This project is a thoughtful way to remember someone very special. It will bring many memories for years to come.
I created these instructions after my dear friend asked me to make these for her 3 grandchildren to remember her late husband, their grandfather. I asked for extra dress shirts in case I had a disaster. Really, I intended on secretly making my friend one and one for each of her daughters. The day she came to pick them up, they were placed in a row on my loveseat and she gasped and cried. This was a job worth figuring out, so I thought I would share this with you!
A confident beginner project requiring a few hours that can be done in small increments of time.
Janome Supplies Required
Materials needed: Janome Sewing/Embroidery Machine
16 inch pillow form
Men’s collared shirt
18 inch zipper
Sewing supplies (ruler, thread, stabilizer(if embroidering), etc.
Instructions
Let’s get started!
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Lay the buttoned shirt on a flat surface right side up. I used a men’s fitted shirt that was a 15 ½ neck. If you are using a smaller shirt, you may need to use a smaller pillow. Next, you’ll see why.
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Tuck the pillow form inside the shirt as we are checking to be sure the shirt is wide enough to accommodate the pillow form once we cut the sleeves off. Okay? Good. Remove the pillow form and set aside.
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Now we’re ready to create!
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CAREFULLY cut each sleeve off at the shoulder seam. Put the sleeves aside.
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With the shirt laying on a flat surface, smoothed out, right side facing up, measure from the top of the shoulder on the shirt down
17 ¼ inches. Measure across the center (body) of the shirt to measure 16 ½ inches wide. Cut front and back as one piece, trimming off the excess but SAVE the bottom of the shirt back and front. We’ll use it later. Now you have what looks like a shirt with a collar, button placket, but no sleeves or bottom. Perfect!
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Start at the bottom of the front of the shirt and stitch down the placket following the manufacturer’s stitching up to the collar buttonhole. This keeps the pillow from bulging later. On the back of the shirt if there are box pleats, stitch them down also.
***If you would like to embroider a remembrance quote, you could do it now on the shirt pocket being careful for placement. Hand stitching or built in stitches would be great also!
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Take one of the bottom pieces you just cut off and measure one piece that will equal 10 ½ WIDE x 6 ½ HIGH. ( I cut mine on the bias to add interest.) I serged these edges but you can zigzag them. Drape this piece over the top of the pillow form positioning it with the 10 ½ WIDE portion over the top of the pillow form with 3 ¼ inches going down the front and 3 ¼ inches going down the back. Hand stitch this right to the pillow form. When your pillow cover is completed, you won’t see a bare pillow form peeking out at the neck of the shirt.
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I used a longer than needed zipper,(I find it is easier to work with) and applied it at the bottom of the shirt front and then the shirt back.
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Turn the shirt inside out, right sides together and stitch the sides closed. You could serge these edges also, if you wish.
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Turn the pillow cover right side out through the open neck opening and give it a good press. Unzip your pillow cover, insert your pillow form with the fabric covered top at the neck edge. Adjust and you are done! Stand back and admire your creation that will bring such joy!