Have you noticed all the pineapples around home decor lately? I kind of love them! They are so happy looking and are a universal symbol of hospitality. So I decided to make a painted watercolor pineapple cushion cover for our guest bedroom. Cushion covers are so easy to make and are such a simple way to switch up your seasonal decor. For this project I used some yellow outdoor fabric, and used watercolor fabric paints and a fabric resist to create a colorful pineapple.
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Supplies
- Yellow fabric (I used outdoor fabric)
- Picture of a pineapple
- Dye-na-flow watercolor fabric paints (cranberry red, chartreuse, and turquoise)
- Jacquard water-based resist
- Squeeze bottle applicator
- Paint brushes
- Spray bottle
Step 1: Trace a Pineapple on Fabric With Resist
I looked at several difference pictures of pineapples online, but I ended up just drawing my own pineapple. I’m not an artist at all, but a pineapple is really not that hard to draw. You can also just print a picture off the computer.
I cut out some yellow outdoor fabric about 20 inches by 20 inches, because I wanted to make an 18 inch pillow cover. I like using outdoor fabric because it’s easy to clean, but you can use cotton canvas or other upholstery fabric too. The paints will spread out differently on each fabric, so it’s good to do a test piece first.
Then I filled up my small squeeze bottle with some of the water-based resist and added a very small amount of water to thin it out. I traced over the lines of the pineapple with the resist. I wanted the pineapple to be mostly yellow, so made sure to leave the lines blank for the pink paint. Let the resist dry, which takes about an hour or two.
2. Paint the Pineapple With Watercolor Fabric paints
First I went in with the chartreuse paint in the leaves using a small paint brush.
Then I took the cranberry red (which I would say is more pink than red) and painted the pineapple. I didn’t water this down because I didn’t want it to spread out too much.
Then I added some more pink around the pineapple, and added turquoise to the leaves to give them more depth of color. You can spray it with water to make the paints spread out more.
3. Rinse out Resist
Once the fabric paint is dry, iron the fabric to set the paint. Be very careful to make sure your iron isn’t set too hot. Especially with outdoor fabric. The fabric will melt if your iron is too hot. Once set, rinse out the resist using warm water.
I have a hard time knowing when to quite, so once the fabric was dry I used a very very small paint brush to add some more detail with the watercolor fabric paint.
4. Sew together the Pineapple Pillow Cover
For the back of the pillow cover, I cut out two pieces of fabric that were about 20 inches wide by about 12 inches. I hemmed one side of the pieces for the back, then pinned all three pieces together to created an envelope closure at the back.
Sew around the edges, trim the sides and clip the corners to finish off the pillow cover. Then just turn it inside out and stuff an 18″ pillow insert inside.
What do you think? Doesn’t he look like a happy pillow?
The pineapple pillow looks so cute against the pops of blue! Nicely done and I liked how easy it looked to create. 🙂
Thanks so much!
I love a good pillow, and this one is pretty darn cute. It would make for a great outdoor pillow too!
Yes, it looks like a very happy pillow:) It’s adorable! I haven’t tried using those watercolor fabric paints so it was very neat to see how it turns out.
I love these fabric paints lately!
It turned out great — and I really like it with the other pillows. Also, those floral pillows with the blue trim are gorgeous!
I made those pillow cases using Amy Butler fabric. I still love them too!
I’m in awe of anyone who can sew. Sew and paint – you’re amazing!
Aw thanks. I’m not great at sewing, but I can do a straight line pretty well!
I love the colors and you made it look so easy! This might be my weekend project! Beautiful pictures too!
Thanks, I love the bright summery colors lately!
This turned out so cute! I love how ti looks like watercolors!
Thanks Emy!
Such a nice and easy project! Love the colors
Thanks Carla!
Love quick and easy DIY projects! This is adorable!
I love pineapples, and this project is so cute! I have to try it I think 😀
Very cute! I’ve been so obsessed with pineapples this season! 🙂
Great tutorial – I’m obsessed with pineapples right now – can’t wait to try this and check out the other projects!
Jessica! It’s so freaking cute!! Well done!!
Aw thanks Lidia!
Love the technique! Very fun!
I love this!! It’s so fun and happy and I’m sure you can’t help but smile when you see it!
Yes it makes me happy!
Wonderful pillow, so fun and it just screams summer! Pinned!
Thanks so much!
Super cute pillow! I’ve never heard of Resist before so I’m anxious to learn more about it. Visiting from Remodelaholic.