Sweater Pillows
November 2, 2011
I love a great challenge! Last week Katie and friends announced the second Pinterest Challenge (Fall Edition) and since I missed it the first time around, I decided to hop on board this time. A few weeks ago I had cozy accents on my mind, specifically sweater pillows. Pottery Barn has made versions of these in the past and there were a few DIYers who came up with their own interpretations too. I loved Megan’s version from Brassy Apple so I pinned it. (Don’t you love the ability to comment on Pinterest too? Thanks Julie, you made me laugh!)
I also loved Megan’s button center and floral accents too! I went down to my local Goodwill and saw at least a dozen sweaters to choose from.
I bought the center one for $3 bucks and brought it home. Then I pinned this:
And a few days ago I made this!
The flower is a lapel pin I’ve had for awhile that suits the pillow perfectly.
I also found another gray and red striped sweater at the Goodwill for $3 and also stitched up this cozy Christmas accent pillow:
Here’s the simple how to: First, cut your sweater to the size of your pillow form (whether square or oblong) and allow an extra inch of material all around. Turn the knit material inside out and stitch it together with a sewing machine on 3 ½ sides. Turn right side out and stuff opening with pillow form, then hand stitch the remaining opening closed. 
Any ol’ sweater you find at a thrift store can become your next decorative accent in these upcoming chilly months!
Linking up to the Pinterest Challenge party:
Thank you Katie, Sherry, Ana, and Erin for hosting!
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Tags: pinterest, simple sew, sweater pillow
Absolutely adorable and so easy to do! I’m going to Goodwill this weekend to see what I can find.
Cute! I made a similar one after I made some sweater pumpkins for my “fall craft” last month. I like the idea of adding a flower or pin =) For those that don’t have or know how to use a sewing machine I just did mine by hand…
http://cornerofmain.com/2011/10/10/blogwagon-and-sweater-makeover-ii/
I bought a gorgeous aqua mohair sweater weeks ago to do just this! Thanks, Kate for the extra inspiration to get that project done! I love the flower detail, maybe I can make one from the sleeve???
I’ve definitely had sweater pillows on my pinterest for a while! I’m currently unemployed, so I really shouldn’t be spending money on decor (even thrifty decor), but hopefully I’ll have some around next year! Yours are so cute – I love how they really warm up a room.
Wow!! What a great idea! I never thought of making pillows from actual sweaters! It looks so cozy.
They look so warm and cozy for winter. Great color choices.
Gorgeous! What a great idea! I will be trying this sometime :)
I LOVE the red and grey one. Off to the thrift stores I go!
I have to get out there and find me some sweaters. These are awesome!
Wow, these look so cozy and easy enough even I might be able to give it a try! Good job. :)
Love the sweater pillows! Also love your blog, you have such great ideas!
I LOVE your blog, you are always so creative! The pillows are beautiful. Great job!
I love these pillows and you did a great job! Makes me want to cozy up with some hot cocoa. :-)
I am so glad I found your blog what a fantastic idea for making cushions.I never would of thought of it.These cushions would be nice and cosy to have around in the winter I’m sure..
Love your pillows! thanks for the shout out to mine!
I will have to share my project that I created with the sleeves when it’s posted!
thanks so much! Enjoy your “coz-ified” chair/couch!
Delighted Meg, so glad you stopped by! Can’t wait to see your sleeve project!
xo
Kate
I love the pinterest challenge! I am getting so many fantastic ideas for winter projects! This is going to be the perfect match to my boyfriends Christmas present (a handmade crocheted blanket he’s been asking for). And this is the perfect project for putting my new (used) sewing machine to the test!
I’m headed to my local thrift shop ASAP. Thanks for the post!
Kate! KATE! KATE! KATE! Thank you soooo much for reminding me about sweater pillows. I pinned some months ago and thought I *have* to make some of these for Christmas presents. I’d forgotten all about them! You’re like my little Christmas Fairy. Keep it up, because I have lots of things I’ve forgotten! ~ karen!
Oh my God, I LOVE these!!! I know what everyone is getting for Christmas now. tee hee hee!!!
I’ve been trying to decide what to do with my throw pillows on the couch. What a great Fall/Winter idea! And cheap to boot. Thanks so much!
I know that this is probably cheating, BUT I got a JC Penney flyer in the newspaper and guess what was on the front cover? Cable knit sweaters in every conceivable color you could imagine, each well under twenty bucks and that was before all of their coupons. You could conceivably get one for around ten bucks, in the color you want and brand spanking new. I think they are in the juniors or misses department. I saw those sweaters and it never even occurred to be to wear them. The first thing I thought was pillows!!!!
Sweater Pillows! What a great idea!!
I LOVE this! I pinned this a few months ago and haven’t gotten around to it, yet! I think I may need to visit my local Goodwill!
I’d love it if you’d participate! http://angelasfavthings.blogspot.com/2011/11/30-days-of-thankfulness.html
xo,
A
These pillows are beautiful! You can also use the sleeves for another project. Just cut off a sleeve, fill with uncooked white rice, and tie both ends with dental floss. Put in the microwave for a few minutes and you’ll have a warm, moist heat to relieve painful muscles or warm your cold feet. It can be reheated many times. A friend gave me one years ago, and I use it all the time in the winter or when my neck is hurting.
Seriously, so cute. I cannot wait to make one. I’ve been on a pillow covering kick lately! Great addition to the challenge. Hope I have time to enter it!
I love the red & white one! My husband has tons of sweaters he never wears!!! He probably would have no clue if I made a pillow cover! I’m going to try & make one :) Awesome tutorial!
I love the cable knit on a sweater. It looks even better on a pillow! I really need to do this, thank you so much for the inspiration.
love this! i just got a sweater today, going to try it. did you dye the sweater? it looks a different color than you showed or is it just the photos?
That pin is the icing on the perfect cake. Love how your pillows turned out! I must learn how to sew…
xoxo,
Jen
I got a cocoa XL men’s sweater from Value World for $.60 and an XL creme fisherman’s cable from Salvation Army for $3.75. Two pillows for well under $5.00! Doesn’t get any better than that!
[...] I have more ugly Christmas sweaters piled up in my house’s closets than you could believe. Grandma and Grandpa (bless their souls) have made it a tradition to send me and the kids brightly patterned Christmas sweaters every single year. The kids wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them in public (let’s face it, neither would I!) so they’ve just been sitting around gathering dust bunnies. I found this tutorial on Centsational Girl for making pillows out of sweaters and I think this is the perfect reincarnation for our old sweaters! They may be ugly as sweaters, but I think they would make the cutest Christmas-themed pillows. Check out this easy sewing project: [...]
[...] Sweater Pillows – Centsational Girl [...]
[...] Sweater pillows by Centsational Girl [...]
What a cute idea! I have some sweaters with my children’s names on them from when they were little and I have been holding on to them for something like this. Going to have to do this!
This is so cozy looking — going to have to repost this one if that’s ok, thank you!!!