How to Make a Macaron Pillow – Free Tutorial
A macaron, pronounced mack-a-rohn (French accent optional 😉 ) is made up of two flat bottomed almond flour cookies, that are sandwiched together with a filling of jam or ganache. I have absolutely no idea what ganache is, but it sounds fancy. Apparently macarons are really difficult to make. I wouldn’t know though, even a muffin is beyond my skill level. But I might just be tempted to make my a daughter this macaron pillow when she asks for one.
And she did ask. A while ago. So since this month’s Int’l Bloggers Club (IBC) challenge is “Fabric” it seemed like perfect opportunity to get my laptop butt in gear and figure out how to make her a macaron pillow.
Opportunity is like a macaron dipped in tea. If you wait too long it’s gone
But before I get into the how to, let me tell you a little more about the IBC. We’re a small group of international bloggers from all around the world that get together on the last Monday of every month to share a themed project. Last month we had to “Try Something New” which was loads of fun. Can I tell you a secret? I’m dreading the day the challenge is to “bake something”. I’m either going to call in sick for the day or cheat and get my daughter to bake that something 😀 Sshhh don’t tell anyone. Okay onto the macaron pillow.
What You Need to Make a Macaron Pillow
- Sewing machine
- A dinner plate
- 1/8 yard of fabric for the jam or ganache filling
- 1/2 yard of silky fabric for the tops of the cookies. I used a silk-cotton mix
- 1/4 yard of coordinating furry fabric
- Stuffing, scissors measuring tape, and cotton
The finished pillow measures 32 cm (12″) in diameter. Use the dinner plate to cut two circles from the silky fabric. Leave a seam allowance of about 2 cm ( ¾”). Edge the fabric if it tends to fray. The lazy mom inside of me decided to skip this step. Hopefully it doesn’t come back to bite me later.
Cut a 9 cm (3.5”) wide strip from the fabric you’re using for the filling and two 8 cm (3 1/8”) strips from the furry fabric. All the strips need to be long enough to go around the circles you cut earlier with some overlap. Place the “filling” strip down on a flat surface and then pin and sew the furry strips on either side. Furry fabric can be a bit difficult to sew depending on how fluffy it is, so you may need to adjust your stitch length and tension. Ask me how I know 😉 See those holes in the “filling fabric”…… Yup, I didn’t do that the first time.
When you flip the strips over you should end up with something like the piccy above – that’s now officially the right side. With the right sides facing inwards, pin the “fur and filling strips” all around one of the circles you cut earlier and sew together. Do the same with the other circle.
Flip the macaron pillow inside out, or in this case, outside in 😉 and stuff firmly. Finish off by hand stitching the stuffing gap closed.
It’s as easy as that. My baby girl seems real happy with her macaron pillow, or maybe it’s those gorgeous roses?
What do you think, does it look decadent and macaron-ish? I might just make another one. Maybe strawberry? If you enjoyed this tutorial, please don’t forget to share it with your friends and/or save it to Pinterest.
Pinny Please
I can’t wait to see what my friends from the IBC have done for their fabric challenge. Wanna join me? Their links are at the bottom ? Oh and if you’re not in the mood to shop around for some of the things I used to make the pillow, I’ve got you covered Disclosure: If you click on the links below, we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more crafty stuff.
Hope you have an awesome week and remember, always be a macaron in a cookie cutter world.
Michelle, this macaron pillow looks good enough to eat, lol. Of course you daughter loves her pillow it’s super cute. 😉
😀 Thank you Keri
What a cute pillow! It looks so comfortable and I love the colors.
? Thanks Journa
Super cute pillow! Great decor for a girls room. Visiting from Sweet Inspiration party.
Thank you so much Victoria ?
O M G this is awesome, you always create such cute things and you write your post so well, I enjoy reading it. You are right, a macaron is so difficult to make. This fabric macaron is perfect and the colour is my favourite.
Thank you so very much Sadhna. That lilac is such a pretty color.
So cute! You always have so clever ideas! I have never seen before a macaron pillow. It would be a perfect addition to my granddaughter’s bedroom. Thank you for the tutorial 🙂
? It’s a pleasure Christina, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
My darling daughter is in love with these kinds of stuffy and fluffies. They are super pricey and they do have a macaroon. I’d rather make one. This is darling!!
Stuffy and fluffies – love that Kim ? My daughter loves them too, I think it’s the cuddle factor
That is so cute Michelle! It looks so soft, plump, and cuddly. Love the color. I’m not much of a baker either, so I’m afraid the macaron’s wouldn’t be something that I would want to try.
Me neither my friend ? Sewing is way easier than baking
This is a very cute project and another success of yours! I know I can’t sew a button, but I enjoy so much your creativity!
Thanks so much Nati ?
I love it. So freaking cute. And what a wonderful group to be a part of too. Such fun!
Thanks Julie ? The IBC bloggers are awesome. It’s so much fun every month doing the same challenge across the world and seeing what everyone comes up with
This pillow is just too cute! I love the colors too. It’s like you can take a bite of it! I would love to try and make one too. I have a thing for pillows and this one is a must have!
A girl can never have too many pillows, right?!!! Thanks so much Carolann
You had me with that color. It looks so calming and serene. Another great idea there, which I would have never even imagine myself 😀
Thanks so much Tanvi, that lilac is real pretty
OMG!! This macaroon pillow is so cute. I love to try this. You really did an awesome job. and I love the color.
? Thank you Angela ?
This is so creative, what a lovely idea. I love the lilac colour its gorgeous for spring!
It’s a really pretty color, I was so happy when I found it. Thanks so much Elizabeth
This is darling and huggable! I love the color and the texture of how this all came together. Your step by step instructions will make it easy for anyone to follow. Blessings, ? Xo, Evelyn, PathofPresence.com ?
Thanks so much Evelyn. I didn’t realize how difficult it was to take photos while sewing so I hope there’s enough to help explain the tutorial.
That’s adorable! I love a good DIY pillow!
? Thank you Amy-Lynn
Mixy-Michelle, another stunning creation. I’ve never seen macaron pillows before but these are insanely cute. I swear everything you make looks so well executed it could be found in a fancy store with a hefty price tag! I don’t think I could replicate this so neat but now I want one for my bed!
You’ll do an amazing job with these Ithi. Your attention to detail still boggles my mind every time I see your nail art. So making a macaron pillow will be a breeze for you
I love how much we think alike. I was going to make some larger ones for floor cushions. Love these very much.
That’s so cool, I would love to see how yours turns out Leanna. They’ll be awesome as huge floor pillows.
You did a wonderful job doing it with such a finesse and I never thought about making one. So cool
? Thank you Pooja
What a cute pillow! Thank you for sharing the tutorial.
I’m glad you like it Laura, thanks so much
At one glance I thought it is a yummy macaron. It just look so real. I hope to make few for the my sofa. I think making pastel rainbow colors would look great in the living room!
Oooooo yes a whole bunch of them would look great together ?
How cute! I don’t think I’ve ever had a macaroon, even though they’re really popular and I see them everywhere. I am also not very good in the kitchen either. ?
I’ve never had the real thing either. In fact I’ve only seen pictures of them ? but my daughter says they are super yummy and come in so many different flavors. They’re real expensive here. Maybe because they’re so difficult to make?
Lol Michelle, don’t you know that if you don’t want something you don’t have to even think about it? And you said it loud, my head is thinking about baking something, but not only food can be baked 😉
The macaron pillow is too cute, I better don’t show it to my daughters just in case they ask for one too. You made it seem easy, but my old sewing machine is in rebelion with me…
By the way, ganache is a mix of warm whipping cream with chocolate, half and half… huuummm yummy
? I will not think about baking, I will not think about baking ? Oh dear I think I may have jinxed it already Pili, but at least I know what ganache is now and it does sound yummy
Michele these are so pretty they are fit for a baker! I really love how your imagination works and you come up with the most unexpected crafts. It is true that macrons are very hard to make. My girl got it perfect on her first try but hasn’t been able to reach that level of perfection since. And they taste as heavenly as your pillow looks to the eye!
Oh and I think we can all agree that there won’t be any baking on the IBC any time soon! 😉
Oh yay, no baking ? Thank goodness, that’s a relief and good on your daughter for getting it right. I’ve heard they’re a bakers’s worst nightmare
I’m afraid these would be the only macaron’s I could make too. Thanks to your awesome tutorial, these look far less daunting to make than the baked variety! Such a unique idea for a pillow and oh so pretty!
LOL, you and me both Marie. I’d far rather by wielding a power tool than a mixing spoon ?
This is so adorable. You did such a nice job on the pillow.
Thanks so much Debra ?
Michelle, do you accept orders for these?? Lol, my daughters want one too now. Or I might go and try to make them, thanks to your tutorial it doesn’t look too tricky. The macaron looks super cozy and perfect for a girls bedroom, i love the soft purple tone. And lol, let’s see that we don’t ever get the idea to bake something cause I’d call in sick as well!
? Thank goodness for that Katrin, baking and me are just not meant for each other. So glad you liked the pillow too, they’re really easy to make