This Once-Popular Home Decor Item May Be Making A Huge Comeback

Even if you don't know what they're called, you're probably already familiar with needlepoint pillows: the sweet, somewhat kitschy little cushions you're likely to see adorning your grandma's couch or favorite fluffy armchair. But needlepoint pillows are no longer limited to the realm of your grandparents' living rooms; in fact, they're one of several bits of old-school decor your grandma loved that is making a chic comeback.

Needlepoint is  a type of embroidery done on a canvas backing using different thread fibers — from cotton or wool to silk or even glitter. It has entered the social media era, with a new generation of crafters showing off their needlepoint pillows and other handiwork on TikTok and Instagram. Even the one and only Taylor Swift is reportedly a fan (and, yes, people are selling Taylor Swift Eras Tour-themed needlepoint pillow patterns). But unlike their predecessors, the modern interpretation of this old style classic tends to be a bit more ironic with cheeky sayings and slogans you certainly wouldn't find on a traditional pillow — like "FOMO" and "WTF." Pop culture quotes and references, such as "Paris is always a good idea," from the Audrey Hepburn classic "Sabrina" and "I'm not a regular mom, I'm a cool mom," from the movie "Mean Girls," are also popular

Needle-less to say (sorry, couldn't resist!), needlepoint pillows make wonderfully cute and quirky home decor that you can DIY — doubling as a fun, fulfilling craft that can be undertaken by pretty much anyone. And it isn't just a passing fad; needlepoint has been enjoyed as a hobby and home accessory for a long time, even if the popularity has ebbed and flowed a bit.

Needlepoint as we know it today has been around for centuries, and some of history's most famous women have been fans of the pastime. Mary, Queen of Scots was an avid needlepointer during her lengthy prison sentence imposed by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I; and the first-ever first lady, Martha Washington, was known to gift needlepoint cushions to close family. Needlepoint pattern books and supplies became commercially available around the mid-18th century, offering designs that could be copied relatively easily, even by passive hobbyists. At that point, needlepoint cushioning became a pastime that could be enjoyed not only by artisans or history's rich and famous, but by anyone with a needle, some time, and a little patience.

Though it may seem old-timey, needlepoint pillows have surfaced again and again throughout the decades — especially, it would seem, when people are in search of a comforting bit of nostalgia. Today, the rhythmic and repetitive nature of needlepoint is considered a form of relaxation and even therapy, with stressed out folks of all generations turning to it as a form of mindfulness and self-care. It's likely one of the reasons we saw a surge of interest in needlepoint and other artful diversions, like crochet, during the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown, when more people were in search of a simple way to keep their hands and anxious minds busy. As Susan Kay-Williams, Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework, explains to the BBC: "During the World Wars, returning soldiers and sailors were often given stitching, and particularly needlepoint, to help them recover from shellshock. While they focused on the stitching, other parts of the body or mind could heal. I believe the mindfulness aspect of it remains key today."

One of the best aspects of needlepoint pillows is that there are so many design options, so it's a fun and easy way to add a bit of your own personality to your home decor. If you aren't feeling crafty, there are plenty of completed needlepoint pillows already on the market for you to purchase and get decorating with. Furbish, for example, has become an internet darling for its vibrant and unique needlepoint pillows that are works of art in and of themselves. If you're unsure how to arrange the best throw pillow combinations, start by letting your needlepoint pillow take center stage and choose other throw pillows to go around it. Have your needlepoint pillow make a statement and surround it with other monochromatic throw pillows in a similar color palette; or go all out and lavish your bed or sofa in a mishmash of patterns with your favorite needlepoints.

While premade pillows are fun to find and easy to accessorize, any needlepoint enthusiast will tell you that the craft is more than just a stylish home decor trend — it's a way of life. Why buy premade pillows when half the fun is making them yourself? With options ranging from Etsy to The Stitchery, it's easy to track down needlepoint pillow patterns and kits, and lots of services also offer the option to mail in your finished needlepoint and have it sewn and sent back to you in cute pillow form. Needlepoint pillow finishing services also have the option of customizing the trim and frame of your pillow so it can fit perfectly with whatever throw pillows work best in your home decor.