Make a Pillow from a Shirt Recycle Fabric Crafts

 Easy Pillow from a Shirt, Recycle Fabric Crafts


Pillows add to the finished look in a living room or bedroom, and they are fun and easy to make. You can repurpose or recycle and make an easy pillow. You need no zipper when you use a shirt with buttons. You only need an old shirt, a pillow form or fabric and stuffing for an inner pillow, and a needle and thread to make this nifty recycled pillow.

Choose a shirt -- mens or womens. The larger shirts make larger pillows if you choose. Lay the shirt flat with the front side up and all buttons buttoned. Measure from underarm to underarm and see how large you can make a pillow. Pillows are usually square, and it takes a 17-inch square to make a 16-inch pillow. Use a 15-inch square for a 14-inch pillow and a 13-inch square for a 12-inch pillow. Pillow forms are available in 12 inch, 14 inch and 16 inch sizes, but you can make the pillow any size and fill it with loose filler, quilt batting or even old pantyhose if you choose.

If you use loose filler or pantyhose, make an interior liner of muslin or a solid-color fabric that is about the same size as the outer form. Sew around the liner, leaving about 10 inches open. Turn the liner right-side out and fill with stuffing. Close the opening with hand or sewing-machine stitches.

Back to the pillow: Mark the odd-size measurement (13, 15, 17 inch) on the fabric as high up under the arms as possible. Measure down the front to make a square in that size. Pin the front and back layers of the shirt together inside the square you have drawn on the front of the shirt.

Make Buttons Part of the Pillow

Cut through both layers to form the square. Use fabric or embellishments to decorate the right side or surface that was once the back of the shirt. Turn the right sides of both of the fabrics inside and sew around the outside edge, using a half-inch seam allowance. Unbutton the pillow top to turn the fabric. Fill your shirt pillow with a pillow form or the liner and stuffing of your choice. Button the buttons.

You can use the button-up side for the front or the back of the pillow. Use your own creative ideas for decorating one or both sides.