Hi everyone! It's Jann from Newton Custom Interiors again. Today, I'm going to share another cute pillow idea. I'll be showing you how to make a pillow out of a shirt – with some special added details!
Everyone knows how expensive fabric can be. That's what is so great about this type of pillow. You can use a shirt that you already have, or you can go to Goodwill, like I did, and find some great shirts to make your pillows. The added bonus is that the buttons and buttons holes on the front of the shirt make your closure. No need to hand-sew or insert a zipper to close your pillow!
I loved finding this bright pink men's shirt at my local Goodwill. I think I paid $3.00 for it. It was an XL, so there was a lot of fabric to work with.
Since the fabric was pink, I decided to use some of the extra fabric from the shirt to make fabric flowers for the front side of the pillow. I love how the flowers add a little whimsy to the pillow! I've included a video in the tutorial that shows how to easily make the flowers.
How To Make A Pillow Out Of A Shirt
Materials needed:
- Shirt
- Pillow form
- Thread
- Buttons
Instructions:
- Make a paper pattern that is the same size as your pillow form, and lay it on your shirt. My form was 12″ x 16″, so that's the size of my pattern. (I don't like to add in seam allowances when I make pillows – this makes for a snugger fitting pillow.)
- Cut out both layers of fabric. This will give you the front and back sides of your pillow.
- Cut out strips of fabric for your flowers. I had one large flower, and the strip of fabric was cut at 3″ x 21″. For the two smaller flowers, I cut my fabric strips at 2 1/4″ x 15″. Here's my video showing how to make the fabric flowers.
- Hand-sew your flowers to the front side of your pillow fabric. Arranging them however you like.
- Hand-sew the buttons onto the centers of the flowers.
- Pin the front and back sides of the pillow fabrics together – right sides together.
- Sew around all four sides of the pillow fabric, using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
- Clip your corners, and turn the pillow cover right side out. Insert your pillow form, and button the closure.
I hope have enjoyed this pillow tutorial!
I've also made a shirt pillow in which the button closure is on the front of the pillow, instead of the back.
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Hi! I'm Jann Newton, and I blog about home decor, sewing tutorials and DIY projects at Newton Custom Interiors.
Recently, I was asked to teach a class for Craftsy - Custom Bedding - Decorative Shams & Bolsters. So Sew Easy readers enjoy a discount on my class!
Hi. This is great! Do you have a pattern for using a T-shirt (so no ‘natural’ opening to insert pillow)? Thank you.
Fantastic! Next shirt I find, watch out!
this is such a great idea. love it. thanks for sharing.
I like this
so where is the collar? why did you not put that on?
SEW Awesome!! What a simple idea, thank you!
Thanks Chelle! I’m so glad that you liked this tutorial.