Pillowcase Tutorial

Auditioning fabrics for pillow case combinations. (The green pillowcase and the yellow doll pillowcase are finished projects.)

Here's an oldie but goodie. I'm going to be demonstrating this easy pillowcase method for the ladies in my guild so that they can make pillowcases for charity. If you have not seen this method, you should give it a try. It is so easy and produces a pillowcase with all seams enclosed! It has been around for several years, but I have no idea who came up with this method.

(The pillow on the left is not made yet, but I thought you should see how cute it would be for a little boy!)

French Seam Pillowcase

(One Standard Size)

Main body of pillowcase – fabric cut 27”(length) x 42” (width). (The 27” can be adjusted if you adjust the width of the wide band. The total length of  both pieces should be 40”. )

Contrasting fabric for wide band – piece 13”(length) x 42” (width)(again, you can adjust this as long as the total length of the main body and the wide band is 40” before folding and sewing.)

Trim – This can actually be as narrow as you want. Instructions are for a piece that is 2” x 42”.

Instructions:

1.    Lay your main body fabric right side up. Press the trim piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and right sides out. Place along the top edge of the pillowcase, raw edges together. Baste in place using a scant ¼”.

2.    Lay the wide band piece right side up and place the pillowcase body and trim right side down on top, matching up the top edges. Pin in place.

3.    Roll the width of the pillowcase body up toward the top of the wide band.

4.    Pull the wide band up and over the roll and match the raw edges. 

5.    Pin in place and sew together using a ½” seam allowance. Backstitch at each end to secure your seams.

Pull the rolled pillowcase body through the  “tube” opening.

6.    Press well and fold in half widthwise with right sides out! Sew along the side and bottom, using a  ¼” seam.

7.    Now, turn pillowcase wrong sides out. Press. Sew the side and bottom again using a ½” seam. (You are making a French seam which encloses the raw edges inside.) 

8.    Turn right sides out and press well.

You’re finished!

You may want to try lace, tatting, cording, or rick rack as trim in place of the fabric strip.

You can use pieced or embroidered fabric for your wide band.

Use your imagination and have fun!