Classy Columbus Designs: What can I make with a Thrift Store Shirt? {Part 2}

I decided to write this post in two sections, just because it was really two projects, AND it was getting late last night!!!

So, remember the thrift store shirt?

And remember the two fab results?

Well, I already detailed how to turn the sleeves into some easy, quick, wine gift bags here.

Today, I'll attempt to explain how I sewed these two pillows! Now, full disclosure.... I AM NOT A SEAMSTRESS. I am mostly self taught. (except for 6th grade home ec, which I remember very little of)

I did sew my little one an army dinosaur costume using a pattern last halloween and it didn't fall apart on him.

He wore it pretty much every day until Christmas. Kids. Gotta love em.

Ok, back to the pillows. I'm not sure I took the best pictures, and this may not be the most detailed tutorial, cause when I sew, I kinda shoot from the hip. But, that being said, these turned out better than I expected!

The first step was to iron that wrinkly shirt! I wanted to use the two pockets because these pillows are for my Big Boy Bedroom Makeover that I have yet to reveal, but was mentioned here.

I found some pillow inserts for $1.00 at a yard sale a few weekends ago, and she was giving the covers away for free because they had gotten some bleach stains on them. I took them and used those for the pattern instead of having to measure. I wanted a two tone pillow, so I cut two pieces of fabric equal sizes, put the right sides facing each other and sewed a line to form the front of the pillow.

Then, I unfolded it, and pressed the seam out. I never used to take the time to do the ironing part and trust me, it makes your life so much easier and your projects look so much cleaner.

So then I ended up with this:

And, I totally forgot to take pictures of the next few steps... so bear with my descriptions...

The back pieces were similar in sizes to cut, except I added an inch for the blue back pieces for the envelope closure overlap part. I wanted an envelope closure because lets face it, I can't sew a zipper into anything to save my life...

I used the existing hem from the shirt whenever possible to minimize the work on me. For the pieces that didn't have a hem already, I folded the fabric over about an inch and ironed, then hemmed. I matched the front part to the back, right sides faceing and pinned around.

Heres the beauty of making an envelope closure pillow: When you sew the front to the back, you get to just sew one big box! You turn it right side out through the opening in the back where you put the insert. Fab.

I didn't originally intend to make a flanged pillow, but I'm kinda glad I made the mistake and ended up having to... My pillow shams were HUGE when I turned them right side and put the pillow in. What happened? I was puzzled... Then I took a good look at my "pattern". Oops. It was flanged.

So, with the pillow right side out, all you do is measure in another inch (or whatever) and sew another big box right on the outside of the pillow. So easy!