It’s as if a meadow decided to grow from denim, threads blossoming into flowers, vines spilling softly across a pillow.

This design carries the rugged spirit of worn jeans with the delicate tenderness of hand embroidery.

Moreover, each stitch feels like planting a seed, and the pocket becomes a small keeper of treasures, almost like a diary sewn into fabric.

Materials Needed

• 1 pillow insert (16 x 16 in / 40 x 40 cm)
• 1 sturdy pillow cover fabric (16 x 16 in, canvas or cotton)
• Denim pocket cut from old jeans (approx. 6 x 6 in)
• Embroidery floss in various colors (greens, yellows, pinks, whites, purples, blues)
• Embroidery hoop (6-8 in)
• Embroidery needle
• Sewing thread (matching denim color)
• Fabric scissors and pins
• Pencil or erasable fabric marker

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Cut out a pocket from an old pair of jeans, leaving a small border of fabric around the seams for stitching. Then press it flat with an iron.

Step 2: Place your pillow cover fabric in the embroidery hoop, centering the area where the pocket will be attached.

You next lightly sketch flower stems and sprigs extending upward and sideways from where the pocket’s top edge will sit.

Step 3: Using green embroidery floss, begin stitching the stems with a simple backstitch. You can add leaves with lazy-daisy stitches, and scatter little branches for a natural flow.

Step 4: Add flowers in varying colors like yellow daisies, pink blossoms, white wildflowers using a mix of French knots, satin stitches, and straight stitches.

Don’t aim for perfection; the charm lies in the looseness, just like a real meadow.

Step 5: Once embroidery is complete, remove the hoop and gently press the fabric from the back.

Now, place the denim pocket where you intended and pin it in place. Stitch around the edges with matching thread, leaving the top open so it functions like a real pocket.

Step 6: Sew the embroidered front to the backing fabric, right sides together, leaving a small opening. Turn inside out, press flat, then insert your pillow form. Stitch the opening closed.

Tips:

I’ve found that scattering a few French knots outside the pocket gives the illusion of wildflowers spilling beyond their boundaries.

If you want a personal twist, tuck little surprises into the pocket like handwritten notes, dried herbs, or even small seasonal decorations.