How to Make a T-Shirt Pillow
It’s hard to let go of things we love at times. Even when those items are outgrown or getting worn out. I know my son has a hard time letting go of clothing he has outgrown, especially his favorites. That how this simple sewing craft for how to make a t-shirt pillow came about.
We started with a t-shirt my son just didn’t want to let go of. It was one of his favorite shirts he wore all the time and one day I had to tell him, he had grown too big for the shirt. I mean when his little tummy started to hang out the bottom of the shirt it was time to let it go. But his heart just couldn’t bear to let it go.
I could feel his pain. His little tender heart was so attached to this faded and well loved shirt, I couldn’t bring myself to pry it away from him.
But since he couldn’t use it as a shirt any longer, we transformed it into a t-shirt pillow for his bed. This way he could keep it and not have it hanging out in his dresser drawer until we battled over getting rid of it the next time we cleaned out his dresser.
By transforming the faded t-shirt into a t-shirt pillow for his bed he could hold onto it a little longer. It’s a super easy sewing project that only takes a little bit of time, about 15 minutes and not much more than the shirt to make.
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What You’ll Need to Make this T-Shirt Pillow
- T-Shirt
- Stuffing
- Matching Thread
Tools You’ll Need
The sewing machine doesn’t need to be a fancy one at all. You only need one that can sew a straight stitch. Don’t worry if you’re not very good at sewing either. You’ll only need to sew along each cut edge to close it up. No fancy sewing skills needed at all.
This is an easy enough sewing project that your kids could give it a try. Although for them it might take longer than 15 minutes.
Steps to Make the T-Shirt Pillow
1. Cut the sides of the shirt off. If it has a design like the one I made, you’ll want to cut up the sides to leave the design in the center of the square or rectangle .
2. Once the sides and sleeves are cut off. It’s time to remove the top. I cut down just enough to remove the collar but leave the wording on the front. Now you should have a front and a back piece of the pillow that are separate from one another. The bottom hem of the t-shirt should still be intact.
3. Now flip the front and back pieces of the pillow so the right sides are facing each other. And pin around the edges to hold it in place as you sew.
4. Sew around the cut edges leaving a margin of 1/2 inch. Leave the bottom edge or hemmed edge of the t-shirt open for stuffing.
5. Stuff with Stuffing, Turn the pillow right side out and stuff with stuffing as full as desired.
6. Stitch the bottom closed. Since we left the hemmed edge at the bottom intact, you can just sew across the bottom on the right side of the fabric about 1/4 inch from the bottom edge.
Optional, To make the edges a little more crisp, you can sew around the other 3 sides about a 1/4 of an inch from the edge of the pillow to make a nice edging all the way around.
This is the cute Mickey Mouse throw pillow we made from my son’s outgrown t-shirt. He was thrilled to be able to keep it a little longer and placed it immediately on his bed.
If your child or yourself has a favorite t-shirt that you just can’t bear to part, this is a good option for transforming it into something they can use a little longer.
This t-shirt throw pillow project is such an easy sewing project the kids can help make it too. Making it even more loved by them.
What kind of things do your kids or grandkids like to hold onto?
What a great idea, Shelly! I love it. 🙂
My kids love to hang onto and wear their clothes until they are literally coming apart or until they “disappear” and end up in my donation stash. LOL
Such a great idea Shelly! Now he can use his favorite shirt everyday 🙂
I’ve also seen people make stuffed bears from their kids’ old baby outfits, which is so clever. There were some outfits that I hated to give away, but having a pillow or animal made out of them would have been nice.
You could also just turn the shirt into a pillowcase and put a travel-size pillow inside it. This would make it easier to wash.
Mary, That’s a great suggestion, thanks for sharing it.
How would you do this?
Stacey, I’ve not made one before but I found this tutorial from Instructables that might help.
Mary, that is a super idea.
Great Idea! I want to do this for my camper to show the places we have been .
Jennifer, that would be a fun project.
I think it would be sweet to make a pillow for someone who has lost a loved one to death, especially if it was due to a sudden accident, or illness. Just take one of their tee shirts and make a memory pillow to rest your head against. (It may still even bear their scent…)
That is such a great idea, Mary. Thanks for sharing it.
My dad passed away this past June….we found a t shirt I had made for him when my son was 3 or 4. It has my sins picture and it says, “Pa Pa’s buddy. Now my son is almost 31. I know what I’m going to do with this t shirt. Thank you!!!
Jodie, I’m sorry to hear about your dad. I’m glad you liked this idea.
My son passed away 10 yrs ago. I found a lady at a craft show that made quilts of his t-shirts then I had some with his pictures of him in that shirt. She made the most beautiful quilt and even had used his baseball pants and his jersey. She made one for my daughter with just his pictures and her together. That lady was wonderful!!!
Carla, I’m sorry to hear about your son’s passing. I’ve seen t-shirts quilts but have never made one myself. But it is a wonderful way to make a keepsake quilt.
I have two Tee’s with my grandmother and grandfather pictured on them,I’m thinking I could make either 2 Pillow’s or a 2 sided pillow.
Thanks for the idea !
Your welcome Janette, I hope your pillow turns out great. It will certainly be a special one.
Would this work with a pillow form. I have several of my husbands t-shirts and would like to make pillows for all the family since he just passed away.
Carolyn, I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s passing. I think it would work great with a pillow form. Just be sure to cut the t-shirt big enough to go over the pillow form with a little extra for the seam. I hope your pillows turn out great. I’m sure they will make a wonderful keepsake.
Thank you.