Upcycled Sweater Pillows

Yay, I know I have not been around my blog lately.  Life has just been happening and my blog has taken a backseat.  But that does not mean I have not been creating.  The holiday season always seems to inspire me more than any other time of year.  I just don’t seem to have enough hours in the day to do all that I would like. So, I have learned to prioritize (okay, so it has taken me over 40 years to learn, but I am teachable) those things that I most want done.  These upcycled sweater pillows were on the of top the list.  I have made pillows from upcycled sweaters before.  You can see them here.  The cool thing about using sweaters that have been worn is that they have all of those little slubby balls and imperfections about them, making them perfect for a more vintage look.

I began my search for the deer pattern on Pinterest of course.  I searched deer pillows and found this pattern at Sew Homegrown in Japan. 

I downloaded and cut out her pattern in paper.  Before cutting out the pattern on the sweater, I applied a fusible web to the back side of the sweater to help with stability as well as adhering it to the main pillow piece making it easier to top stitch around the design. 

Here is one more tip I will give you free of charge.  When I am doing an applique, especially when working with a knit fabric, I place a piece of tissue paper under the fabric and stitch right through it.  This helps the feed dogs move more smoothly across the fabric and gives additional stability keeping the fabric from stretching out of proportion. Once you are finished stitching, you can pull the tissue paper off. 

Once I completed the deer pillow I knew that I needed a complementary pillow to accompany my new deer pillow.  Yes, of course a snowflake would be perfect.  I found the snowflake design here.

The white sweater for the deer was a much looser knit so it is a bit fuzzy, but I kind of like the look.

The sweater used for the snowflake was a tight cotton knit and ended up with a much cleaner cut.

The puff ball trim I found at Michaels.  It was a chain of the balls with edge, so I had to hand sew the trim.  I am not one to do a lot of hand sewing but the pillow really did call for this ball trim and I super happy to have taken the extra time.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House, The Lettered Cottage, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, 52 Mantels, Bloom, Adorned From Above, Hi Sugarplum, Savvy Southern Style, Yesterday on Tuesday, Clean and Sensible, Mom, On Timeout, One Project Closer's The Better Half

 

Comments

[Megan]

Oh, Judy. It is just so difficult to be your friend. You are amazing. :-)

[Ana Lopes]

Hi Judy,Gorgeous pillows!!! Love the colors and fabrics! Thanks so much for sharing the great tutorial! I'd love for you to visit my blog.
Happy day!
Hugs from Portugal,

Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

[Beth D.]

ok. I have to make these a priority for me, too! Thanks for the inspiration. These turned out great!

[Christina @ Floridays Mom]

Saw these on handy man, crafty woman...love them!!! Super cute and great idea.

[Debi Bolocofsky]

These are the cutest pillows. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this with everyone. It runs from Wednesday through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/12/fabric-covered-can-pen-and-pencil.html
Debi @ Adorned From Above

[T'onna]

Beautiful pillows!

T'onna
Submarine Sunday Link Party

[Hannah]

I'd love if you shared you beautiful upcycled sweater pillows with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/12/eco-kids-tuesday.html

[Amanda Pendley]

Lovely!! I'm really digging the reindeer pillow.

[Ellora @ Creatively Southern]

These are beautiful! It looks like there is so much work that went into it, but that might be because I can't sew. ;) I absolutely adore these pillows!!!

[Ashli]

Love these! Thanks for sharing, can't wait to try this myself!

[Steph @ Silver Boxes]

These are so lovely! They look so cozy!

~Steph @ Silver Boxes

[Bonnie]

Stopping by from the WOW party to see those wonderful pillows! They turned out great. I bought a cable knit sweater at Goodwill as well as a like new ugly pillow (to use as a form) for a total of $5 to make a pillow like I saw in Pottery Barn for $50! I never thought to do the applique on top. Too cute!

I understand about the prioritizing and being overwhelmed. I've learned a lot over the years but it never hurts to have a reminder.

Enjoy the Christmas season!

[Christina at I Gotta Create!]

Judy, I'm completely Smitten with these pillows!! Gorgeous. Pinning!

Thank you for partying with the Wildly Original Crowd.
<3 Christina at I Gotta Create!

[Dixie n Dottie]

These are lovely! Great job! Would love if you'd join our Countdown to Christmas link party! Hope to see you there! Have a great week! :)
http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.com/2012_12_04_archive.html

[Brittny]

Love these!! I especially adore the deer silhouette!!!

[Rondell]

Fantastic pillows, I love both but especially the deer one! I'm visiting from Finding Fabulous!

[Jocie@TheBetterHalf]

those turned out amazing! I am dying for a reindeer pillow!

You may have heard, but we are giving away a SIlhouette Cameo along with free ad space every week at our link party. Would love if you stopped by! http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/giveaway-and-the-humble-brag-link-party-10/

[Jen]

These pillows are gorgeous. You had some really great tips too, thank you.

http://amrsandamama.wordpress.com/

[claire]

Love these pillows- I have them on my Saturday favorites so come on by to check it out! Have a great weekend-Claire

[Sharon B.]

I love these! Saw them on Bless My Nest's Saturday Favorites. I have got to try these, thank you for sharing! I also like your festive fingernails. :) Sharon

[Tracie@MiddleClassModern]

These are just wonderful! I've been tempted to do something similar and you've both inspired me/set the bar high!

[Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline]

These are absolutely awesome....love them!

[SimplicityIn]

I've never tried appliqueing anything before, but I'm pinning this for when I feel brave enough to try it. Your pillows are adorable! Thanks for the tips!

[Carol ( Answer Is Chocolate)]

These are beautiful. I wanted to let you know I featured these as part of my link party wrap up today.

[Shanee]

I just love these! If only I could make myself follow your great tutorial and accomplish making some :) Thanks for sharing, visiting from BNOP.

[Carissa]

soo cute! i love the pom pom trim. these look so easy:)

[Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.]

Oh what pretty pillows!

[Erin Bassett]

Fantastic! Added to my must make list!!!

[Jennifer]

Very lovely! I have a Christmas shirt I need to make a pillow! Thanks for sharing at Show & Share, featuring these tomorrow!

[Kerri]

They turned out wonderfully!! WOW!

[Beth @ BandBBuildALife.com]

These came out beautifully! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Sherry]

Beautiful! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home and have a Merry Christmas!
Sherry

[Katie]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful pillows with A Crafty Soiree! I co-hostess this weekly linky party with Malia from Yesterday on Tuesday and I'm excited to let you know I've featured your project in the newest one. It will be up this Thursday at mid EST. Please come by and see it when you can and join us with more of your craft talents!

[Jody]

Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring post at Simple & Sweet Fridays. I love how the pillows turned out. So pretty!

Jody

[Danielle]

OMG so cute. I saw these on the link up and am so inspired to try something like this!

[Jocie@TheBetterHalf]

I would love to feature you tomorrow at the Humble Brag but you have to link back! Email me if you would like to be featured and I will be sure to include you. This was one of my absolute favorites!!!

[handymancraftywoman]

Congratulations! You've been featured on Handy Man, Crafty Woman's Wicked Awesome Wednesday. Please feel free to stop by the site to pick up your "I've been featured!" button. Thank you for sharing your sweater pillow tutorial.

[Heather]

These are amazing and so creative. Heather

[Jessica@SewHomegrown]

Great work!! I love your fabric/trim choices. Thanks for linking to me, hope you have a wonderful holiday season!!

[T'onna]

Hello Judy! I featured your pillows @ Submarine Sunday #11. Please stop by and grab a featured button, and I hope you'll link up again soon!!!

T'onna

[Sandra at Thistle Cove Farm]

the tip re. tissue paper underneath is nice, thanks!~ love the pillows; did you felt them first?

[paintergal]

I love these! Thanks for the great idea.

[Debi Bolocofsky]

Judy,
Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop. I can't wait to see what you share at this weeks party.
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Joye and Myrna @ The Busy Bee's
Linda @ With A Blast

[Bonnie]

Your Upcycled Sweater Pillows have been featured at Our Secondhand House today as part of a DIY Christmas Decoration post. I hope you will stop by and check it out.

http://www.oursecondhandhouse.com/2013/11/diy-christmas-decoration-inspiration.html