New Throw Pillows from Old Sweaters

I've been oddly obsessed with pillows lately. I think it's because I've been itching to change up my place but haven't had the time or money to make any big changes. Like, when I moved in I had these ideas of doing a clean, graphic, modern home, before realizing I was not pulling it off because its just not my style. I need to nest and be cozy. I love me some geometric lines and clean accessories, but am now realizing that I need to work them in with my big old quilts and weird thrifted knicknacks.

Anyways, enough about my existential home decorating crisis (though, please feel free to make me feel better if that has happened to any of you.) Back to pillows.

via

via

The only thing is though, I change my mind about pillows more often than my 15 year old cousin switches between Harry and Zain (Team Styles here at r/p), so I never like dropping coin on them (pillows, not One Direction members, that is.) Like, I found an awesome pillow at the Renegade Craft Fair, but it was $80. For something that Lucille will stink up and I will drop pizza on and get sick of in three months, I just couldn't.  

So I decided to make my own, before realizing that man, Joann Fabrics and Michael's have some ugly ass fabric. Its a ton of stuff straight from Ms. Frizzle's wardrobe, like

Not my style. Plus, its like $7 a yard, AND is that stiff, itchy cotton. I know, I know, if I did a little hunting I could find better, but I'm impatient, so I headed to the thrift store.

The sweater aisle is a goldmine for fabrics for small projects. You can get really high-quality, soft knits, with as much yardage as you need for a small project, for under $2. I went armed with inspiration, which was

This pillow from Yellow Brick Home (who funny enough are also making repurposed pillows today!)

and

This $40 West Elm pillow cover. Yep, $40 just for the cover!! Again, bitch please.

In one trip, I was lucky enough to find the perfect sweaters for both pillows:

From here, the steps are so easy. Because with a sweater, two sides are already sewn, these are two-stitch pillows. A women's medium sweater is pretty much the exact size of a standard throw pillow, but you'll want to lay your pillow form (or old pillow) on top of it first to make sure everything is wide enough).

(hey, it helps to get a second opinion)

Step one:

Cut off arms and neckline. 

Step two:

Sew up the hem of the sweater

Step three:

Put pillow in and ladder stitch closed. (I admit, I kind of suck at ladder stitching so mine is less than impressive.)

Look at that, two new pillows for under $5. 

Cost breakdown:

White sweater- $1.50

Striped sweater- $3

Pillows- already owned

Total- $4.50

xo,

z

PS: Check out r/p on Buzzfeed! That was pretty cool to see on there, so thank you Buzzfeed!

PPS: The Portrait Shop is open again! Orders are queued into mid-February, so order now if you want to be sure to receive it in time for Valentine's Day! 

Pin It