Make a decorative pillow using damaged wool sweaters
found at the Salvation Army store and Goodwill
Industries.
Project Instructions
Materials needed:
Two or three 100% wool sweaters
Sewing machine and thread
Scissors and large head pins
Straight edge & chalk
Natural shell buttons
Sew on snaps
A 12 X 16 boudoir pillow
Sweater Prep:
Choose several 100% wool sweaters in compatible
colors. Large and extra large pullovers yield the most
fabric. Sweaters must be felted before any cutting
or sewing. Felt sweaters by washing in hot water and
drying in a hot dryer. Wash and dry sweaters 3 or 4
times, or until they no longer show visible shrinkage.
Cut sweaters, sew edges:
Once sweaters are completely felted, determine the
portions to be used in pillows. Sweater backs provide
the largest single piece of fabric. Using a straight edge
and chalk, mark the total length
of the sweater starting from the
bottom edge of sweater. The
bottom edge will be the pillow
opening; the marked neck edge
will be a seam. Mark the sides of
sweater with a straight edge and
chalk to 12, the width of the
boudoir pillow. Using a medium
zigzag setting, stitch over all
the chalk lines. When finished
zigzagging the three edges, cut
1/4 around the outside of the
stitches.
Repeat this process for the sweater front. The sweater
front will yield a shorter pillow section than the back.
Measure the lengths of cut sweater sections and add the
lengths. The total sweater sections must measure 40
when complete. To obtain remaining necessary length,
measure and mark contrasting sweater back width to 12
and the length to the amount needed. Zigzag stitch as
before and cut as before.
Put it all together
When all pieces are sewn and
cut, pin the 12 edges together
with front sides facing. Sew using
1/2 seams and a medium length
straight stitch, to create a 38
length of felted sweater sections.
Fold fi nished length in half,
right sides together, and pin
along edges starting at sweater
bottoms. Stitch sides together
the same as the
edges. Turn right side
out when finished
sewing. Attach
natural shell buttons
along sweater bottom
on the outside of
the pillow. When all
buttons are attached,
align and sew snaps
to the insides of
pillow at center
of buttons.
Press snaps
to close
pillow edge
and enjoy.
Once sweaters are completely felted, determine the
portions to be used in pillows. Sweater backs provide
the largest single piece of fabric. Using a straight edge
and chalk, mark the total length
of the sweater starting from the
bottom edge of sweater. The
bottom edge will be the pillow
opening; the marked neck edge
will be a seam. Mark the sides of
sweater with a straight edge and
chalk to 12, the width of the
boudoir pillow. Using a medium
zigzag setting, stitch over all
the chalk lines. When finished
zigzagging the three edges, cut
1/4 around the outside of the
stitches.
Repeat this process for the sweater front. The sweater
front will yield a shorter pillow section than the back.
Measure the lengths of cut sweater sections and add the
lengths. The total sweater sections must measure 40
when complete. To obtain remaining necessary length,
measure and mark contrasting sweater back width to 12
and the length to the amount needed. Zigzag stitch as
before and cut as before.
