DIY | Upcycled Decorative Pillow

I had several other ideas for my DIY today but apparently Mother Nature had other plans for me. We have been snowed in with close to 30 inches for the last 5 days. Which means no fun trips to my local craft stores :(. So, I decided to get a bit creative and use what I have lying around the house.

Up Cycled Decorative Pillow

Supplies:

Old Button Up Shirt

Scissors

Felt rectangles (or any scrap fabric, or even other old clothes)

Thin ribbon or Thread

Large Needle

Pillow Form

Sewing Machine or No Sew Fabric Glue/Strips

Step 1:

Cut several different sizes of NOT perfect circles. They will be layered on top of each other to create a modern style Poppy Flower.

Step 2:

Press Shirt and lay pillow over it and adjust where you would like your button placket. I put mine down the center of the pillow. I also positioned my pillow so the box pleat on the back of the shirt became part of my pillow design.

Step 3:

Cut around pillow about 1/2-1 inch away from pillow. Or for the more technical, measure pillow and add 1/2 inch to all sides of measurement and then cut out a sq of this measurement. Ex. 16 inch square pillow form. Cut 2 squares 17 inch x 17 inch out of shirt or fabric.

Step 4:

Flip both pieces of material so that the right sides are together (the sides that will show when the pillow is done). Unbutton the center few buttons of the placket (this allows you to turn the pillow right side out after sewing). Sew simple straight stitch along all 4 sides 1/2 inch from fabric edge. Or use fabric seam tape and iron closed.

Step 5:

Turn pillow right side out and press. Begin to form your flowers. Stack the varying circles together and place on pillow cover where you plan on stitching it on.

Step 6:

Use thread or thin ribbon to adhere the flower to the pillow. I chose 1/8 inch ribbon and a tapestry needle. Simply start on the top side of the flower center, punch through to top layer of the pillow form, back up through the flower center and tie a knot in the ribbon. Cut ribbon so there is 3/4-1 inch left over to add center accent to flower. Repeat for as many flowers as you feel fit your pillow.

You can do a cluster, cover the pillow, do random small flowers…whatever your hearts desired. Put pillow form inside of the pillow cover, button up and your DONE!