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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.

DIY Sweater Pillow

Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 1 lumbar pillow
Calories:
Cost: $20
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.
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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.