How to make a pillow from a T-shirt

Can't bear to throw out a favorite T-shirt that can't be worn anymore? Whether someone outgrew the size or style, you can reuse that T-shirt by turning it into a decorative pillow.

This project requires basic sewing skills. The tutorial uses an overcast stitch to seal the pillow, as the stitch is very easy and makes quick work of sewing, but any stitch will work. A sewing machine also is an alternative to hand-stitching. Remember to leave an opening for the stuffing.

Materials
- T-shirt with desired pattern or graphics
- Cardboard square, desired size of the pillow
- Marker
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Small bowl
- Needle and thread
- Cotton stuffing
- Thick hemp rope
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue

1. Lay the shirt flat on the work surface and smooth it out. Place the cardboard square on the center of the shirt’s front. Trace around the square. Cut around the trace mark.

2. Separate the two pieces of square fabric. Place one on top of the other so the insides of the shirts now face out.

3. Place some straight pins in a bowl. Pin each of the four corners 1 inch in for seam allowance. Pin an additional pin along each side of the square, with
1-inch seam allowance.

4. Sew along the perimeter of the square using an overcast stitch until reaching the last side. Sew two-thirds of the final side, leaving an opening for the stuffing. Knot and cut off the thread. Remove the pins.

5. Reach through the opening and pull the fabric right-side out. Flatten and smooth out the square.

6. Add as much stuffing as desired. Pin the opening closed. Use a straight stitch to sew closed the opening. Knot and cut off the thread. Remove the pins.

7. Start at one corner and hot glue the rope around the pillow's perimeter, hiding the seams. Cut the rope's end at an angle and glue the point to the rope around the pillow. Let the glue dry before placing the pillow on a chair.