Guest DIY post submitted by
Ashley of Ashley’s Busy
I can pretty much only sew square pillows. But that’s okay—at least it gets the job done. I bought my sewing machine about five years ago with big plans, and somehow the only thing I ever make are square pillow covers. Despite the limited repertoire, I enjoy the process and the results.
On a tight budget like most of us, I started rifling through storage boxes in the attic—those “one day we’ll have a yard sale” bins. Inside I found a stack of men’s shirts that had been set aside. They were Big D’s shirts, actually, and luckily he has decent taste. That meant I had good fabric to work with.
I chose one shirt that had been earmarked for the yard sale and decided it deserved a better fate. The fabric was soft and looked perfect for a pillow cover. Here’s how I turned a simple shirt into a custom pillow:
First, remove the existing pillowcase from the insert you want to cover. I love this feather insert I bought at Target—the blue cover has been replaced before, and it’s time for another update. Lay the pillowcase flat on top of the shirt, with the shirt turned inside out. Cut around the pillowcase, leaving about a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Remember that you are cutting through both layers of the shirt (front and back).
Next, sew around the cut fabric to form one large square. It’s a straightforward seam—if I can do it, you can too. After sewing, turn the cover right side out, unbutton the shirt opening, insert the pillow, and button it closed. That’s it—you have a finished pillow cover made from a shirt.
If you want to add a personal touch, use the leftover fabric to cut shapes and stitch them onto the face of the pillow as appliqués. You can keep it simple or embellish with hand embroidery if you feel adventurous. I embroidered an appliqué myself—no need to be a master embroiderer to get a charming result.
All finished.
This is a fast, economical way to refresh pillows using materials you already have. It’s perfect for beginners and makes a noticeable impact on your living space without a big cost. And yes, that was essentially a sewing lesson from someone who mostly sews square pillows—simple can be beautiful.