a big idea: cardigan pillow cover

Making a pillow cover from a sweater is not a new idea.  Google "make a pillow from a cardigan" and you can see lots of great examples.  This idea is so simple and perfect that I had to give it a try.

I visited a thrift store and scored this pretty cardigan for $3 (including a shell I can use in future projects!)

I cut out the front of the cardigan along the seams.

Then I cut a square, keeping the buttons in the center (although I think this pillow would also look cute with the buttons offset.  I cut a thirteen inch square to allowing for a half inch seam allowance to fit my twelve inch pillow form.

I sewed the cardigan square to a piece of muslin, wrong sides facing.  Sew around all sides and unbutton the cardigan to turn right side out.  The genius of this idea is that you have a ready made opening to fit the pillow through.  Just sew four seams and you are done.

I was concerned about sewing the knitted fabric, but it wasn't bad.  I used a lot of pins to hold the stretchy knit in place.

That's it.  I now have an elegant and understated pillow in less than twenty minutes.  Give it a try with cardigans, men's shirts, maybe even a hoodie with a zipper?