Losing a loved one is never easy. Holding onto a piece of your loved one helps with the healing. I got a call from a friend last week. She lost her Dad earlier this year. She wanted to give each of her kids and sister a memory pillow made from her Dad’s flannel shirts. These are such heartfelt gifts. These pillows are a great way to pass on a lasting memory of “Papa” to her family. They will cherish these pillows.
I know that it can be hard to cut into something so treasured. But the pillow will be so meaningful and treasured. I am happy that my friend asked me to sew these pillows. This project so inspired me, and I love that the idea of creating a lasting memory. If you are making one from a shirt of one of your loved ones, the process can also be therapeutic and bring back happy memories. So let’s make some together.
MEMORY PILLOW SUPPLIES
- Button-up Shirt
- Cutting Mat
- Scissors
- Thread
- Clips
- Pillow Insert
- Sewing Machine
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Check out the video tutorial below or follow the step-by-step instructions below! You choose how you want to learn to do this project!
STEP #1 CUT THE SHIRT
Button up the shirt and lay it on your cutting mat or table.
If the shirt has pockets, I like to use them as a guide to cut out my pillow pieces. I started with an 18 “x18″ pillow insert, so I want to start with an 18 ½ x 18 ½ piece. So, using your cutting mat grid lines, determine how and where you can cut out a portion of the shirt to be 18 ½” x 18 ½”.
You can leave the shirt buttoned and cut out the front and back of the pillow at once. Or, if the shirt is plaid, I would recommend cutting the front piece first and then matching up the plaid lines to determine where you want to cut the back piece. You should end up with two pieces cut out of the shirt the same size.
STEP #2 SEWING
Place the shirt pieces on top of each other, right sides together. Place clips or pins around the piece to keep them together.
Take your clipped pieces to your sewing machine and sew a seam around the piece. I used a ¼ inch seam. I also used my walking foot on my machine to easily go over the top of the button section.
STEP #3 TURN PILLOW
Clip all four corners and then each inside and unbutton the pillow. Turn right side out and push out corners.
STEP #4 ADD PILLOW INSERT
Time to add the pillow insert through the opening and then button up your pillow! By using the buttons as my opening this will allow you to remove the pillow insert and throw the pillow case in the wash.
I hope this project inspired you to create a memory pillow! I went through a couple of versions of how I could make this pillow, but once I came up with the idea to use the buttons on the shirt for the opening, it took me less than 30 minutes to make a pillow. Did this project inspire you to create a perish pillow or a heartfelt gift for a loved one?
If this project inspired you, then check out some of my other projects for more inspiration!
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