How to Make a Photo Memory Pillow

Start with any size pillow, and decorate with your memories through photos.

Add a touch of personality to your couch or bed with a photo memory pillow. You can shed new light on an old pillow or make your own custom pillow. Simple homemade pillow designs require no sewing; try woven bands or knotted fleece pillows if you want to start from scratch on this project. Capture a picture-perfect moment with your pillow or make a collage of photos, and give your pillow on a special occasion to someone you love.

Things You'll Need

• Photo
• Digital camera or scanner
• Fusible cotton transfer sheets
• Inkjet printer
• Scissors
• 2 12-by-12-inch pieces of cotton fabric
• Iron and ironing board, or flat surface
• 50 straight pins
• Cotton or feathers
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Download your photo from a digital camera or scanner onto your computer. Insert a sheet of fusible cotton transfer paper into your inkjet printer according to the directions on the transfer paper packaging. Print the photo onto the paper and trim around the outline or in a square shape around the photo.

2. Place the piece of cotton fabric on a flat surface or ironing board with the side to which you are going to add the photo facing upward. Heat up the iron according to the directions on the transfer paper packaging. Arrange the photo on the fabric in the position you want the finished product, and iron the photo onto the fabric.

3. Lay the two pieces of fabric on a flat surface with the sides that will be on the outside of the pillow facing each other. Insert the straight pins at the 1-inch inseam around the four edges to hold the fabric together. Trim any excess fabric so the edges are equal all the way around the square.

4. Sew around the edges of the seam at the 1/2-inch inseam around three sides of the pillow with the needle and thread. Sew up the fourth side, leaving enough of an opening for stuffing the pillow. Flip the pillow right-side-out so the printed sides are facing outward.

5. Stuff the pillow with cotton or feathers, making sure to fill each of the four corners. Sew up the remaining opening. Trim any pieces of exposed cotton or feathers from the edges of the pillow.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your pillow as soft or hard as you want by adding the appropriate amount of stuffing.

• If your stitches are not close enough together, you risk losing your stuffing.

References

• Kaboose: Homemade Pillow
• Disney Family Fun: Photo -- Collage T-shirt
• "Martha Stewart Living"; Picture Pillow How-To; May 2006

Resources

• Disney Family Fun: T-shirt Pillow