DIY Sweater Pillow: Easy Upcycling Tutorial for Recycling Old Sweaters into Cozy Home Décor

Written ByLynn Published
Jump to How-To-Card Print How-To-Card

There’s something so satisfying about giving old clothes a second life — especially when they turn into something cozy for your home.

Recently, I found three sweaters at the thrift store that had so much character I just couldn’t leave them behind. My plan? Turn them into a DIY pillow cover.

Spoiler alert: the project didn’t turn out quite how I originally imagined, but I love the finished result even more.

A white upholstered armchair with a DIY Sweater Pillow featuring a red and white geometric pattern and tassels sits on a wooden floor next to a round side table in a cozy living room.

On my blog Living Large in A Small House, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. You can find my full Disclosure Policy HERE

The Handcrafted Society

Each month, I along with a group of very talented ladies create a project of our own where we repurpose a particular item.

This month we were all challenged to create something by upcycling either or a sweater or boots.

Don’t forget to check out the creations from the rest of the ladies. You’ll find their links at the end of this post.

Three maroon and pink sweaters, perfect for a DIY Sweater Pillow project, one knit, one solid with a zipper, and one with fringed edges, are draped over the back of a chair on a blue patterned rug.

My Thrift Store Finds

I recently walked out of the thrift store with:

  • A cranberry sweater with a cowl neck and buttons.
  • A cranberry and gray poncho with fringe and a big metal zipper up the front.
  • A cranberry and white patterned sweater with a fun design across the front.

In my head, I thought I’d incorporate the buttons, fringe, or zipper all into a pillow cover, with the patterned sweater as the star of the show. But as often happens with DIY projects, my vision shifted as I worked.

A rectangular maroon DIY Sweater Pillow with fringed edges and a central panel featuring a white and maroon geometric diamond pattern, placed on a light gray couch.

The Pillow Design That Came Together

In the end, I kept things very simple. Instead of using all the features, I went with just a few key details:

  • The cranberry fabric and fringe from the poncho for the body of the pillow.
  • A strip of the patterned sweater as a decorative band across the middle, covering the seam where the cranberry pieces joined.
  • White duck fabric that I had on hand for the back

The result is a long lumbar pillow with fringe on each side and a little extra style from the patterned band. I love that it’s subtle but still has those thrifted sweater details that make it unique.

Two pieces of red fabric with different shades and textures are stitched together along a visible seam in the center, creating a DIY Sweater Pillow. The fabric rests on someone’s lap, and part of their tan, textured clothing is visible.

I didn’t use the cranberry cable knit sweater with the button at all for the project and I cut the zipper off the poncho and threw it away.

How I Made It

The construction was really straightforward:

A white upholstered armchair with a DIY Sweater Pillow featuring a red and white geometric pattern and tassels sits on a wooden floor next to a round side table in a cozy living room.
Print

DIY Sweater Pillow

Turn thrifted sweaters into a one-of-a-kind lumbar pillow! Using a mix of cozy knits, fringe, and a patterned band, this simple hand-sewn project adds warmth and personality to your home décor.
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 1 lumbar pillow
Calories
Cost $20

Equipment

Ingredients

  • Old sweater (s)
  • Remnant fabric for the back
  • pillow insert

Instructions

Cut List

  • Front body panels: Two sweater rectangles that, together, cover the full front (plus ½” seam allowance on the cut sides). I used the fringe pieces, but I DID NOT measure the fringe as part of the panel width.
  • Pattern band: 1 strip from the patterned sweater long enough to run across the middle of the front, width to taste (mine was wide enough to fully cover the center seam).
  • Back (tube style): 1 piece of fabric that is 1/2" wider than the pillow on all four sides.

Instructions

  • Step 1: Prep the sweaters: Wash and dry the sweaters in preparation of creating the pillow
  • Step 2: Cut the front pieces: When I cut the zippers off the poncho and then cut the gray strip off, I had a perfect rectangle piece that just happened to be the right size for the height of the pillow. It was just too long. I cut out the sweater material that I didn't need from the center, and I was left with 2 pieces of sweater with the fringe on both ends. I hand sewed the center seam and cut off the excess fabric.
    Tip: If the knit wants to wiggle, pin inside your cut lines before cutting.
    A pair of scissors cutting through the hem of a burgundy knit fabric on a glass surface, perfect for crafting your own DIY Sweater Pillow.
  • Step 3: Join the front center seam (hand-sew)
    Place the two front rectangles right sides together. Hand-sew a straight seam where they meet in the middle (a small backstitch works great). Open and press/flatten gently with your hands.
    Two pieces of red fabric with different shades and textures are stitched together along a visible seam in the center, creating a DIY Sweater Pillow. The fabric rests on someone’s lap, and part of their tan, textured clothing is visible.
  • Step 4: Add the patterned band
    Cut a neat strip from the patterned sweater long enough to run across the middle of the front. Center it over that seam and hand-stitch around the edges to secure. This is decorative and it hides the join.
    Neat finish: Use a small whipstitch or ladder stitch, so the stitches disappear into the knit
    A close-up of a maroon and beige knit textile with a folded corner, revealing textured patterns and a diamond-shaped design—perfect inspiration for a DIY Sweater Pillow. Striped carpet and chair legs are visible in the background.
  • Step 5: Hem the duck cloth overlap (machine-sew only this)
    Press a narrow ¼” fold on both narrow sides of the fabric and stitch that hem on the machine. That’s the only thing I used my machine for.
    A close-up view of a sewing machine stitching a piece of white fabric—perfect for your next DIY Sweater Pillow project. The needle and presser foot are visible, guiding the fabric as it moves through the machine.
  • Step 6: Build the pillow tube
    Hand stitch the band to cover the fringed front pieces center seam. I stitched across the top and bottom and then just tacked it down with a few stitches on the body of the main sweater piece.
    Next I laid this fringed piece with the band—band side up, on a table. I then laid the duck fabric, with the finished side down, on top of the sweater piece. Next I pinned both of the long sides together.
    A close-up of a white fabric with fine texture, bordered by maroon fringe on the right. This DIY Sweater Pillow rests on a glass table with a striped blue and white rug underneath.
  • Step 7: Sew the pillow
    I handstitched both long sides to create a tube sleeve for the pillow
    A close-up of a hand sewing beige lace-like fabric to red knit material with a needle and white thread, creating a DIY Sweater Pillow. A box of tissues and patterned rug are visible in the background.
  • Step 8: Insert the pillow
    A close-up of a maroon knit scarf with fringe ends draped over a light-colored surface, possibly an ironing board—ideal for your next DIY Sweater Pillow project—with a blue patterned rug visible in the background.

Because my sewing machine doesn’t allow me to drop the feed dogs all the way down, I ended up hand-sewing most of the project. The only part I used my machine for was sewing a neat ¼-inch hem along the raw side of the duck fabric.

I have a heavy-duty Bernina sewing machine that would have worked beautifully for sewing this knit fabric, however, I was at my daughter’s when I created this project and just had my lightweight Brother machine with me.

The Finished Look

It’s not a complicated pillow by any means, but that’s the beauty of it. The mix of sweater textures, the cozy fringe, and the unexpected pop of pattern make it feel special. And knowing it came from thrift store finds gives it that little extra charm.

A light beige armchair with a rectangular maroon DIY Sweater Pillow featuring fringed edges and a central white geometric pattern, placed on a wooden floor.

Final Thoughts

Upcycling sweaters into pillows is such a fun way to experiment with textures and designs. Even if your project doesn’t end up exactly how you imagined, you’ll probably love it even more for the surprises along the way.

Next time you’re at a thrift store, keep an eye out for sweaters with interesting details — buttons, fringe, patterns, or zippers — because you never know what kind of pillow they might become.

A watercolor illustration of a blue watering can filled with pink and blue flowers and green leaves, perfect for adding a touch of "Living Large in A Small House" charm, set against a transparent background.

Become a Friend of Living Large

And be the first to see affordable decorating ideas, easy recipes, gardening tips and tricks, along with great organizing and entertaining ideas.

Peace and Love,

A blue background with hand-drawn elements sets the stage. A heart symbol flanked by two lines adds charm, while the text "Lynn xoxo" in cursive whispers a promise to make food prep easier and more delightful.
Horizontal decorative divider with a detailed floral illustration in the center, flanked by symmetrical ornamental lines and small stylized motifs on each side, all in a muted blue-gray color on a black background.

The Handcrafted Society

Be sure to visit my friends and see what they did with their glass projects!

Three round ornaments decorated with burlap, lace, and brown velvet bows rest on a plaid fabric background. One ornament has mini pinecones and greenery, while the others feature intricate lace patterns.
Thistlekey Lane
Three knit fabric pumpkins with felt leaves and wooden stems sit next to a white real pumpkin on a rustic wooden surface, surrounded by potted plants and autumn decor.
WM Design House
A black coffee mug on a coaster sits next to a clear-wrapped package of cookies with a handwritten label that reads "Handmade With Love and Well." The background is a dark tabletop.
South House Designs
A pale green pumpkin sits beside a vase wrapped in a knitted cover, filled with pink and white roses and green leaves, set against a decorative white background.
The Crowned Goat
A logo featuring the text "Handcrafted" in a stylish, cursive font overlaying the large letters "IIS" with the smaller word "Society" underneath, all set against a dark background, evokes the charm of DIY fabric wall art.
A white mug filled with coffee sits on a patterned surface, wrapped in a cozy knitted cover and decorated with a small wooden leaf and twine bow.
White Lilac Farmhouse
A necklace with a strand of pearls and green velvet ribbon, tied in a bow, featuring a rectangular pendant engraved with a leaf design, lies on a white marble surface.
Amy Sadler Designs
A decorative ghost figure made from beige lace fabric with black button eyes stands under a glass dome, surrounded by dried pampas grass and neutral-toned decor.
An Organized Season
A beige armchair with a maroon rectangular pillow featuring a white and maroon geometric pattern in the center and tasseled edges, placed on a wooden floor.
Living Large in a Small House
Horizontal decorative divider with a detailed floral illustration in the center, flanked by symmetrical ornamental lines and small stylized motifs on each side, all in a muted blue-gray color on a black background.

Meet Me

My name is Lynn. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq. ft. home with my Handy husband, Keith.

I’m an open book about my life on my blog. You can find out more about me by visiting my “About Me” page.

about Me
Horizontal decorative divider with a detailed floral illustration in the center, flanked by symmetrical ornamental lines and small stylized motifs on each side, all in a muted blue-gray color on a black background.

No posts

Horizontal decorative divider with a detailed floral illustration in the center, flanked by symmetrical ornamental lines and small stylized motifs on each side, all in a muted blue-gray color on a black background.
Horizontal decorative divider with a detailed floral illustration in the center, flanked by symmetrical ornamental lines and small stylized motifs on each side, all in a muted blue-gray color on a black background.

Featured

  • Logo for "the spruce" featuring a simple outline of a house in light blue with an open door and neutral Halloween decor elements, followed by the text "the spruce" in a stylized gray font.
  • Black and white logo featuring large "ORC" letters above "ONE ROOM CHALLENGE," capturing the bold spirit of the One Room Challenge event.
  • Black text logo reads "Taste of Home" in a serif font on a white background, evoking the warmth of a Farmhouse cottage.
  • A minimalist green line drawing forms the outline of a house, with the words "re design" in bold black text inside the shape—perfect inspiration for your next Saturday Shopping adventure.
  • The image displays the words "BOLD JOURNEY" in large capital letters—"BOLD" in a bold, dark red font and "JOURNEY" in a smaller black font on a white background—capturing the excitement of a Saturday Shopping adventure.
  • The image features the word "WANDER" in large, bold letters, evoking a sense of recollection. Below it, in smaller text, are the phrases: "LIVE WELL | EAT WELL | TRAVEL WELL." The entire text is set against a plain, light background.
  • Hometalk logo featuring a blue house icon to the left of the word "Hometalk" in black, rounded font—perfect inspiration for sharing cozy recipes like Potato Broccoli and Leek Soup.
  • The word "SIMPLIFY" is written in all uppercase letters, with the letter "I" and "L" replaced by the number "1," on a teal rectangular background—perfect inspiration for anyone looking to make a faux topiary and keep things straightforward.
  • Orange logo with a house-shaped icon containing a white fork and spoon, followed by the word "Foodtalk" in bold orange text—your go-to source for tips like how to use Javy Coffee for Spring Coffee Drinks.
  • Boutique Rugs logo featuring a red geometric pattern beside the words "BoutiqueRugs" in bold black and gray text on a white background, perfect for pairing with stylish Peel and Stick Wallpaper in your home decor.
  • Logo with two interlocking heart outlines on the left, followed by the text "LOVE vs DESIGN" in a modern, clean font—perfect for a brand specializing in stylish Peel and Stick Wallpaper.
  • The image shows the text "CANVASREBEL" in a clean, dark blue sans-serif font on a white background, evoking the spirit of Living Large in A Small House with its minimalist yet bold design.
  • Colonial Candle logo featuring a circular emblem with overlapping "C" letters above the brand name "COLONIAL CANDLE" in uppercase serif font—perfect inspiration for cozy moments, like learning how to use Javy Coffee for Spring Coffee Drinks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

10 Comments

  1. Michelle | Thistle Key Lane says:

    Love the cute pillow Lynn! I’m glad you pointed out how your original ideas, change as you get into a project. Not once have any of my projects go as planned. Some turn out better, and some never see the light of day LOL! Pinning for later!

    Reply

    1. It never seems to go as planned! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one.

      Reply

  2. Love how you upcyled a sweater into this fabulous pillow, Lynn. This color has been so popular in all the fashion blogs this year so it’s fun to see how you’ve customized it for home decor. I love that you can use it from now until the end of the year too! Hugs, CoCo

    Reply

    1. I’m not a big fan of red, this really is a big stretch for me.

      Reply
  3. Wendy McMonigle says:

    What a wonderful idea, Lynn! I love how your pillow turned out. It’s so true—sometimes we start with one plan in mind, and it ends up completely different, but even better than we imagined. I’m so glad you joined in on the fun. And I had to laugh that everyone picked sweaters and not a single pair of boots!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the kind words! I should have picked boots 😂

      Reply

  4. Lynn, your pillow turned out gorgeous. Love that you found a fringed sweater. How perfect to use it for a pillow.

    Reply

  5. Hi Lynn! I adore how you turned sweaters into a comfy, cozy pillow perfect for fall into winter! The fringe is so fun, and the patterned piece pairs perfectly with it. I think it turned out fabulous!

    Reply