Rest easy with @GoodNites and this t-shirt turned pillow #RestEasySolutions #ad
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RestEasySolutions #CollectiveBias
My little boy is turning out to be not so little these days. He’ll be 5 in just a couple of weeks! We traveled this past weekend and my packing list did not go unnoticed – and how much it has changed over the past 5 years. His nighttime needs are changing and I made sure that we had his favorite blanket, one of his stuffed animals, a new pillow I up-cycled for him, favorite pajamas and GoodNites Bedtime Pants for extra reassurance.
I was weeding through some of his clothes, prepping them for consignment, and there are some that I just can’t bring myself to part with yet. It’s a little strange how I hold onto some outfits knowing he can’t wear them, and our daughter won’t wear them.
His Star Wars shirts are some of his favorites, and while he’s on the smaller side for his age, he’s definitely outgrown his 3T shirts. I found his R2D2 shirt and decided to give it a second life as a pillow. I figured a pillow would be fun on his bed! Little did I realize how convenient it was for traveling too.
What you need:
T-shirt
Knit or Cotton Fabric for the backing
Interfacing
Pillow stuffing
Scissors, thread
How to make it:
- You could cut a square out of the shirt, but I chose to cut the shape of my character. Leave about 2 inches around the edge for space to sew. Cut the same size fabric out of your knit fabric and the interfacing. Using a seam ripper, remove the hem (if you need added length) and the collar of the shirt. Iron on the interfacing/stabilizer. I added the interfacing to give the t-shirt some extra support (and in hopes that the shirt wouldn’t unravel when I sewed it.)
- Place the two “right” sides of your fabric together. Sew along the edges about an inch in on all sides and leave a 3-4 inch opening at the bottom of your pillow.
- Pull the fabric right size out, and stuff with your pillow stuffing.
- Hand sew the opening closed. In my case, I left a bottom corner open and sewed it closed.
When my son first saw what I was doing, he wondered why I was making him an orange shirt (the fabric I chose for the back). I explained his shirt no longer fit, and I was making a pillow. I finished the pillow the night before our trip and he was so excited to bring it along! It’s a perfect size for traveling.
My son has been potty trained since he was 2, but nighttime was always a little tougher. Bedwetting isn’t exactly something you can train a child out of, but most kids outgrow it over time. We’ve used GoodNites Bedtime Pants to help him gain confidence. The bedtime pants look and fit like real underwear and absorbent no matter what position he’s sleeping in. They’re made for kids 4 and older, and the designs are fun (my son was thrilled to see IronMan on the newest package.) I also love the GoodTimes Bed Mats – they’re simple to use and have easy-to-remove peel strips so they won’t shift while your child is sleeping. When the top sheet or comforter is pulled over, there’s nothing to see. The bed mats are also great for travel – they’re so thin to pack.
At this point, my son is pretty great at night. We limit fluids in the evenings, make sure he’s used the bathroom just before bedtime and that usually does the trick. He doesn’t have the confidence to not wear the GoodNites Bedtime Pants, so he wears them each night. When our schedules are varied over vacations, I find the bedtime pants and the bed mats are a nice back-up for just in case. It’s nice to have peace of mind that a hotel bed isn’t going to have to be changed during our stay and he’s not going to be embarrassed in case there is an accident.
I found everything easily at Walmart, and you should check their site to save $2 on your purchase at Walmart. The coupon will be available during certain periods, while supplies last. Be sure to check back for more chances to get the coupon.
It was fun seeing how excited my son was with his “new” pillow and how it’s made a home in his bed. Definitely keeping it in mind for future clothes!
Have you upcycled/recycled old clothes for yourself or for your child?
I’ve seen a lot of great upcycles over the years, but this one takes the cake. I LOVE this pillow.
What a neat upcycle. I like the way you cut in into the shape of the character. #client
I’ve upcycled T-shirts into pillows – but love that you shaped it like R2! Kenny Baker will be missed š
I love this recycled dhirt into a pillow. I wish I was more crafty-there are a couple of my tee shirts I’d love to recycle this way! I’m sure he will treasure it!
Oh I think you picked the perfect shirt for this. How fun! This is such a great way to upcycle clothes.
I had a t shirt pillow when I was younger. Such a cool idea!
What a great project! I can’t believe he’s almost 5! Wow!
A www what a cute tshirt upcycle!!!! Such a cute and fun project š
I hold onto some of my daughter’s outfits too, it’s really hard to give them away. I really like the idea of upcycling some of the small clothes! I think she will have a couple of new pillows soon. Thanks for a great idea!
That’s a cute pillow diy! My son has been potty trained since he was about 3 years old. We had a couple of accidents at night but mostly because he would drink right before bed. So we cut that off and also made sure to pee before bed.
What a clever idea! That new pillow is so cool.