This project is super easy and will get your kids involved creatively while using math skills. The side benefit is it will up your recycling game, clean out your closet, and add to your home decor. Let’s get started with how to make an easy T-Shirt pillow.
DIY T-Shirt Pillow
How many T-shirts do you have in your closets? They are ubiquitous. We collect them, cherish them, can’t part with them, yet we don’t wear them!
I’ll show you how to make your favorite T-Shirts into fun pillows for Teen’s Rooms, Dorm Rooms, Man Caves, She Sheds, and general decor where you can admire, remember, and enjoy they fun they represent.
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Let’s Begin
Find a T-Shirt you love but don’t wear. If you take someones T-Shirt, be sure to ask first before you cut it up! Sewing requires a little math, sometimes even fractions. It is perfect for practicing practical math applications while tapping into your creative side.
Tools:
- T-Shirt
- Pillow form, old pillow, or batting – Joann’s carries several options like the Fairfield Soft Touch 16 X 16 Pillow – which is the size I used.
Ruler- Scissors or rotary cutter and cutting board – Joann’s carries Olfa 60 mm Rotary Cutterand Olfa 17″x17″ Rotating Self Healing Rotary Mat
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Coordinating Bias Tape for optional ties
Cutting Up The T-Shirt
If you are using a 16″ x 16″ pillow form, which is the optimal size for an adult M/L T-shirt, you will want your finished pillow covering to measure 15″ x 15″. Since the T-shirt has some stretch, this will give you a tighter, professional fit.
Start by cutting the sleeves and side seam off. You can draw a line and use scissors or use a rotary cutter with a matt and ruler. CAUTION: Rotary cutters are very sharp! They are not recommended for use by children.
You want to remove the neckline from the T-shirt
Since we want our pieces to be 16″ wide, you need to trim them down. Fold the T-Shirt in half, measure out 8″ and trim off the excess.
You should now have two rectangle pieces that are 16″ wide and as long as the T-Shirt is. This one happens to have a curved hem, so it needs to be squared off. If it is already square, leave the hem, it will be one seam you don’t have to finish.
Sewing It Together
Measure the length of the front and back pieces to 16″. Fold up the excess hem on the wrong side (inside) of the front and back pieces. This will finish off your opening edge. Sew the short “folded up piece” to itself along the side (where it is pinned below).
With the bottom edge folded and stitched, the back of your pieces should look like those below.
Turn both pieces to face up (right side).
Place the front and back right sides together (the pretty parts face each other). Stitch across the top and down both sides. Do NOT stitch the folded edge.
Your basic pillow form is complete. The video below will show you how to fold your corners. You can also add ties to your pillow cover – see the next two optional steps.
Adding Optional Ties
Cut six (6), 12″ long ties from bias tape, ribbon, etc. Space three evenly across each folded opening.
Stitch the ties across each folded side separately. Don’t sew the cover together!
The Finishing Touches
Seems like my dog Brin wants to make a pillow too! She loves pillows!
Here is what I know about fashion. Everyone’s taste is different. The opinions expressed here are mine alone. I’m just a girl who loves to sew.
I hope you enjoyed this post about how to make an easy T-Shirt pillow.
For a more advanced T-shirt pillow, visit my YouTube channel: Ideas for a T-Shirt Pillow.
Happy Sewing,
Sandi
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PS
I love my Bernette 38 Sewing Machine. It is perfect for sewing beautiful garments.
Make your garments better with my 21 Tips To Take Your DIY Garment From Homemade To High End
Do you love Sew Alongs and Sewing Tips and Tricks? My Youtube channel Barrett’s Custom Design is filled with great sewing techniques served up with a few laughs.
My Sewing With Sandi Etsy Shop has over 500 hard to find women’s, men’s, and children’s patterns. You will find little girls’ bows, a few sewing notions, sewing kits, but mostly lots and lots of patterns. You will find little girls’ bows, a few sewing notions, sewing kits, but mostly lots and lots of patterns.
What a great idea (my son has tons of t-shirts that he doesn’t want to part with). And love the corner technique. This will change some of my sewing for sure! Thanks.
So glad you liked it, thank you
That is too cool! What a fun way to make a custom pillow!
We have so many t-shirts! I’ve thought about making a quilt out of them, but I hadn’t thought about pillows…great idea!
What a fun idea!!!! Thanks for sharing
I’m not crafty but might actually be able to handle making these! Haha.
Your explanation is so easy to follow. I love this idea.
This is such a great idea! i’ll have to try this out!
This is such an adorable idea for a craft! Looks manageable too.
My husband has a ton of t-shirts that he is not willing to part with. I have been considering having them made into a quilt which is not something I would feel confident in doing myself. This pillow looks simple enough I would be willing to give it a shot. I think he would love it.
Sabrina,
T Shirt quilts can be tricky because of all the stretch. If you got a few pillows under your belt, I’m sure you could tackle a quilt!
I love this idea. Especially when one has kids that get attached to something yet it’s time for it to go. What a great option for mom to be happy and the kid.
Great idea with great instructions! I’ll show this to my daughter. She is wanting to make a pillow out of one of her Grandpa’s t-shirts.
Cute, just what I needed. My daughter wants to make some Hamilton pillows and using t-shirts she has grown out of is perfect.
I absolutely love this idea! I have some t-shirts from races I’ve run and events I’ve participated in that I don’t wear because they aren’t my favorite fit. I’m going to get my sewing machine out and try this! Thank you!
I love the color and thanks for the tutorial you made it looks so easy.
This is a great idea! I have seen T-shirt quilts, but not t-shirt pillows! We have so many tshirts around that we may be making these soon!
What a fun and cute idea! Great project!