Make These Geometric Tasseled Pillows in Under 20 Minutes!

Kelly Bryden
Apr 05, 2014

Alright, guys, it’s time to revamp your standard DIY throw pillow. We’ve taken your classic square throw and added four more sides and eight more tassels! Oh, and guess what? You can make these pillows in under 20 minutes, tassels and all. We think these poofs are a must for your spring redecorating plans. Now, let’s get to making these Octagon Pillow Poufs, baby!


– fabric

– four spools of embroidery floss

– thread

– stuffing

Tools:

– sewing machine

– needle + pins

– scissors

– ruler

– pencil

Instructions:

1. Fold fabric in half and measure out a 21 x 21-inch square. Make marks at seven inches and 14 inches.

2. Draw diagonal lines to connect your marks and create an octagon. Cut out the octagon.

3. Time to make your tassels! Hold the embroidery floss in your hand and wrap around your four fingers. Once you have wrapped about half of the floss around your hand, slip the bundle off and wrap string around the top. Knot and cut off the extra string. Create eight tassels.

4. Pin the tassels in between the two layers of fabric. Make sure the area above the wrapping is hanging out of the side.

5. Sew seven sides of the pillow leaving one open for flipping and stuffing.

6. Turn the pillow right side out and start stuffing. Make sure you really get it in the corners!

7. Sew up the open edge with a needle and thread.

Okay, let’s make this thing!

Usually we would suggest using the fold of the fabric as one of the sides of the pillow (less sewing!) but in this case you are going to need all open sides to insert the tassels. Measure out a square that is divisible by three, we chose 21. Divide the height and width into threes by creating a mark at seven inches and 14 inches. Now draw diagonal lines to each mark and create an octagon. Finally, cut it out!

To make your first tassel, you are going to hold the embroidery floss in your hand and wrap it around your four fingers. Wrap about half of the floss around your hand, it should be quite a few strings (the denser the better). Remove the bundle from your hand and wrap extra string around the top. Cut and tie off the string at the top. You will want a total of eight tassels!

Time to pin those eight tassels in place. Position them in between layers so the top of the tassel is peeking out of the fabric.

It’s best to start sewing right before each tassel. We know it’s kind of annoying, but it will ensure the best results. This way all the tassels will be secure when you are stuffing and you won’t have to deal with hand sewing the tassel on. Make sure you only sew seven sides of the fabric.

Tip for making sharp turns: Anchor the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot up, turn the fabric, and place the presser foot back down.

Turn the fabric right side out and start stuffing.

Really make sure the stuffing gets into the corners of the pillow.

Once all the stuffing is in place, use a needle and thread to sew up the open seam.

Stop right there. Look at that octagon pillow!

We created three and loved the look of them stacked on top of each other.

Try making different sized octagons. When first measuring out your square, we recommend sticking to measurements divisible by three (unless you’re a math whiz).

Turkey Temple totally approves! ;)

IKEA'S Color Of The Year Is Electric Blue — 12 Ways To Use This "Happy" Hue

I've always loved a pop of blue, red, or yellow in an otherwise neutral space. And while I admire anyone who can masterfully combine all three, blue has always been my clear favorite. Now, IKEA has officially crowned 'Electric Blue' as their 2025 Color of the Year. Inspired by the seas and skies, Electric Blue is a hue that IKEA describes as “contemplative and calm, yet versatile enough for modern and traditional spaces.”

Whether you’re looking to refresh a bedroom, energize a living room, or add a cool pop to your kitchen, this happy, bold shade delivers in the form of wall art, plush throws, or statement-making furniture. The best part? It plays well with others. Pair it with sunny yellows, vibrant oranges, soft lavenders, or even a daring hot pink. Will you be embracing this blue wave in 2025? From rugs and pillows to accessories and more, here are our top picks to embrace the new year with a splash of blue.

Wayfair

Iryanna Upholstered Armchair

This playful elephant trunk design calls for a color that doesn't take itself too seriously, creating a look that's minimalist and modern yet anything but boring.

IKEA

IKEA KLIPPOXEL Throw

This yarn-dyed throw feels just like mohair and it's made from recycled materials. It's a great way to commit to this bright color while on a budget.

West Elm

WE Checkered Shag Washable Rug

This 100% wool rug is actually washable and adds a bit of play and pop of blue to any space.

IKEA

IKEA KYRRE Stool

These stacking stools are so versatile and can be added to the corner of any room for extra seating or tables.

Urban Outfitters

UO Lola Nightstand

This cylindrical side table is perfect for holding your best reads, phone, other bedside essentials.

Amazon

Knot Pillow

Go blue on this iconic pillow for a whimsical and cozy addition to any room.

IKEA

IKEA SLATTUM Upholstered Bed Frame

This affordable bed frame will brighten up your bedroom and day.

Amazon

AllBlue Modern Eclectic Wall Art, Set of 12

For just $10, you can channel your own Blue Period with this striking and eclectic gallery wall.

Etsy

Twist Candles By Lex Pott

Designer Lex Pott combined both base and candle so you don't need a candle holder. Brilliant idea and color!

IKEA

IKEA KRYLBO Chair

Pull up a chair in Electric Blue with this upholstered piece that works in dining rooms, kitchens, and offices.

All Modern

Gemmell Hand Tufted Wool Rug

This 100% hand-tufted New Zealand wool rug makes a bold statement with simple geometric shapes.

IKEA

IKEA PRUNKHALLON Mirror

This wavy mirror in Electric Blue pairs perfectly with the IKEA BLÅSVERK Table Lamp in the same color.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

home decorhome decor inspirationpaint colorcolor trendsikeahome decor trends

DIY The Ultimate Holiday Party Photo Backdrop

Holiday party season is almost upon us, and we could not be more ready for it! Sparkly dresses, fancy work parties, time spent with family and friends celebrating the end of the year? Count us in. Topping the charts of our favorite things about holiday parties are the creative backdrops we’ve been seeing popping up in our social feeds. That’s why we’ve teamed up with NBC’s Making It, a new reality DIY competition series, to bring you a holiday party photo backdrop tutorial that is sure to make jaws drop. Get ready to learn how to hand knit a super fabulous and classy backdrop decked out with colorful pom-poms and tassels!

Let’s get crafty!

Materials and Tools:

  • yarn
  • pom-pom maker
  • roving
  • cable ties
  • large needle
  • scissors
  • retail grid (not pictured)
  • 2×1-foot wood board (not pictured)

Instructions:

  1. Hand knit roving.
  2. Make pom-poms and tassels.
  3. Create garlands.
  4. Add roving to grid.
  5. Add pom-poms and tassels.

For our backdrop, we used a 4×7-foot retail grid, which you can find at most office supply stores.

HAND KNIT ROVING

Begin by wrapping the tail of the roving over your right hand with the working yarn tucked underneath your hand, creating a loop.

Holding the tail in your left hand, pull the working yarn through the loop with your right hand, creating a simple slipknot.

This creates the base stitch of your woven braid that you will continue to pull the working yarn through to create the rest of your stitches. Thread the working yarn through your stitch just enough to create a new loop and pull it tight with the tail.

This may seem daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s actually super fun and a task that we all fight over at the office!

Keep feeding your working yarn through and creating new loops until you have enough to cover your grid. We kept the grid handy as we worked to see how much we needed to make. You got this!

When you’ve reached a good length, cut the working yarn.

Feed the now cut working yarn through your last loop and pull it tight, creating a secure knot. Ta-da! Now on to your next yarn creation.

POM-POMS

If you haven’t used a pom-pom maker before, oh buddy, you are in for a treat! They make making pom-poms SO easy. To begin, make sure that both pieces of the maker are together. Pull out a pair of the arms on one side and wrap yarn around both arms until you’ve filled in the half moon shape, like above. Once it’s filled, snip the yarn and close the arms.

Repeat on the other set of arms, trim the end of the yarn and close the arms of the maker.

With all the arms closed, cut down the center of each side of the arms of the maker. You’re almost done!

Cut a separate piece of yarn and make a tight double knot through the center of the maker.

To free your new fringy friend, pull open both pairs of the arms and pull apart each side of the maker. Give your pom a little haircut to turn him into the perfect fuzzball or leave him shaggy for some extra texture. After you make a few more poms, you’ll be ready to make a garland.

Using your large needle, thread a long piece of yarn through the center of the pom-pom.

Thread the needle through your other pom-poms. Make a fun assortment of garlands in varying colors and lengths for your backdrop. Next up on the yarn decor front, tassels!

TASSELS

We are going to show you how to make three different types of tassels. The best thing about tassels is that once you have the basics, there are millions of ways you can jazz them up. Make ‘em chunky, make ‘em long, or make them teeny, tiny — they will all look cool in your backdrop.

First tassel, or you may call it a faux-tassel. Take an entire skein of yarn and wrap a separate piece of yarn tightly around it, about three inches from the top of the skein. Trim around the bottom of the tassel, creating a fringe-tastic look, while keeping the inside of the skein intact.

To make your next type of tassel, you’ll need to grab something flat, at least two feet long. You can really use anything — a plastic lid of a storage container, a wood block, or a piece of cardboard.

Pull the yarn off of the wood, keeping it in a large oval. Double knot a piece of yarn around the top of all the pieces of yarn. Pinch together the top of the yarn and wrap it with a separate piece to create the “neck” of the tassel. Trim the bottom and you are all set. You can make so many variations of this tassel, and that’s exactly what we did for our backdrop.

You can braid or twist the bottoms of the tassels. Try ‘em all out!

INSTALLATION

Start by weaving the knitted roving in and out of the grid. This does not need to be perfect by any means; just go with the flow!

We left some big loops and empty spaces to fill in in with roving that hasn’t been knit, pom-poms, and tassels.

To attach the tassels, thread the cable tie through the center of the top and secure it to the grid.

Look at the fun texture start to come together by weaving knit and un-knit roving through the grid.

Keep on adding pops of color until you cover your entire backdrop. Now you are all set to gear up for your party!

CHEERS to your super awesome new backdrop!

If you haven’t heard yet, make sure you stop by our annual Holiday House! While you’re there, head to Santa’s Workshop, sponsored by NBC’s Making It, where you can DIY and snap pics in front of this backdrop!

Show us your holiday party photo backdrops by tagging us on Instagram using the hashtag #iamcreative and #MakingIt.

This post was paid for by NBC.

dfpdiy holidayholiday decorholiday partyparty decorphoto backdropsponsoredtasselsbackdrop

Unpopular Opinion: Logan Huntzberger Deserved Rory More Than Dean or Jess

Truth be told, no greater controversy plagues Gilmore Girls fans than the battle of the boyfriends, but we’re finally ending the great boyfriend debate once and for all. Sorry, Team Jess and Team Dean (Is anyone Team Dean?), we’re ruling in favor of Logan Huntzberger — and we’ve got the receipts to back it up.

Before we even begin to look into Rory Gilmore's BFs, though, we must take a look at Rory herself. Although she has her flaws (like stealing yachts when she encounters a shred of criticism, for one), she actually isn’t a terrible girlfriend. “Rory has a secure attachment style,” couples therapist Kayla Sammons, LMFT at Millennial Life Counseling, tells Elite Daily. “She is comfortable being with her partner and apart from him. That’s a good start to building a lasting relationship.”

www.youtube.com

rory & logan (48)

OK — so we know Rory’s a decent person to date. But what about her boyfriends? As all Gilmore Girls fans know, there are the big three; the rather possessive Dean Forester, the moody and literary Jess Mariano, and (our favorite) the wealthy and cheeky Logan Huntzberger. If you’ve watched the show, there’s a good chance you’re adamantly on one of their sides. Let us show you why Logan is the guy you need to get behind.

In speaking with Elite Daily, Sammons agrees that Logan is Rory’s best boyfriend — and apparently it’s not just because he calls her Ace. “Logan and Rory both show signs of high self-esteem, which helps them feel secure in themselves and their relationship,” she says. “Rory feels safe and excited by Logan and his unpredictability, while also knowing she’s safe with him.”

www.youtube.com

rory & logan (7)

As all Gilmore Girls fans can recall, they started off as an FWBs before developing an IRL long-term commitment. Sammons says this as a good sign because it shows their ability to grow together. “Rory is able to self-reflect and communicate her need for more from a partner,” she says. “Then, they both take a chance on one another not knowing if it [will] work, and that risk is what relationships are all about.”

Before Rory, Logan was an avid bachelor with a lengthy roster of women. Rory knew this, and never tried to change him when they started seeing each other loosely. Eventually, though, Rory tells tell Logan that she can't see him anymore, because ultimately casual relationships aren't for her. She never once asks him to choose her, which is just what Logan needed to realize how much he wanted (and needed) Rory.

Within seconds, Logan tells Rory that he doesn't want to stop seeing her. He'll trade in his long-term bachelor lifestyle for her. She is officially his one and only. His decision is exactly why their relationship was so strong. It was his choice. He wanted Rory, and Rory wanted him, so he (very) willingly dropped everything for her.

www.youtube.com

rory & logan (102)

This moment clearly separates Logan from the insecure Dean and withdrawn Jess, because it shows that he’s ready to step up for Rory. Although it seems like a minuscule moment between Rory and Logan, it showcases their genuine commitment to one another. The slow build of her relationship with Logan, coupled with their compatible personalities, ultimately makes him the best fit for her.

That's not to say that their relationship wasn't without issues, though (like that time they steal a yacht, which is totally NBD). Even in these trying moments, they consistently trust and support each other. They evolve together, cementing their relationship as Rory’s healthiest, even if Rory ultimately rejects Logan’s marriage proposal at her graduation from Yale in quite possibly one of the worst plotline decisions in the history of television (clearly we’re still not over this). Even despite their dalliances in the Gilmore Girls reboot, their compatibility still earns Logan the title of Best Boyfriend.

So there you have it — a definitive summary as to why Logan is the best partner for Rory, even though she inevitably messed it up (as she has a pension for doing). BRB while we overnight a Logan of our own.

Have we convinced you to join Team Logan? Let us know @BritandCo!

Header image courtesy of Warner Bros Television.

This post has been updated.

dean foresterjess marianologan huntzbergerrory gilmorerelationshipspop culturegilmore girlsteam loganevergreenbest readsentertainment

5 "Weird" TikTok Food Trends That Went Way Too Far In 2024

I’ve triedtons of different food trends in my day. From dumping chili oil on ice cream to concocting my very own Sleepy Girl Mocktail, nothing I’ve eaten measures up to the sheer weirdness we saw go viral on social media this year (major side eye to Dua Lipa’s pickle Diet Coke).

These are the top 5 most ridiculous TikTok-viral food trends of 2024 that left us questioning whether they really should’ve gone viral in the first place.

@claudiaeatsgood chamoy pickles are so good😋😩❤️ @Bussin Snacks #chamoypickle#chamoy#chamoypicklekit#bussinsnacks#takis#fruitrollup#mukbang#asmr#asmrmukbang#chamoypicklemukbang#juicy#pickle#mexicancandy♬ original sound - Claudia💕

1. Chamoy Pickles

People couldn't quit it with the chamoy pickles (AKA chickles) this year. I never would've guessed that chamoy, a condiment made from dried fruits, chilies, sugar, and lime juice, would be slathered atop the sourest pickles money can buy.

But the food trend didn't stop at just chamoy – many snackers stuffed their pickles with everything from the likes of Hot Cheetos, Takis, and Fruit Roll-Ups. What?!

This insanely sour, tangy treat kickstarted what the internet's coined as the 'Red 40 Diet', which certainly cannot be medically advised.

If you care for your GI tract, this food trend is 100% worth skipping and leaving behind in 2024.

@dualipaofficial

What do we call her?

♬ original sound - Dua Lipa

2. Pickle + Jalapeño-Infused Diet Coke

Diet Coke, pickle juice, and jalapeño juice = all the ingredients needed to concoct Dua Lipa's controversial 2024 drink. She loves it, but I on the other hand, do not.

Now, don't get me wrong: I love a good unexpected flavor combo, but gulping down a simultaneous dose of both pickle juice and jalapeño juice was not tasty to me whatsoever.

This trend even sparked a slew of Sonic diners to start ordering their soft drinks with pickles – but as divisive as this trend can be ("Don’t knock it till you try it," TikToker Mississippi Memaw told Food and Wine), it's just flat out weird.

@logagm

New cucumber recipe 🚨

♬ original sound - Logan

3. Cucumber Salad

If you bought a mandolin slicer recently, you might as well admit you're a victim of the TikTok-viral cucumber salad trend that made its rounds this year.

"Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber," TikTok user @logagmsounds off in the intro of every single one of his cucumber salad videos. And thus, the food trend was born.

It felt like I couldn't go a day on TikTok without seeing at least 5 recipes for a damn cucumber salad. When it comes down to it, I can appreciate the novelty (and taste) of this trend, but not the oversaturation. I'm gonna eat an entire cucumber one day, and get so tired of it the next. New innovations in 2025, please!

@kylekruegerr Would you try these?😂 #foodreview#seagrapes#food#review#tastetest#weirdfood♬ original sound - Kyle Krueger

4. Sea Grapes

It was like people wanted to eat the weirdest, grossest things in 2024. I can't blame 'em, especially if it's for clicks and views. But this food trend in particular literally made me want to gag – and I was only watching people eat through a screen (any fellow ASMR fans out there?).

They don't look like they're supposed to be crunchy, but they are. Sea grapes grow from aquatic plants and are filled with essentially what is a "salty liquid." They burst in the mouth when you eat them (one TikToker called them 'edible Orbeez'). Yuck.

@julieta.asmr I figured it out!! Blooper at the end 🥴 #asmr#asmrcommunity#asmrtiktoks#asmrvideo#asmrsounds#asmreating#asmrfood#asmrfyp#asmrmukbang#mukbang#asmreatingsounds♬ original sound - Julieta ASMR 🍒

5. Exploding Candies

The final (and especially weird) food trend I propose we leave behind in 2024 is these dang exploding jelly candies. They also made their rounds on ASMR TikTok, and I truly cannot stand to watch a single video featuring them.

First off, they look so annoying to consume. The fruit-shaped jellies are contained in a thin layer of plastic that's meant to burst open when you sink your teeth into it, prompting you to slurp out the sweetness inside. But what irks me the most is the fact that many people trying them can't even break the seal.

I'd rather watch someone make a simple PB&J than go to town on these microplastic-infused candies.

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