A unique way to preserve a favorite shirt is to turn a shirt into a pillow.A t-shirt or a button-down shirt can be used to make a pillow.If you have a sewing machine and know how to sew, you can make a no-sew pillow from a t-shirt.This craft will only take around an hour if you choose one of the options.
Step 1: The outline of the image on the shirt can be traced on wax paper.
The shirt has an image on it.Go around the outside of the image with a line on the wax paper.Make sure to draw a line that is at least 1 cm past the edges of the image.This will make sure that you don't cut through the image.If you plan to use a solid-colored shirt to make the pillow, skip this.
Step 2: The shape of the pillow should be drawn around the tracing.
There is a possibility that the tracing is an irregular shape.Draw a shape around it on the wax paper in the shape of your pillow.You could draw a square, circle, triangle, star, hexagon, or other shape that encircles the tracing on the wax paper.
Step 3: Cut the sleeves and side seam of the shirt to separate them.
Don't worry about cutting out the shape you want.Cut the sleeves off of the shirt with a pair of scissors.Cut along the side seam and shoulders.You will have 1 front and 1 back piece.
Step 4: The back and front of the t-shirt should be iron.
The t-shirt pieces should be facing down.Place a piece of fleece over each of them.Attach the fleece to the back of the t-shirt pieces with iron.The shirt pieces and fleece are the same size.Follow the manufacturer's instructions for how long to hold the iron in place and what settings to use.
Step 5: Remove the t-shirt material and fleece.
The t-shirt should be turned so that the shirt sides are facing up.The front of your t-shirt has a wax pattern on it.Make it stay put by pinning the edges of the pattern.The t-shirt and fleece should be cut along the edges of the pattern piece.For the other t-shirt and fleece piece, repeat.
Step 6: The right side of the prints are facing each other.
Make sure the edges are lined up.There is a pin along the edges of the pillow.Attach the pins to the edges of the fabric.It will be easier to remove them as you sew.
Step 7: There is a 4 in (10 cm) opening on the outer edges.
The sewing machine should be set to the straight stitch setting.Then, sew a straight stitch from the edges of the 2 pieces.Leave a section open so that you can put the stuffing in the pillowcase.As you sew, make sure to remove the pins.You may damage your sewing machine if you sew over them.
Step 8: Stuff the pillow with something.
The fabric should be pushed through the opening you left so that it is turned right-side out.To fill out the pillow, push enough stuffing into the opening.Push the stuffing into the corners and edges of the pillow form.This will help make it plump and nice.
Step 9: If you want to sew the opening closed, fold over the raw edges.
The opening of the pillow form should be folded over with a small amount of fabric.To hide the edges of the pillow, Tuck the fabric inside.Place a few pins through the folded over edges to keep them together.Then, sew a straight stitch 0.25 in (0.64 cm) from the pinned edge.If you don't remove the pins as you sew, you may damage your sewing machine.
Step 10: Cut the sleeves and side seams off the fabric.
The shirt should be laid out flat with the front facing up.Straight down the side of the shirt where the shoulder meets the sleeve.Remove the sleeve and side seam by cutting down all the way to the bottom of the shirt.On the other side, remove the side seam.If the fabric is not straight on the sides, trim another 1 to 2 in off.
Step 11: Pin the collar and shoulder seam together.
The front and back of the shirt should be flat out in a single long piece with the shoulder seam and collar at the center.Lift the fabric up by about 3 in by pinching the shirt at the shoulder seam.The collar and shoulder seam should overlap with the back portion of the shirt.The collar should be positioned so that there is fabric behind it.There is an opening in the pillow where the collar is.Place a pin on the shoulder seam every 2 to 3 in.
Step 12: You need to sew across the shoulders and collar.
Take the shirt to the sewing machine and set it to straight stitch.To keep the shirt in this folded position, you need to sew from the shoulder seam to the bottom of the collar.
Step 13: The fabric on both sides needs to be removed.
The layers should be separated by leaving the shirt open.3 in of fabric can be removed with a straight line across the bottom of the shirt.To remove the same amount of fabric, repeat this on the front piece.
Step 14: Along the sides and bottom edges, sew a straight Stitch.
Bring the top and bottom edges of the shirt together.The sides of the shirt should be lined up with the raw edges.To keep the edges lined up, insert a few pins through the layers.The shirt has raw edges on the sides and bottom.
Step 15: You can turn the shirt right-side out if youbutton it.
After sewing the edges together, unbutton the shirt and turn the fabric so that the right side is facing out.Press into the corners to push the fabric out of the pillowcase.
Step 16: The shirt should be filled with a premade pillow.
You can put a pillow in the shirt opening and button it up.Make sure to use enough stuffing or insert a well-stuffed pillow for a plump pillow.Your pillow is complete after you stuff the shirt pillowcase.
Step 17: The t-shirt has an 18 in (46 cm) square in the middle.
Make sure that the edges of the shirt are even so that there are no bumps.Measure and mark an 18 in (46 cm) square at the center of the shirt using a ruler and chalk.To make 2 square pieces out of a t-shirt, cut along the lines going through both layers of fabric.For the best results, use very sharp scissors.
Step 18: Cut out 1 by 3 in fringe from all 4 sides.
Use the ruler and chalk to trace fringe going all the way around the square except at the corners.There will be a square of unusable fabric at each corner.As you cut out the fringe, throw it away.Carefully cut to make sure there are no jagged edges.Make sure to cut through both layers of fabric and keep the edges of the squares aligned as you cut out the fringe.
Step 19: On 3 sides, tie the top and bottom layers of fringe together.
Start at one end of the square and tie together the top and bottom pieces twice to form a knot.All the way to the end of the row, tie the top and bottom layers of fringe together.For the next 2 sides of the square, repeat this.When you are done, there should be one side left untied.
Step 20: Tie the fringe around the pillow.
The t-shirt pillowcase needs to be filled with something.Continue to fill the case until you are happy with its plumpness, then tie up the fringe on the open end to complete the pillow.As you tie the final side, make sure to tuck in the filling.