How to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater

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Sweaters are great at making you feel cozy and warm when the cold weather settles in, but sometimes, they become too worn out to wear. Instead of throwing them away, why not turn them into a pillow? All you need is an old sweater, a pillow form, and a sewing machine. If you don't own a sewing machine, you can sew it by hand.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Simple Sweater Pillow

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    While a basic knit has plenty of texture to begin with, you can make your sweater pillow look even more interesting by picking out a sweater with a cable or rib pattern. [1]
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    Center the pillow form as best you can. If your sweater has a ribbed hem, place the pillow form just above it. If your sweater does not have a ribbed hem, place the pillow form about 1½ to 2 inches (3.81 to 5.08 centimeters) from the bottom edge.
    • The size of the pillow form depends on the size of the sweater. Use a pillow form that is a few inches/centimeters-smaller than your sweater.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    Use a dressmaker's chalk or pen to draw around the pillow. Cut around the lines that you drew, leaving a ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) seam allowance. Do not cut off the bottom hem.
    • Make sure that the sweater panels are big enough to wrap around the pillow form. This is especially important for tightly-knit sweaters and bulky pillows.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    Take the pillow off the sweater and set it aside. Pin the sweater together, if needed, then sew along the top and side edges using a ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) seam allowance. Leave the bottom hem open for now. [2]
    • You can do this by hand, or you can use a sewing machine.
    • If your sweater is fraying too much, serge the edges, or finish them off with a zigzag stitch.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    If the sweater is very bulky, you may have to clip the seams on the corners first. This will help reduce the bulk.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    There are two ways you can do this. You can simply tuck the bottom hem into the pillow case, and sew it shut by hand with a ladder stitch. You can also fold the hem over, and sew it shut with buttons. Here is how to do it: [3]
    • Pin the hem shut, as close to the pillow as you can.
    • Turn the pillow over, and sew wooden buttons to the back of the hem.
    • Turn the pillow over again, and fold the hem over onto the front of the pillow so that you can see the buttons.
    • Sew or glue the hem down to keep it in place.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making a Front-Buttoned Sweater Pillow

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    If you don't like the buttons on your sweater, cut them off, and replace them with more interesting ones. Wooden buttons will lend the sweater pillow a nice, rustic charm.
    • Keep the sweater buttoned shut.
    • Choose a sweater with an interesting texture, such as a cable knit.
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    Center the pillow form as best you can. If the sweater has a ribbed hem, position the pillow form just above it. If the sweater doesn't have a ribbed hem, place it at least ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) from the bottom edge; you will need this for the seam allowance.
    • The size of your pillow form depends on the size of your sweater. Use a pillow that is a few inches/centimeters smaller than your sweater so that it can fit inside.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    Use a dressmaker's chalk or pen to draw around all four sides of the pillow form. Cut the sweater, leaving behind a ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) seam allowance.
    • If the sweater is very thick, cut the front out first, then use the square/rectangle as a template to cut out the back.
    • Make sure that the sweater is big enough to wrap around the pillow. This is important, especially if the sweater is tightly-knit or if the pillow is bulky.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    [4] Take the pillow off the sweater and put it aside. Pin the sweater along the edges, then sew it using a ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) seam allowance. When you are done, cut the bottom hem down to ½-inch (1.27-centimeter).
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    Slip your fingers into the openings between the buttons, and unbutton the sweater. You do not have to unbutton it all the way. Once you have a big enough opening, turn the pillowcase inside out. [5]
    • If your sweater is very bulky, you may have to clip the corners at the seams.
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    [6] If you want, you can glue or hand sew the front closure shut. On the other hand, if you leave it as is, you can take the pillow form out and wash the cover whenever necessary.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making a Reinforced Sweater Pillow

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    You can use cotton or linen fabric, but the color needs to be solid, and it needs to match your sweater. [7] The extra inch will give you ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) seam allowances.
    • Make sure that the fabric is big enough to wrap around your pillow form.
    • Choose a pillow form that is a few inches/centimeters smaller than your sweater. This will ensure that you have enough material to cover it.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    You can use any type of sweater you want, but one with a cable or rib pattern would look more interesting. Cut the sweater straight along the top, just below the armpits, and up the side seams. Separate the front and back panel.
    • If your sweater has a ribbed hem, cut it off.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    Do not cut the sweater panels down to fit the fabric squares just yet. You will do that towards the end. [8] This is because the sweater fabric may stretch past the fabric squares.
    • Do not pin the front and back sweater panels together just yet.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    Once again, do not sew the front and back sweater panels together just yet. Simply sew the fabric squares to the back of each panel, ¼ inch (0.64 centimeter) away from the edge of the fabric square. [9]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    If you want to, you can serge the edges, or stitch around them using a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. This will keep the edges from unraveling.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    Pin the two panels together, with the sweater sides facing inward and the fabric sides facing outward. Use your sewing machine to sew along all four edges using a ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) seam allowance. Leave a gap along one of the edges so that you can insert your pillow. [10]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Pillow from an Old Sweater
    If your sweater is very bulky, you may need to clip the corners first. This will help reduce the bulk.
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    Fold the raw edges in, then stitch the seams together using a ladder stitch. Your pillow is now complete!
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      Tips

      • Look for sweaters with lots of texture, such as cables, ribs, and other designs. [11]
        Thanks
      • Men's sweaters and plus-sized sweaters are perfect for larger pillows. Medium-sized sweaters and women's sweaters are great for small or rectangular pillows. [12]
        Thanks
      • Add decorations or embroidery to your sweater. [13] It would be best to do this after you cut it but before you sew it.
        Thanks
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      Things You'll Need

      Making a Simple Sweater Pillow

      • Sweater
      • Pillow form
      • Fabric scissors
      • Thread
      • Needle or sewing machine
      • Sewing pins
      • Wooden buttons (optional)

      Making a Front-Buttoned Sweater Pillow

      • Button-up sweater
      • Pillow form
      • Fabric scissors
      • Thread
      • Needle or sewing machine
      • Sewing pins
      • Wooden buttons (optional)

      Making a Reinforced Sweater Pillow

      • Sweater
      • Cotton or linen fabric
      • Pillow form
      • Fabric scissors
      • Thread
      • Sewing machine
      • Sewing pins


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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about sewing, check out our in-depth interview with Mia Danilowicz .

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.livefromjulieshouse.com/thrift-store-sweater-pillow-tutorial/
      2. ↑ http://www.livefromjulieshouse.com/thrift-store-sweater-pillow-tutorial/
      3. ↑ http://www.livefromjulieshouse.com/thrift-store-sweater-pillow-tutorial/
      4. ↑ http://www.pigandpaint.com/2012/05/pillow-power-take-two-bow-chica-bow-wow.html
      5. ↑ http://www.pigandpaint.com/2012/05/pillow-power-take-two-bow-chica-bow-wow.html
      6. ↑ http://www.pigandpaint.com/2012/05/pillow-power-take-two-bow-chica-bow-wow.html
      7. ↑ http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/have-.html
      8. ↑ http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/have-.html
      9. ↑ http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/have-.html
      1. ↑ http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/have-.html
      2. ↑ http://www.livefromjulieshouse.com/thrift-store-sweater-pillow-tutorial/
      3. ↑ http://www.livefromjulieshouse.com/thrift-store-sweater-pillow-tutorial/
      4. ↑ http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/have-.html

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