Studio Tuesday - T-Shirt Pillow Tutorial

A while ago my friend Lauren asked me to give a new life to a shirt her daughter Ava had loved but outgrown. I suggested turning it into a pillow so she could have it to hug and hold onto and look pretty on her bed. When Sage was a baby I made him this pillow from a great big shirt I found at a yard sale:

I simply cut out the front and back, sewed around the edge, and stuffed it. Super easy. I also did one this summer with a Yo Gabba Gabba shirt I got signed for the kids at Comic-Con (blogged here).

Ava's favorite shirt was smaller though, so I did this pillow a little differently. Here's the shirt:

First, I cut out the cute part.

Next, I ironed some HeatnBond Lite to the back, trimmed it, and ironed the image onto gingham fabric.

Then I stitched some lace around the edge of the image with a zig-zag stitch.

Then I found some fabric to back it. . .

and sewed around the edge, leaving an opening at the bottom.

Lauren also gave me an old flat pillow she had, which I ripped open, de-stuffed and and refluffed. When you're not making a project to sell, this is a great way to recycle old pillows. (Note to kokoleo personalized commission customers - I always use new stuffing for your projects.)

Then I turned the empty pillow inside out and stuffed it with the newly fluffed stuffing

Then I stitched up the opening at the botttom. Viola!

Ava's once-favorite shirt can now be her new favorite pillow.