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T-Shirt Pillow

Recycle your old t-shirts into pillows with sewing instructions from Craft Elf.

Over the years we all collect t-shirts that we like and that have special meaning to us. As kids outgrow them, turn the t-shirts into pillows that they can continue to enjoy for many more years.

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Materials:

T-shirt
Polyester Fiberfill (stuffing)*
Sewing machine**
Needle and thread

*If you are making a pillow from a larger size t-shirt, you may want to purchase a pillow form that fits inside the t-shirt.

** You can sew the whole project by hand if you do not have a sewing machine.

Hint: Most sewing machines have special stitching for knit materials. Be sure your machine is set to knit or stretch stitch and use a special needle for knit fabrics.

Turn the t-shirt inside out and pin the front and back together at the bottom straight edge of the shirt and the bottom edge of the sleeves.
Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the bottom edge of the shirt and sleeves closed.
Remove all pins and right side out the shirt.
Stuff the shirt completely and firmly with Polyester Fiberfill. If you are using a larger size shirt, you may want to get a pillow form for the main body of the shirt and then stuff around the pillow form to fill out the rest of the t-shirt. Fold the pillow form in half or roll it up to fit it in the neck hole. If the neck hole is too small, then stitch just the arms closed. right side out the shirt, insert the pillow form through the bottom of the shirt, turn under the edges toward the inside of the shirt and topstitch the opening closed. Continue with the instructions as follows.
Hand Stitch the neck edge closed using a whip stitch or overcast stitch.

Printable Instructions

Back Sewing