Craft Projects that Use Discarded Clothing

These craft projects will teach you how to make unique and trendy accent pillows, using discarded clothing. If you have a knit sweater or a button down dress shirt that you no longer wear, don't cast them aside or throw them away! Sweaters and dress shirts come in a variety of colors, textures and patterns making the fabric ideal for craft projects. Follow the steps below and transform them into beautiful accent pillows.

How To Craft A Sweater Pillow

Materials: Pillow form (any size), tape measure, chalk, knit sweater, scissors, sewing machine, thread, straight pins and a sewing needle.

Directions: Measure your pillow form and include 1" inch to each measurement to add a 1/2" seam allowance to your pillow cover.

Place your sweater onto a flat work surface. Measure and mark the sweater to suit the size of your pillow form. Cut along these marks, making sure to cut through both layers of the fabric. This will create both the front and back panels for your pillow cover.

Place the the front and back panels together with the right sides facing each other. Pin the panels together. Now sew 3 sides of the pillow cover along the 1/2" seam allowance. Turn your pillow cover right side out and insert the form in side of the cover. Hand stitch the last opening shut. Now sit back and enjoy your new pillow.

How To Craft A Button Up Pillow

Materials: button up dress shirt, iron and ironing board, scissors, pillow form, straight pins, sewing machine and matching thread.

Directions: Iron your button up shirt to remove the wrinkles. Make sure the shirt is buttoned up, then pin the front and back sections together. Now cut the shirt to match the size of your pillow form and add two inches to the width and length. Make sure the row of buttons are centered down the front. Place the 2 pieces of fabric together with the right sides facing each other and pin in place.

Sew all four sides using a 6/8" seam. Snip the corners at an angle very carefully, to avoid cutting through the seam. Now turn the pillow cover right side out. Iron the cover flat. Now sew a top stitch 1/8" from the edge of the cover, going around the entire cover. Then sew another top stitch 3/8 inch from the edge around the cover.

Unbutton the pillow cover and insert your pillow form, re-button and fluff. Your button up pillow is complete. Your pillow cover can be removed and washed in a machine with similar colors.

Tips: If you don't have any button up dress shirts or unused sweaters, check out your local thrift stores or garage sales for some really great bargains. Many times you can even find great second hand pillows that you can recover, to save even more money.

I hope you enjoy these craft projects and will give some discarded clothing new purpose.