Pillow shams are the most misunderstood soft furnishing. While designing bedding for clients, invariably, they have questions about pillow shams.

DIY Bedding and Pillow shams
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What is a pillow sham:
The pillow sham is simply a decorative pillow. It is the largest pillow or pillows on the bed. They provide the backdrop for all the other decorative pillows. Usually, they are constructed from the same fabric as the bedding, such as a comforter or duvet cover. The sham has closure and some decorative details such as flanges, ties, buttons, embroidery, trims, tassels, pompoms, and more.
Pillowcase:
The sleeping pillow has a pillowcase that has an opening for easy removal for frequent laundering.
Arranging the pillows:
Sleeping pillow with pillowcase
The sleeping pillow looks lonely and boring leaning against the tall custom headboard.




Sleeping pillow with pillowcase
Classic pillow sham arrangement
The monochromatic look in the photo below depicts the classic sleek and straightforward pillow sham arrangement. Please note the size of the pillow sham. Learn how to make this super easy DIY pillow sham at the end of this post.




Embellished DIY pillow sham




Classic layered pillows and pillow sham
Adding a touch of whimsy
Adding this super fun llama pillow to the bed changes the vibe from sleek classic to Bohemian. My daughter designed the llama pillow and cut it out with her Cricut Maker. See the complete instructions and free SVG file and pattern HERE.




Llama pillow and pillow sham
The groovy side tables were made from a fallen tree in the yard. See the entire story and the easy DIY HERE.
Layering pillows




Layering pillows




Mixed layered pillows and pillow sham
These pretty button shams pictured below are another example of classic shams.
Flanges, and ties, on pillow shams add a custom detail.
Pillow shams DIY
This DIY pillow sham idea was born out of too many king-size pillowcases. I purchased two sets of excellent quality king-size sheet sets to make my daughter’s bedding, so I have four king-size pillowcases, and I needed a pillow sham for her new bedding, so I wanted to use one of those pillowcases. First, however, I had to embellish the plain pillowcase to make it a sham. In addition, I wanted some Boho tassels and ties for the closure. So let me show you how simple and free these were to make.
Planning the sham




Buttonholes marked and ready for the sewing machine
Ties
I made the ties 15″ long, so I cut three ties at 2″ by 16″ from the leftover sheet fabric.
Then I folded it in half long sides together and stitched all but one short side so I could turn it.




Ties for sham
After stitching the ties, I turned them right sides using a safety pin and pressed them.
Tassels
They needed something more, so I decided to make some tassels with DMC embroidery floss to add to the ends of the ties. See how to make them HERE.




Tassels DIY




Tassels DIY Guide
My handmade guide for tassel making I cut from a piece of recycled cardboard. The tassel is formed by wrapping the embroidery floss around the cardboard guide until it is full enough to form a tassel.




Easy tassel making
Cut a piece of floss to tie in the center of the wound together, floss and knot it, then cut another piece of floss to tie around the folded over floss and trim see photo below.




Embroidery floss tassels




Trimming the tassel
Attaching the tassels
I placed the floss tie in the open back and hand-stitched it closed at the open end of the fabric ties. I pulled the floss tie into the fabric tie with a needle and stitched the floss end into the sham tie at the closed end. Next, I made buttonholes on the top of the sham then marked through the buttonholes’ center to sew the links. Next, I folded the ties in half and sewed them to the sham through the center, creating two ties from one.




Tassels on the sham




Handmade tassel ties for pillow shams
My Amazon picks:




Romantic Boho Chic Bedroom Decor
- Pillow Sham With Tassel Ties
- Button Tufted Linen Headboard
- Boho Rug
- Llama Tassel Pillow
- Pink Ball Fringe Pillow
- Knit Throw
- Face Planter
- Pillow Sham With Flange
- Boho Pillow
- Yucca
- Live Edge Table
Boho Romantic Chic Makeover
I have been working on my daughter’s bedroom makeover, and I would like to invite you to join us on this creative journey. You can jump on board for the full makeover HERE!!! Learn how to do an easy room makeover.
That was a lot of information, and I am so glad you hung in there with me. Do you use shams on your bed?
Happy decorating,
Kippi
Mickey
Thursday 10th of September 2020
interesting post,but these pillows are not good so i would recommend you to see Best Kind of Pillow for Side Sleepers
Marie
Saturday 29th of June 2019
Your Llama pillow is ADORABLE, Kippi, and I'm seeing it featured everywhere! Your white pillow shames are so pretty too, love the tassels! Pinned :)
Marilyn Lesniak
Thursday 27th of June 2019
Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared.
Michelle
Wednesday 26th of June 2019
Your daughter’s llama pillow is adorable! Wonderful upcycle on the pillow cases!
Julie Briones
Friday 21st of June 2019
I so love these tassel pillows! I really need to get some sewing done! I'm just here by way of Thursday Fave Things, but I'm bettin' you have linked up with TTA already! ;-) Excited! Have a blessed weekend, Kippi!