It’s funny how we can get super attached to an article of clothing, isn’t it? Sometimes you know that you can’t wear it anymore, but you just can’t bear to get rid of it. This was the case with my son and his banana sweatshirt. It was way too small for him, but he outright refused to let me put it in the donation box. So I decided to repurpose it and make a neck pillow from a sweatshirt!

Can you believe that in just 10 minutes I turned this outgrown sweatshirt…

…into this super comfy neck pillow?

Using this neck pillow is like getting hugged by your favorite clothes! It’s perfect for cozying up with at home, for a college student in a dorm room, or for bringing on a long car or plane trip. Actually, this pillow now lives in our car and gets used when we are travelling.

So, would you like to learn how to make a neck pillow from a sweatshirt, too? It’s so easy and is a really fun way to save outgrown clothing that you’re emotionally attached to! Let’s get started!

Materials:

• One outgrown child’s size long-sleeved sweatshirt. This was for age 6.
• One square pillow insert about the size of the sweatshirt torso
• Stuffing
• Basic sewing supplies (you can even sew this by hand!)
• Snaps (either sew-on snaps or those with a snap press)

Before you start, make sure that the pillow insert fits well in the body part of the sweatshirt without going too much into the sleeves. Remove the insert before you proceed.

How to make a neck pillow from a sweatshirt:

1. Position the sweatshirt flat, with the shoulder seams at the top, and sew the neckline closed. For best results, sew along existing seams (shown by the red arrows).

2. Sew the two sleeve seams closed. Again, try to sew along existing seams (shown by the grey arrows).

3. Fill each arm with stuffing, then sew the wrists closed, leaving the wristbands free and unstuffed (shown by arrows).

4. Put the pillow insert inside the sweatshirt body to check the fit, remove it, then attach snaps to the bottom of the sweatshirt and the sleeve wristbands.

When adding the snaps to the wrists, put at least two male parts on one wristband and the same number of female parts on the other wristband, making sure that they match up so that they can snap together in a “hug”.

When adding the snaps to the bottom, put the female snaps on the front and the male snaps on the back (or vice versa), again taking care that they will fit together and lay flat when closed.

Stick the pillow insert back into the sweatshirt torso, snap the bottom closed, and you’re done!

Time to snap it shut and lean back to relax, while feeling the reassurance of a familiar hug!

It almost looks like there’s someone inside the sweatshirt, doesn’t it?! That’s what makes it so comfortable, because it feels like a hug from a person!

And best of all, your little person will enjoy it even more when you make a neck pillow from a sweatshirt that he loves and doesn’t want to give up!

The only issue might be when his big sister snags it to use in her loft bed! Haha!

If you love neck pillows and repurposing old clothes AND cats, check out this oldie but goodie, my cat-shaped neck pillow with free pattern and tutorial!

Prefer something a little more classic, while still upcycling old clothing? Try these pillow covers with an appliqued leaf motif, made from felted wool sweaters! There’s a free template for the leaf design!

If you want to make a neck pillow from a sweatshirt sometime, click here to save this tutorial on Pinterest!