Great Ways to Make Amazing Sweater Pillows
Sweater Pillows: Old wool sweaters are great for crafting as they can easily be felted and felted wool is perfect for transforming into lovely soft cozy pillows (cushions).
If you are a lazy sewer like me then felt is the perfect fabric for you. Unlike other fabric, felt doesn’t fray which is great as there is no need for seams and the fabric can easily be glued. It is also a dream to hand sew.
Felting sweaters are ridiculously simple and I do it all the time mostly by accident. Like when I mistakenly put my (often favourite) sweater in a hot wash and it shrinks to a toddler size. As everyone else in my household (except me thankfully), are over 6 foot tall these felted sweaters end up in my crafting pile.
If you want to deliberately felt an old wool sweater there are more details here. However, if the wool sweater you are using is machine knitted rather than hand-knitted there may be no need to felt the sweater first. As long as the sweater doesn’t unravel when cut.
I have compiled my favourite upcycled sweater pillows.
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1. Upcycled Sweater Mountain Cushions (Pillows) – Pillar Box Blue
As a child, I lived on the top of a mountain (all be it a small one). However now I probably live the flattest area of the UK. I really miss the mountains. In homage to my love of the mountains, I made these cute mountain cushions.
2. Upcycled Sweater Pillow Cases – Maiden Jane
I love these chunky sweater pillows, the button detailing adds interest and the pocket can be used to hold the remote.
3. Valentine’s Sweater Pillows – In His Grip
Nevermind Valentine’s day these pillows will look great all year round. I especially love the heart shaped pink pringle sweater.
4. Upcycled Sweater Bunny Pillows (Cushions) – Pillar Box Blue
Another holiday themed pillow idea are these Easter bunnies to add a bit of fun to your home decor.
5. Fish on Friday Sweater Pillow – Dieraumfee
This sweater pillow has definately got that Hygge cozy thing going on, not just because it’s on a Danish website.
The muted greys and neutrals give it a definite Scandi vibe. If you don’t have a sweater big enough to make a pillow this would be a great one to do as you can make it with all your felted wool scraps.
6.Fabulous Frida Kahlo Cushion – Pillarboxblue
Another one of mine, this time inspired by the great iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The gorgeous felt flowers are made from the felted sweater scraps of other upcycled wool projects. The tassels are even made out of repurposed old jeans.
7. Upcycled Christmas Tree Pillow – Pillarboxblue
This is a fun festive sweater pillow for the Christmas season.
8. DIY Knot Pillow From Old Sweaters – Pillarboxblue
This knot pillow was made from the sleeves of old wool sweaters left over from my felt rug made with recycled sweaters. You can have a bit of fun and try out several different knots with this pillow.
Don’t forget to hang on to your old wool sweaters to turn into an amazing pillow. I also think ugly Christmas sweaters make for great Christmas pillows.
There are so many more things you can make for the home out of old sweaters such as, a felt rug, sweater upcycled Christmas ornaments, a patchwork sweater blanket, and even a repurposed felt succulent garden. Check out these and many more upcycled sweater crafts here.
IOANNA
19th May 2017 at 8:21 amI love recycling old clothes and making pillows.I have made some clouds-pillows,owls,pumpkins
(http://mpiskotoupoli.blogspot.gr/2016/06/summercreativitycompetition.html).I love yours!!!
Claire Armstrong
19th May 2017 at 10:25 amThank you, your cloud pillows look great.
Keri
27th January 2017 at 5:40 amClaire, this round up of sweater pillows is great! They’re all so creatively made!
Claire Armstrong
27th January 2017 at 7:03 amCheers and thank you!
Julie
26th January 2017 at 5:33 pmThat’s spooky, because I was in the Charity shop just the other day looking for a jumper I could felt for a cushion cover. I’ve not found one yet but I will continue my search – and now I have more ideas to choose from- thanks! #HandmadeMonday
Claire Armstrong
26th January 2017 at 6:33 pmI’m lucky in that I have a steady supply of jumpers for projects, my mum and aunt keep on accidently shrinking them in the wash.
Melissa
26th January 2017 at 12:15 pmI love the sweater pillow with the pocket! I bet I can find some great sweaters at a resale shop. The ugly Christmas sweater pillow is a GREAT idea. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Claire Armstrong
26th January 2017 at 2:49 pmThank you Melisa!
Liz W.
26th January 2017 at 1:40 amThese are super cute! What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing with us over at Funtastic Friday!
Claire Armstrong
26th January 2017 at 2:50 pmThank you and thanks for hosting!
Kim~madeinaday
24th January 2017 at 6:10 pmThese are adorable~ Love those mountains & the fish scale one! Pinned! Thanks for linking up at #MerryMonday!
Kim
Claire Armstrong
24th January 2017 at 7:12 pmThank you Kim, I think I’m going to give the fish scale one a go.
Cecilia MyThriftStoreAddiction
23rd January 2017 at 7:08 pmWhat a great collection of pillows, Claire. Thanks for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
23rd January 2017 at 9:04 pmCheers!
Helen at Pleasures of the NW
23rd January 2017 at 3:04 pmI love the bunny and the heart! Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!
Claire Armstrong
23rd January 2017 at 4:20 pmThank you, those too are very seasonal Valentine’s and Easter.
Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing and Crafting
23rd January 2017 at 2:37 pmI love sweater pillows and these ones are great! I’d never seen anything like the last one with the scales. Very cool! 🙂 Lisa
Claire Armstrong
23rd January 2017 at 4:20 pmThank you, the last one is very cool!
Petrina
22nd January 2017 at 9:26 pmOMG! What wonderful ideas, I love them all! My favorite is the mountain pillow. So creative! Thank you so much for sharing!
Claire Armstrong
23rd January 2017 at 7:35 amThank you so much, the Mountain pillows are my favourite too!
sahana
22nd January 2017 at 1:28 amThese are great ideas. Pinned! Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty . We would love to see you again next week.
Claire Armstrong
22nd January 2017 at 8:02 amThank you! I’ll be there next week.
Katy SkipTheBag
21st January 2017 at 4:16 pmThe fish scale one is my favorite, but they are all fun! Thanks for sharing on the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop!
Claire Armstrong
21st January 2017 at 5:27 pmThank you!
Mother of 3
19th January 2017 at 8:23 pmSuch cute sweaters! I have a cardigan of my grandfather’s that I try to wear but really it has never fit that well. This would be the perfect solution. Pinned!
Claire Armstrong
19th January 2017 at 11:47 pmThank you so much, you should make a pillow out of it for sure.
Janine
19th January 2017 at 5:30 pmI have so many favorite old sweaters that I want to sew into pillows! I love this post, now I’m inspired!
Claire Armstrong
19th January 2017 at 6:13 pmThank you, Janine.
Mary Vitullo
19th January 2017 at 4:19 pmSo much beautiful inspiration. Visiting from the Vintage Charm Link Party.
Claire Armstrong
19th January 2017 at 4:22 pmThank you so much.
Ann
19th January 2017 at 2:39 amLove those mountain pillows!
Claire Armstrong
19th January 2017 at 7:52 amThank you so much.
debbie
19th January 2017 at 12:01 amI have never heard of felting pillows. Love the valentine one so much. Also a big fan of the button down with the pocket. Good stuff!
Claire Armstrong
19th January 2017 at 7:53 amThank you, old wool sweaters are great for felting.
Jill
18th January 2017 at 6:01 pmLove the mountain pillows! Also love the arran cable jumper ones, wishing now that I’d kept the cardies Mum made me when I was little!
Jillxo
Claire Armstrong
18th January 2017 at 7:28 pmThank you, I hang on to all the families woolen jumpers now just in case.
Jane
18th January 2017 at 5:27 pmThanks for sharing my tutorial!
Claire Armstrong
18th January 2017 at 7:30 pmThank you, for a great tutorial.
Lisa
18th January 2017 at 3:39 pmI don’t think there is anything cozier than a sweater pillow. Thanks for sharing such great inspiration.
Lisa
Claire Armstrong
18th January 2017 at 7:30 pmThank you, especially if they are made from an old lambswool or cashmere jumper.
moois van mie
18th January 2017 at 3:34 pmthanks for the inspiration! I ‘m ging to dig in my closet, searching for sweaters 🙂
Claire Armstrong
18th January 2017 at 7:31 pmThank you, hope you find some suitable ones.