, creating a seam. Thread a needle, cut a piece of thread about 15 inches long and tie a knot in its end. Push the needle through the fabric from the inside of the pinned seam to hide the knot. Complete small, straight stitches through both sides of the fabric to close the open seam.