How to create DIY custom pillows with a Pattern Generator
Below, we discuss step-by-step on how to create DIY custom pillows with patterns you can design yourself.
08/03/2023
Want to spruce up your bedroom the quick and easy way? Changing your pillow cases is excellent to begin with. Not only are they prominently displayed in any room; they’re also quite easy to replace if you want to change your room decor. If you really want a unique design that matches your style, ditch the store-bought cases and go DIY. In this blog, we’ll show you a step-by-step of how to create DIY custom pillows with patterns you can design yourself.
What you need:
Pillow case (100% Polyester/65% Polyester
blend)
CF Spark Pattern Generator
Sublimation printer/ink
Sublimation paper
Butcher Paper
Heat-resistant tape
Heat-resistant gloves
Heat press: Cricut
EasyPress/EasyPress Mini
Step 1: Create your pattern design
For your design to be truly customized,
you’ll want an image you created yourself.
Patterns are a fun style that bring a ton of
personality to any design. You can go as subtle
or as over the top as you wish with patterns.
To create one, you can use your usual design
softwares like InDesign or Figma. But if you
want to create different designs in a flash, use
CF Spark Patterns. This nifty text-to-image
generator specializes in creating seamless
repeating images from text prompts. Just enter a
description of what you want your pattern to
look like then click Ignite. Below the text
prompt field, you will find different art
styles. You can choose one to make your text
prompt more specific. After clicking Ignite,
you’ll get 4 pattern variations based on your
description.
Step 2: Print your design
To print your pattern design for your pillow
case, first you will need a sublimation printer
and sublimation ink. There are printers out
there that specialize specifically in
sublimation, but if you’re not making a business
out of sublimation printing, you can simply go
for printers like Epson eco-tanks, which can be
modified for sublimation with the sublimation
ink. Sublimation inks are easily available and
are relatively easy to use on such printers.
Printing with a sublimation printer and ink
requires a special sublimation transfer paper.
When purchasing transfer paper for sublimation,
make sure you’re getting ones that are suitable
for fabric transfer. The A-Sub sublimation
transfer paper brand is typically used for
fabric transfer.
When printing your
design, make sure it’s the mirror image of your
pattern. Let it dry for 30 seconds.
Step 3: Transfer your design
For sublimation to transfer properly on your
pillow case, use polyester or polyester blend
material, at least 65%. You can search for
Sublimation blank pillow cases just to be 100%
sure on your choice of material.
Before
transferring the design to your pillow case, you
will need to review the instructions on your
transfer paper of choice – how long it will take
to transfer the design and the level of heat
needed.
Now to transfer, place your
printed sublimation paper printed side down on
your flat pillow case. Make sure your pillow
case is lint-free and that your surface is even
so your print transfers properly. Tape down your
printed paper with heat-resistant tape. If you
want to be extra neat, use a piece of butcher or
parchment paper to protect your tools from the
ink. Then press down with a heat press. Nowadays
there are different types and sizes of heat
presses available. Cricut EasyPress is typically
used for medium-sized designs while the
EasyPress Mini is great for smaller ones.
Step 4: Complete the transfer
How long will it take for your sublimation printed design to completely transfer on your pillow case? It will depend on the heat press you use and your pillow case material, so be sure to review the specific instructions on your heat press before using it. It typically takes only a few seconds at a certain temperature. When pressing down and removing your transfer paper, protect yourself with heat-resistant gloves.
Step 5: Create different patterns
If you want to take your pillow design
further, you can create more variations on your
generated pattern on CF Spark Patterns. Just
hover over the top right of the image and click
on the Diamond icon. That will take you to the
CF Spark ImageMix, an image variation generator
tool which can create 12 more design variations
from your AI-generated image.
Once
you customize your own pillowcases, there’s no
going back. DIY custom pillow cases also make
great gifts for friends and loved ones. They can
also be a great side hustle if you’re looking to
start an online store.