This sweater needs to be a pillow

[OhThat]

This is a favorite sweater sent to me by a friend.  She LOVES it, but her snooty friends make fun of her for wearing it (it's just for Christmas, no other time).  I offered to make it into a pillow for her and it just arrived today.  However, the cat is not centered, it's close to the top and I want to make a really cool pillow for her.  I can't knit, only sew.  The cat must be included.  Any suggestions??? Thanks!!!

[mafiosagrrl]

What I would do is- use the backside as a large front or back panel.  Cut the cat out in a square, large enough to applique onto the pillow.  Then combine the bottom portion of the front side with pieces of the sleeve, like panels.  So one side of the pillow is one solid square and the alternating side is a square of equal side made up of 3 or 4 vertical or horizontal pieces.  As long as the panel pieces are equal width it will look balanced.
Or you could up-cycle another sweater to have two squares of the same size. If the up-cycled sweater was a contrasting color, it might add a nice touch to the panel idea on the back.  Like black and red striped or something like that.  Hopefully this helps you!  Good luck, show us the pillow when you're done!

[BethieB]

That's a great suggestion!  I sat here thinking about it and couldn't come up with anything, so you rock M, lol.

I think using the cat as an applique is the only way you're going to be able to use it in the spot you want on the pillow.  And the stripey idea sounds adorable.

[huxtabio]

I concur with the above posts. It would be cute to pull in colors from the cat (the striped tail, or the green ornament, etc.) as the side panels. Boo on those snooty friends for making fun of her sweater!!

[fiferdee]

Here's a thought, cut it for the pillow, and use some sew on lettering, or something like it, to have a little wording under the cat!  There are several ways to do it, an you could put her name, the name of her cat, even just a little appliqué design, etc.  That will fill up the space at the bottom, and the sweater is mainly intact!!!  Good luck!