What Is a Reading Pillow? (And How to Make a Beautiful One)
There have been so many beautiful reading pillows shared in our Kreative Kiwi community recently that I thought it would be the perfect time to revisit one of our favourite projects, and put all our Reading Pillow information in one place!
What Is a Reading Pillow?
A reading pillow is a decorative pillow with a large front pocket designed to hold a book.
The pocket is perfectly sized for:
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Reading pillows are often given as:
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They’re practical, personal, and something children genuinely use — which makes them even more special.
One of the lovely things about reading pillows is that they look impressive, but the construction is simple.
To make creating your reading pillow easy, we already have several free resources that work beautifully together:
Together these tutorials and free designs give you everything you need to create a beautiful handmade reading pillow from start to finish.
How to Make a Reading Pillow
Darina created a full step-by-step tutorial that walks you through how to make a reading pillow, including:
- Cutting your fabric
- Constructing the pillow front
- Attaching the pocket
- Finishing your pillow neatly
You can read the full guide here:
How to Make a Reading Pillow
The tutorial is beginner-friendly and perfect if this is your first reading pillow project.
How to Quilt a Reading Pillow Pocket
If you want to take your reading pillow to the next level, quilting the pocket makes such a difference.
A quilted reading pillow pocket adds:
- Texture
- Structure
- Extra durability
- A beautiful handmade look
You can quilt your pocket in the hoop using your embroidery machine — Darina has written a step-by-step guide to show you exactly how.
Add your wording
I’ve created a FREE Reading Pillow wording design for the 5x7 and 6x10 hoops.
The sweet message stitches beautifully onto a pocket panel and pairs perfectly with a Large Applique design.
Large Applique Designs – Perfect for Reading Pillows
If you’re looking for a design to feature on your reading pillow, our Large Applique designs are a wonderful choice.
You'll see our Free Large Applique Pig shown on many samples. Not only cute, we have a detailed video showing how to make this large applique design
Because these designs are stitched in multiple hoopings, they allow you to create a design that is much larger than your embroidery hoop — making them ideal for cushion fronts.
They create a bold focal point that sits beautifully above a book pocket, and they’re surprisingly easy to stitch thanks to the step-by-step instructions included with every design.
Animals, characters, seasonal designs or themed pillows — Large Appliques make it easy to create a reading pillow that feels truly special.
Once you’ve made one, you may find yourself planning the next one already!
VIEW OUR LARGE APPLIQUE DESIGNS
Want to make a Cushion only? Darina has you covered
Darina created a full step-by-step tutorial that walks you through how to make a cushion, including:
- Cutting your fabric
- Constructing the pillow front
- Zip closure
- Button closure
You can read the full guide here
