Here at Birch Creative, we love the idea of upcycling. Turning an old shirt into a pillowcase is a cheap alternative to home décor or a great gift idea that adds a personal touch. In our case, we wanted to create a family keepsake to remember a loved one. He was a businessman and it seemed appropriate to make something from one of his shirts. This is a simple project that is great for beginners because there is no need for inserting a zip or buttons.
Here is what we did:
- Cut along the top of the shirt to release the pleat that most shirts have on the back
- Lay freshly ironed shirt down making sure it is turned inside out. Have the front facing up so you can see the outline of the pocket if the shirt has one
- Use the tape measure and quilting ruler as a guide to measure a 43cm square. To give the cushion a plump look, we recommend measuring a square that is 5cm less than the cushion insert and then add a 1.5cm seam allowance for each edge. This was my calculation: 45 – 5 + 3 = 43 NOTE: make sure the buttons run down the middle of the square and it looks best if the pocket isn’t too close to the top
4. Pin the square. I used the lines on the shirt as my guide but you can use a marking pen/chalk if you feel more comfortable
5. Once pinned, cut the excess material off around the outside of the pins.
6. Sew the shirt using the pins as your outside border.
7. Undo the buttons and turn the shirt right side out. Use the point turner to push the corners out.
8. Insert cushion and do the buttons up
9. Cushion is now complete
Once you see how quick and easy these pillowcases are, you’ll want to make more. Check out our range of cushion inserts to make your very own shirt pillow. We hope you’ll enjoy upcycling your clothing in new and exciting ways.
We’d love to see your results – feel free to tag us in your creations!
