A NOTE FOR GROWN-UPSMaking a simple pillow out of a special T-shirt that no longer fits is a fun and clever way for kids to recycle. They might need help with marking the size and shape of the pillow. Remind them to plan for the seam allowance when cutting the fabric. If you don’t leave enough space, the design might not show well.

What You Need × T-shirt × Scissors × Ruler × Chalk

× Pins × Sewing needle × Thread × Stuffing

Save-My-T-Shirt PillowSave a favorite T-shirt that you’ve outgrown

or accidentally stained by turning it into a

huggable pillow.

Decide how big you want your pillow. Use a ruler and chalk to draw the lines on the front piece of your T-shirt. Make sure there is a border around the image you want to show on the pillow.

2Cut the T-shirt apart at the sides, sleeves, and neck. You should end up with two pieces.

1Cut out the pillow shape.3

This used to be a T-shirt!

Don’t forget a seam allowance, too!

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download www.storey.com/booksellers © 2010 Amie Petronis Plumley & Andria Lisle adapted from Sewing School ß Storey Publishing

This project is from Sewing School. Check out Sewing School 2 when you’re ready for machine sewing!

MAKE IT YOURS

* Use two different T-shirts for the front and the back of the pillow.

* Back the T-shirt pillow with a different fabric.

* Try making a pillow that is a different shape, such as a circle, triangle, or rectangle.

* Make a T-shirt bag. Sew up three sides of a T-shirt square and then add a handle.

* Turn your old T-shirts into a cozy quilt. Sew a lot of T-shirt squares together using a whipstitch.

* Use the leftover T-shirt sleeves to make great headbands or clothes for your dolls or Stuffies.

Pin the pillow shape onto the back piece of the T-shirt. The good sides should be facing out. Cut out the back piece around the shape.

4Sew around sides with a whipstitch. Leave an opening for stuffing!

5

Leave a 2-inch opening for stuffing. Take the needle off the thread.

6Stuff the pillow. Then rethread the needle and sew up the opening.

7

You just recycled a T-shirt into a pillow!

Stuff!

Opening

download www.storey.com/booksellers © 2010 Amie Petronis Plumley & Andria Lisle adapted from Sewing School

Sewing School $16.95ISBN 978-1-60342-578-0 Full-color; photographs throughout, 144 pages; 9 x 9 1/2

ß Storey Publishing