With National Avocado Day landing on July 31st, it felt like the perfect excuse to design a pillow that celebrates everyone’s favorite toast topper. This no sew appliqué pillow tutorial features an atomic avocado design and is exactly the kind of project that’s quick, fun, and doesn’t require pulling out the sewing machine. It’s one of those projects that feels like it should take all day, but comes together in an afternoon, which makes it a perfect summer craft. Invite a few friends over and turn it into a crafternoon, or work through a batch on your own while you binge your favorite show. Either way, you’ll end up with custom throw pillows that are entirely your own design.
The best part about a no sew project like this one is how accessible it is. There’s no machine to thread, no seams to worry about, and no sewing experience required — just an iron, some fusible interfacing, and a little creativity. It’s a great project for beginners, for crafting with kids (with adult supervision around the iron), or for anyone who wants a fast, low-commitment way to refresh their space.
These pillows are a wonderful way to update your patio furniture, add a pop of personality to your living room, or bring some new color into your bedroom. Because you’re working with fabric scraps and felt appliqués, you can design pillows that match your exact color palette and style, or use this fun, graphic avocado motif as a starting point for other designs down the road.
No Sew Appliqué Pillow Supply List
- Fairfield World Crafter’s Choice Pillow Inserts (this tutorial uses both a 20 inch and a 16 inch insert, so you can see how the finished size changes the look of the pillow)
- Stick Double Sided Fusible Interfacing, which is what makes the “no sew” part of this project possible
- Fabric scraps in fun, coordinating patterns for your appliqué pieces
- A 42″ x 22″ solid color fabric piece, sized to wrap around a 20″ pillow insert
- Felt sheets for additional appliqué layers and details
- An iron
- An ironing board
- Parchment paper, to protect your iron and ironing board from any stray adhesive
- The free Atomic Avocado template, so you can cut this exact design or use it as a starting point for your own
A quick note on the fusible interfacing: because it’s double sided, it bonds two layers of fabric together without any stitching, which is what allows the whole pillow, appliqué and all, to come together without a needle and thread. Parchment paper is your best friend here — always place it between your iron and any adhesive to keep both your iron and ironing board clean.
Watch the Full Tutorial
This video walks through every step of the process from start to finish, so you can follow along at your own pace:
In the No Sew Appliqué Pillow video, you’ll learn:
- How to apply Stick Double Sided Fusible Interfacing to your fabric, so you can turn any fabric scrap or felt sheet into a ready-to-use appliqué. This step is the foundation of the whole project, and once you’ve done it once, it becomes second nature.
- How to cut clean, precise appliqué shapes using the free Atomic Avocado template (or a shape of your own), so your finished design looks polished rather than rough around the edges.
- How to use the fusible interfacing and an iron to assemble a complete no sew pillow, layering your solid fabric, appliqué pieces, and pillow insert into a finished piece — no sewing machine required.
- How pillow insert size changes the final look, comparing a fuller, more structured pillow against a looser, softer drape. This is a great detail to keep in mind if you’re making multiple pillows and want some variety across a set.
Tips for Making This Project Your Own
Once you’ve made one pillow, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to make several more — and that’s part of the fun. A few ideas for customizing this project:
- Swap in a different appliqué design for each season or holiday, using the same no sew technique.
- Mix and match felt colors to create your own original graphic, rather than sticking to a single template.
- Use a mix of pillow insert sizes across a set of pillows for a collected, layered look on a couch or bed.
- Choose solid fabric colors that pull from your existing decor so the finished pillows feel intentional, not like an afterthought.
This is also a wonderful project to make in a group. Since each pillow is quick to complete, it works well for a craft night with friends — everyone can bring their own fabric scraps and appliqué ideas, and you’ll each go home with a finished, one-of-a-kind pillow.
I hope you’ll give this project a try this summer. Whether you’re refreshing your patio for outdoor entertaining season or just looking for a fast, rewarding weekend craft, this no sew pillow tutorial delivers a polished result without a big time investment. Have fun crafting and creating!