I laid the sweater out on my cutting mat and laid the pillow on top of the sweater to measure where to cut the sweater. I left about 1 inch extra to turn under for seams.
The pink sweater was a little shorter in length, so I had to cut the sleeves a little to be able to have enough of the body of the sweater to use. I cut the sleeves so that the seam remained with the sleeve, that way I can keep the sleeves for a future project without them unraveling. The sweater was wide enough that I’d only be using the center portion of the sweater and that angled area under the arms would end up hidden in the side seams.
I sewed the seams on my sewing machine. I sewed two seams close together to make the seams a little stronger. Those of you who are talented seamstresses probably know a better way to do this, but it worked fine for my purposes.
I used the bottom finished edges of each sweater to make one of the seams. The finished edges were quickly sewn shut by hand. This allowed me to mush the pillow (a technical term) and stretch the sweater while I was sewing so that it pillow looks nice and smooth when it’s finished.
The pink pillow looks much better in person. It received 2 out of 2 teenage daughter thumbs up. And those were unsolicited positive comments, so they mean much more. Both of my daughter commented on how much they like the texture and pattern on the pillow.
As I was hand-sewing the red pillow shut, I had a light bulb moment. Bing. I added a monogram for my dear friend, “C.”
I took two strands of white yarn and twisted them together. I laid the yarn out in a shape that I liked and then sewed it down with small stitches.
Now I have to look for more sweaters to surprise my daughters since they liked the pillows so much. I have 3 weeks. Cross your fingers for me.
Update:
I loved these sweaters so much that I made two additional easy projects from the sleeves.
Cynthia says
Never thought of making valentine’s pillows before… love the sweater idea!
Susan@Organized31 says
Cynthia, it’s much easier than refinishing furniture! đŸ™‚
LV says
What an excellent idea and job you did on these pillows. just gave an organization several sweaters. However, I would never have thought of using them for pillows.
Tonna @ Navy Wifey Peters says
Great idea & cute pillows!
T’onna @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
http://navywifeypeters.blogspot.com/2013/01/submarine-sunday-15.html
Kathy Shea Mormino says
Very nice pillows. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
sew sweet vintage says
Great minds think alike:) Love your up cycle!!! http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2013/01/sweet-heart-pillow-upcycle.html
Sylvia says
Great ideas!! Thank you for sharing at Funday Monday ! I hope you join us again next week.
Have a great week!
Sylvia
Jocie@TheBetterHalf says
turned out super cute, Susan! I really love the pink one!!! Thanks for linking up!
creativejewishmom/sara says
Great project! Thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday, and nice to “meet” you! I read your about paragraph, and I guess one certainly would have to be organized with all the moving around or life would be miserable!
4 You With Love says
I’m loving these pillows! I’m so glad you shared this at Loving Valentines Day!
TGIF!
Marilyn
Pam @Threading My Way says
These pillows look so soft and snuggly, Susan. Nothing has gone to waste… great job!
Vicki @ Five Spot Green Living says
These are so adorable! Thanks for sharing them in my Valentine’s roundup.