Transforming T-Shirts: Diy Pillow Project

There are several ways to turn a T-shirt into a pillow, and it can be a fun and simple project for beginners. This is a great way to upcycle old garments and create decorative throw pillows or memory pillows. The process typically involves cutting the T-shirt, sewing the pieces together, and stuffing the pillow. Some tutorials recommend using a sewing machine, while others suggest hand sewing with a needle and thread. Additional materials such as pillow stuffing, fabric markers, and fabric pins may also be required.

Cutting the T-shirt

Lay your T-shirt out flat on a hard surface, preferably a table, and smooth out any creases or wrinkles. Starting at the top of the sleeve, cut a straight line down the left side of the T-shirt. Repeat this process on the right side. The amount you cut will depend on the size of the T-shirt; for a large shirt, cut just outside the seam, and for an extra-large shirt, cut slightly more.

Next, cut a straight line across the top of the T-shirt, just below the neckline. You will then cut off a few inches from the bottom of the top layer (the front side) of the shirt, being careful not to cut the bottom layer (the back side). The amount you cut off will depend on the placement of the image on the front of the shirt, which you will want to centre on the pillow. Keep this cut-off piece of fabric to one side, as you will use it later.

Now, fold the bottom layer (the back of the shirt) in half and cut along the centre fold. You should now have three pieces of fabric: the front of the shirt, and two halves of the back of the shirt.

Preparing the Pieces for Sewing

Lay the front of the shirt down flat with the print facing up. Next, place the two halves of the back of the shirt on top of the front piece. The two halves should overlap each other, with the half that has the bottom seam placed down first and facing inwards. This will create a cleaner look on the back of the pillow once it is finished.

Sewing the Pillow

Pin the pieces into place and sew around the full square, leaving an inch as a seam allowance. Once you have finished sewing, turn the pillow inside out through the slit in the back.

Sewing the button placket

Firstly, take the front of the shirt and button it up. Pin the placket together to ensure the buttons are secure and won't move around as you sew. This will make the process easier and help you avoid hitting the buttons with the needle.

Now, you are ready to sew the button placket together. Sew a straight stitch from one end of the placket to the other, being careful to avoid the buttons. Sew slowly and carefully to ensure you don't hit the buttons, as this could break your needle or damage the buttons.

Once you have sewn the button placket together, you can cut off any extra fabric from the top and bottom of the front piece of the shirt. This will help you create a perfect square shape for your pillow. Using a straight measuring tape, cut a straight line across the fabric, following the measurements you need for your pillow.

After cutting the front piece to size, you can move on to the next step of measuring and cutting the back piece of the pillow. This step will ensure that your pillow has a neat and uniform appearance. Place the front piece on top of the back piece and cut around the edges, creating two identical pieces that will form the front and back of your pillow.

Now that you have sewn the button placket and cut your pieces to size, you can proceed to the next steps of pinning and sewing the pieces together to create your pillow.

Arranging the T-shirt pieces

Now that you have cut up your T-shirt, it's time to arrange the pieces before sewing them together.

Firstly, lay the front panel of the T-shirt, face up, on your working surface. Next, take the piece of the shirt with the hem. Place it finished-side down, aligning the cut edge with the top of the front panel. The hemmed edge should sit just below the middle of the front panel.

Now, take the piece with two cut edges and place it on top, lining up one of the cut edges with the bottom edge of the front panel. The top, unfinished edge will overlap the hemmed piece by about 2 inches. This will create an envelope shape at the back of the pillow, allowing for easy removal of the cover for washing.

If you are using a T-shirt with a design you want to centre, this may determine how much overlap you create at the back. Keep the overlap within 2-4 inches for a Large T-shirt or 3-5 inches for an X-Large.

Once you are happy with the arrangement of the T-shirt pieces, it's time to pin them together before sewing. Use fabric pins or clips to secure the layers in place.

Sewing the T-shirt pillow

Now that you have cut up your T-shirt, it's time to sew it into a pillow!

Lay the front panel, face up, on your working surface. Next, use the piece of the shirt with the hem included. Lay it finished side down, with the cut edge aligned with the top of the front panel. The hemmed edge should fall just below the middle of the front panel. Lastly, lay the piece with two cut edges on top, lining one of the cut edges up with the bottom edge of the front panel. The top, unfinished edge will overlap the hemmed piece by about 2 inches.

Pin the three layers together using fabric pins or clips. Sew a straight line around all four edges, then turn the pillow covering right side out. The overlapping edges create an envelope, which allows the pillow cover to be removed for easy washing!

If you are using a sewing machine, sew around the full square, leaving under an inch as allowance. Once you have sewn it all together, turn it inside out from the slit in the back.

If you are sewing by hand, use a needle and thread to sew a straight stitch around the edge of the pillow, using about a 1/4-inch inseam. Make sure to leave about a 2-inch opening at one end so you can turn the pillow right side out and stuff it.

Now you can add your pillow insert. For a cleaner look, place the half with the bottom seam facing inwards. This will create a neater finish on the back of the pillow. You can use a pillow form, a bed pillow, or fill it with Poly-Fil or scrap fabric.

Stuffing the pillow

Now that you've cut your T-shirt and sewn the pieces together, it's time to stuff your pillow!

The type of filler you use is entirely up to you. You can use poly-fill, or you can upcycle scrap fabric. If you're using a pillow insert, you can use down-filled or poly-filled pillows. Some people prefer down-filled pillows as they look better and are more comfortable to lay on. However, this is a matter of personal preference.

Once you've chosen your filler, stuff your pillow through the opening you've left in the seam. You can add as much stuffing as you like, depending on how full you want your pillow to be.

After stuffing, you're almost done! All that's left to do is sew the opening shut. Fold the raw edge of the opening in and sew a straight stitch as close to the edge of the pillow as possible.

And that's it! You've successfully turned a T-shirt into a pillow. You can now enjoy your new pillow, cherishing the memories associated with the shirt or simply admiring your handiwork.

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