Upcycling Old Throw Pillowcases with Heat Transfer Vinyl
I love a good throw pillow, and I love them even more when I can swap out the pillowcases throughout the year! I've had these old throw pillowcases from IKEA since moving out on my own, but the waste-reducing side of me just can't seem to part with these faded, worn and stained pillowcases just yet. So, I thought I'd give it a go at upcycling these old throw pillowcases with heat transfer vinyl for the Halloween season!
What You'll Need
- Pillowcases
- Heat transfer vinyl
- Silhouette Portrait or Cameo (or equivalent + cutting software and supplies) OR a craft knife
- Iron
Here's What You Do
Start with clean throw pillowcases. I've heard that Dawn dish soap or white vinegar can help with removing the toughest of old stains, but these have proven they've got no better place to be. Instead, I'm hoping that my vinyl designs will be enough to cover and/or distract from them (or add to it).
Find designs online to use for your cut-outs. I go through the Silhouette Design Store, lovesvg.com, Etsy, and Google for my personal projects at home. This was a combination of all of the above using images I had saved in my personal library from long ago. Any design you use will be perfect for your decor!
Cut the designs out of your vinyl using your craft machine. Be sure to mirror your images before cutting them or your design could look backwards when you iron them on.
Before ironing on your design, be sure to iron your throw pillowcase to smooth out any wrinkles that can ruin your work of art. Some brands of transfer vinyl also benefit from the fabric being heated up before the vinyl is placed down. Unfortunately, I'm not 100% sure what brand I'm using since some of this vinyl was gifted while other pieces were from my leftover stash. You can check TikTok and Instagram for tips and tricks on the specific brand you're using for this product. After weeding out the excess material, iron on your design to the throw pillowcase. Peel off the clear plastic backing once vinyl had securely adhered to the fabric.
Add your inner pillow and you're ghoul to go!
I absolutely love how these pillowcases came out, and so does my family. We can use these in the living room or the bedrooms for more touches of spookiness! I'm so happy I was able to salvage these pieces rather than donate or trash them away, while also adding to my ever-growing collection of Halloween decor and not spending a penny to do so.
What designs will you be putting on your upcycled throw pillowcases? This is such a great way to add a personal touch to gifted and thrifted pillowcases that need a fresh breath of life! I can't wait to see all of your designs. Be sure to tag me on TikTok and Instagram (@withlovejoey)!
