How to Make the Pottery Barn Knock Off Sweater Pillow
Yesterday I shared my Pottery Barn knock off sweater pillow. Here are the super easy directions for how to make it. If you’ve never sewn anything before, this is the project for you.
Start with any old sweater. Mine was $3.99 from the Goodwill. I washed it in lavender soap when I got home, so now it smells good too. My pillow form was 14″x14″. Pillow forms go 50% off at JoAnn Fabrics, so keep an eye out for a good sale, or use a coupon.
I cut the arms off my sweater so it would be easier to work with. I’m also going to use the sleeves for another project, so I wanted to set them aside. When I make pillows with decorator fabric, I leave a 1/4″ around the edge for a seam allowance, cutting a 14 1/2″ inch square. I wasn’t sure how much of a seam allowance I’d need for this project or if the sewing would be bulky. I started big, with 2 15″ squares, just to make sure the sweater wasn’t too tight and pulling. No one looks good in a sweater that’s too tight and pulling. This sweater wasn’t bulky, so I ended up cutting two 14″ squares. I still used a 1/4″ seam allowance. The sweater stretched just enough and wasn’t saggy. Lesson learned: thin knit sweaters don’t need much seam allowance because they stretch.
I pinned the right sides together and sewed all the way around, leaving about a 5 inch hole. After flipping the sweater right side out, I stuffed the pillow form inside and hand stitched the bottom.
Hello, Pottery Barn Knock Off Pillow!
Ok, neighbors, if you want to give it a try and don’t have a sewing machine you are welcome to bring your sweater and pillow form over and I’ll walk you through it. It takes no more than 10 minutes. (No, you can’t use that liquid-stitching-glue stuff… you know who you are.)
Happy Sewing!
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The Comments
Samantha
I love this! A sewing machine is on my wish list and if I get one, I am definitely trying this! I will use my son's old sweater that no longer fits him to make on for his bed.
Kim
this is awesome… definately on my to do list! thanks for the tutorial!!
Deserae
WOW….your version of the PB pillow looks GREAT! I will have to make one for our bed now since you made it look so easy….thanks for the idea and inspiration!!!!!
~Des
Grace @ Sense and Simplicity
I've been saving a ribbed sweater to make one of these pillows for ages now. I really need to get myself going on the project. I love yours.
MrsJenB
How awesome! I had never heard of this before and I'm so glad I came across this tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing, now I've just got to try this myself.
And it helps that I, seriously, have that exact same sweater and don't wear it anymore! haha
Elizabeth
Love it! So simple and clean. You did a great job! Would love for you to visit me and link up to Made with Love Monday at Sew Chatty! http://sewchatty.blogspot.com
Pamela
Such a nice tutorial. I need to try it. I love how simple yet beautifully elegant.
Tara @ Tara Being Tara
So cute – and so much easier than it looks!
Carrie @ Dittle Dattle
I love PB and love a great knock-off! Fabulous tutoria.
Thank you for linking up to the first ever "Amaze Me Monday" blog party.
I'm your newest follower!
Farah Muzaffar
Cute, practical and CREATIVE work Becca like you have always… your this project provoke me to find some sweaters…
In this chilled weather they give you such a warm cuddle……. very great work…
Can you please spare a little bit of your time for my new post, its something different I hope you enjoyed
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah
Pattie T.
I actually have a PB sweater pillow, but I love it so much I was wanting more. Now I can make my own. Heaven knows I have enough of my own old sweaters to use. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style
Aw shucks. I like my glue! That looks pretty easy and it looks great. Thanks so much for joining in again this week!
Olive Cooper
Much better than paying the PB prices and you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Beautiful and well done. You can buy pillows at GW to use as pillow forms also.
Darlene - Our Creative Life
I wish you were my neighbor so I could have you teach me or I could hire you to do this for me! Are you sure I can't use liquid sew?
1 Funky Woman
This is one of the best knock offs! I wish I lived closer! I'm gonna try this though or better yet, I'll have my sister make some for me, lol! I linked up at Savy Southern Style! Hope you can stop by!
Megan
New follower!
Meredith
I think we made pillows out of identical sweaters! Great job on yours – I love that cozy Pottery Barn look. 🙂
http://welcometoheardmont.com/2010/03/mental-health-day-results-or-how-to-cover-pillows/
(and scroll down)
Carmie of the Single Nester
Looks so warm and cuddly! I can't wait to try this. I have the perfect sweater to use!
~Lavender Dreamer~
This looks so pretty and perfect for the winter months! Great idea! ♥
Lisa
I am dying for those PB pillow covers – they look so cozy! Thank you for this tutorial…..I have to check out my thrift stores and see what I can find!
Karena
Becca, this is just genius and it looks very expensive! Are you in the Kansas City area?
Do come and enter my Giveaway from Fifi Flowers valued at $200!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Pondside
Wow! I love this sort of thing and can imagine just where I'd put this pillow.
I've come over from Kim's Savvy Southern Style, and I'll be back!
Kathy
Your sweater pillow is really pretty-You could sell thsee pillows -wish I was your neighbor
Oh I like your new backgroud for your blog 🙂
Sadie
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I saw some pillows like this from Martha Stewart at macys but they were still $30 and I'm….thrifty. 🙂 I thought I could make them myself but was a little leary how they would turn out. Thanks again for sealing the deal for me!!