How to Sew a Simple Pillow from a T-Shirt

Transform any t-shirt into a pillow quickly with this tutorial!

Children love t-shirt pillows, whether they are made from machine embroidery t-shirts or an old favorite t-shirt with designs on the front. These throw pillows make cute decorations for kids' beds.

This tutorial will show how to make an easy t-shirt pillow with a fun design on the front of the shirt.  Ours was made with a machine embroidered t-shirt but you can make one with any favorite or outgrown t-shirt.

The pillow cover is removable for easy washing but doesn't require sewing a zipper. 

For those who would like to embroider a t-shirt, we have a tutorial on how to embroider on a t-shirt available on this website.  To do this, choose a new t-shirt and embroider a design to create a special t-shirt pillow for the kiddos.

A friend of mine had old concert t-shirts that she wanted to save and repurpose instead of storing them in a closet. She gave me the old t-shirts, and I turned them into pillow covers to save her special vintage concert t-shirts!

Watch our video or read this detailed post, which includes step-by-step instructions and photos, to learn how to make a pillow from a T-shirt.

WHAT YOU NEED to make a t-shirt pillow

• New machine embroidered t-shirt or one of your favorite shirts
• Sew-on Hook & Look Tape long enough to close the bottom of the shirt
• Muslin or other fabric
• Fiberfill or other stuffing material
• Marking tool
• Fabric scissors
• Sewing Machine
• Pins

INSTRUCTIONS to make a T-shirt pillow

STEP 1: Sew Closed the collar and sleeves of the T-shirt

The first step is to make the pillow cover with the whole t-shirt. Sew the collar and sleeve openings closed to make the t-shirt into a pillow.

Lay the T-shirt flat on a table with the front of the T-shirt facing you.  Flatten the collar and the sleeves.  Pin the sleeve and the collar openings closed.

Sew the openings closed with a standard-length straight stitch using the sewing machine. Remember to backtack at the beginning and end of the seam.

I like to sew the sleeves, and the collar is closed along the hem or topstitch line.

Step 2: sew the velcro to the bottom of the T-shirt

Next, add hook and loop tape to the bottom edge of the t-shirt.  This will allow the pillow cover to be removed and laundered.

Cut a strip of sew-on hook and loop tape the length of the opening at the bottom of the t-shirt.

Separate the two parts of the hook and loop tape. Pin one strip to the inside edge along the t-shirt hem. Pin the other strip to the inside of the other half of the t-shirt along the hemmed edge.  

At the sewing machine, sew a straight line around the outside edge of each hook and loop tape. Start by sewing along one long edge. Turn the corner to secure the short end, and then turn and sew along the other long side. Finally, turn and sew down the last short edge.

Remember to backtack at the beginning and end of the stitching and clip any threads.

Repeat for the second strip of hook-and-loop tape. After sewing, firmly press them together to close the t-shirt bottom.

Step 3: make the pillow insert

To make the pillow insert, you can use muslin or any inexpensive washable, colorfast fabric or leftover fabric from another project.

Two layers of fabric as large as the t-shirt will be needed. Lay the t-shirt pillowcase onto the fabric and smooth it flat.

Use a marking tool such as a fabric pencil and trace around the pillowcase.

Cut the fabric following the traced lines using scissors.

Keep the two layers of fabric together.  If necessary, pin around the edge to hold them together.

Take the fabric to the sewing machine and sew the two pieces together with a 5/8 inch seam allowance. Leave a 3" opening at the bottom of the pillow. Backtack at the beginning and end of the stitching.

Before turning the pillow insert right side out, use scissors to trim the corners diagonally and clip the curved edges.  This will help reduce the bulk in the corners and curves.

Turn the pillow insert so the right side is out.

Step 4: Stuff the pillow with poly-fil

Begin to hand stuff the pillow with fiberfill stuffing, pushing the stuffing into the sleeve portions first.

The pillow can be stuffed as firm or as soft as preferred.

Once the entire fabric pillow insert has been stuffed, use the sewing machine to close the 3" opening.  Although this would normally be hand-sewn closed with an invisible stitch, using the sewing machine for this is okay because the pillow insert will not be visible.

Fold the edges of the opening to the inside of the pillow.  Pin the opening closed.  Then, a straight stitch across the opening is stitched to close it.

Step 5: Put the t-shirt pillow case over the pillow form

The final step is to put the pillow insert inside the t-shirt pillow cover sewn with the pretty t-shirt.

Once the fabric insert is inside, close the pillow by closing the hook-and-loop tape at the bottom.

The t-shirt pillow can easily be laundered by removing the pillow insert through the opening at the bottom.

You can also change the t-shirt pillow using a different t-shirt pillow cover.

The embroidered t-shirt pillow is complete and ready to display on a bed or chair.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make a t-shirt pillow. This is a fun activity that adds to your home decor. They also make great gifts!

If you need more information, Embroidery Designs has a good t-shirt pillow tutorial.

Happy sewing!

  

Other t-shirt upcycling ideas!

• T-shirt Tote
• T-Shirt Quilt
• T-Shirt Yarn
• Doll No-Sew T-Shirt
• Doll Infinity Scarf