These pillows feel like something that could have been passed down in a family Christmas box. The gingerbread men almost seem alive, with rosy cheeks, little smiles, and candy-like buttons.

Bonus, the candy canes twirl between them, playful as if they were scattered across a holiday kitchen table.

With every stitch, you’re reminded of baking cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, and sneaking peppermint sticks from the jar.

Materials Needed

• 1 plain pillow cover (16”×16” or 18”×18”, neutral cotton or linen)
• Embroidery floss in brown, white, red, black, and pink
• Punch needle kit (needle, hoop, and monk’s cloth if making from scratch)
• Felt sheets (optional)
• Polyester stuffing (if sewing your own pillow form)
• Fabric glue or hand needle
• 1 pillow insert

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Sketch or trace gingerbread men and candy cane shapes onto your pillow cover using a washable fabric pen. Then position them playfully so they seem to dance across the surface.

Step 2: Using a punch needle and brown embroidery floss, fill in the gingerbread figures with a looped texture that makes them look plump and cookie-like.

Step 3: Outline the gingerbread men with white floss to mimic frosting, then add pink cheeks, black eyes, and red buttons to bring their faces and details to life.

Step 4: For candy canes and peppermints, use alternating red and white floss, keeping the loops short and even for a neat finish.

Step 5: Once embroidery is complete, press the cover lightly with a warm iron on the reverse side to secure stitches. Now you can insert your pillow form and fluff it up.

Step 6: Pair it with a gingerbread house pillow or other festive designs for a cozy Christmas vignette.

Tips:

When I made a similar pillow, I discovered that varying loop heights with the punch needle gave the gingerbread men more dimension, short loops for the frosting and longer ones for the cookie body.

You could also sew on tiny bows or sequins for extra sparkle, making your gingerbread men look dressed up for a holiday party.