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How to: Make Decorative Throw Pillows from Recycled Sweaters

by on Feb 21, 2012

Hi!! I’m Rebekah from Potholes and Pantyhose, a site where I share and photograph detailed tutorials of my DIY projects, recipes, photography tips, and remodeling endeavors. 

I like to re-invent things around my home, offering a fresh look to a room with little to no cost.

So, I had a couple of old sweaters and old pillows that I no longer enjoyed the orangey-ness of. What’s a girl to do, but combine the two into one cute product?     

created at: 02/20/2012

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Cutesy Sweater Pillows:

  • Old Pillows or stuffing Old Sweaters 
  • Backing material-I used an old canvas laundry bag 
  • Tape Measure 
  • Scissors
  • Straight Pins 
  • Thread and Bobbin to Match 
  • Button covers (if desired) 
  • Invisible Thread (not pictured here, due to its invisibility) 
  • Sewing Machine  

Measuring the width of a pillow against a white sweater. Start by measuring the width & height of the pillow. If you are using stuffing, determine how big you want the pillow.  

Sewing supplies and sweaters with a pair of pillows. Measure on the sweater the width & height of the pillow and add 3 inches for seam allowance.

  White material is sitting on a dark surface. For example, my pillow was 14″ x 14″. I cut out two 17″ squares of sweater material.  

A white and blue cloth that has a bunch in the middle. Fold the backing material in half, measure and cut out the same sized square as the sweater.

  White color old sweater to make throw pillows. Sandwich the sweater material (right sides facing in) with the backing material. Pin all four layers of material together.  

DIY pillow from old clothes . With a 1 1/2 seam, sew the four pieces of material together on 3 sides only-leaving one side open for the pillow (or stuffing). Cut off the excess seam, snip the four corners and turn the material right side out.  

Throw pillow made with sweaters. Stuff the pillow inside of its new home-or add stuffing.

"  DIY - A Decorative Throw Pillows from Recycled Sweaters " Using invisible thread and a stout needle, sew the opening closed.  

Repurpose your old sweaters into pillows. If desired, make a button for the center of the pillow, following the instructions on the button maker box.

Sew the button(s) on with more invisible thread, going all the way through the pillow and pulling the thread tight. This will make the button dimple into the pillow.

A scrap of a sweater. For ruffles on the pillow, cut 3-4″ wide strips from the sweater, making them 2″ longer than the squares of sweater material and backing.

Follow all of the above instructions, except instead of sewing all 4 pieces of material together at once: Sew one side of the backing to the wrong side of the sweater material-leaving two separate pieces total.  

"Some cloth is getting stitched in a Sewing Machine" Sew the edges of one side of the potential ruffle using a zig zag stitch.  

Layers throw pillow made with old sweaters. Fold over 1/4″ of the unsewn side of the ruffle, pinning and evenly spacing each ruffle on the right side of the sweater material. Sew the tops of the ruffles in place.

  Napkin edges pinned with round headed pins. With right sides of the sweater facing in (backing material on the outside), sew the two separate pieces together on all 3 sides with the same 1 1/2 seam, leaving an opening for the pillow or stuffing.

Cut the excess seam off, snip the corners and turn the material right side out.  

Pillow made from sweaters. Slide the pillow inside of the material or use the stuffing to fill the pillow out. Use invisible thread once again to sew up the opening.  

Recycle old sweaters into beautiful throw pillows. Throw them on your fancy pink couch and call it a day.

Thanks so much for having me here today. Please stop by my site, Potholes and Pantyhose, for more recipes, crafts and remodeling projects. I would love to hear from you

– Rebekah

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