Learn How to Make a Pillowcase

Pillowcases can be a fun project to sew, even for beginners and kids! Now, I’ll show you how to make a pillowcase in just 15 minutes using either a regular sewing machine or a serger.


Make a new set of pillowcases for your bed, stitch some up for a gift or gather your friends and sew pillowcases for charity!

Materials:

• 3/4 yard of the main fabric 

• 1/4 yard of coordinating fabric for the cuff 

• 2″ x width of fabric (from selvage to selvage) strip of solid fabric for accent, pressed in half lengthwise to make a 1″ folded strip 

Directions:

1: LAY OUT THE FABRICS FOR YOUR PILLOWCASE.

Layer the fabrics in front of you : Place the 9″ coordinating fabric right-side up, on top of that, place the 27″ main fabric right-side up, aligning the top raw edges. On the very top, place the folded accent strip, so that the raw edges are aligned with the top raw edges of the other pieces.

2: ROLL UP THE FABRIC

Starting at the bottom and working your way up, begin to roll the 27″ main fabric panel into a little tube or “burrito.” Stop rolling when you get about to the center of the 9″ coordinating fabric. Double check to make sure this is what you see. The coordinating fabric should be on the bottom, right-side up. The main fabric will be on top of that, right-side up. The folded accent strip will be on top of that, raw edges aligned with other raw edges.

3: FOLD UP THE BOTTOM FABRIC

Next, take the bottom of the coordinating fabric, and bring it up over the burrito. Align the raw edges with the raw edges of all the other fabrics. Pin in place along the raw edges, making sure to trap the skinny accent strip as well.

4: SEW ALONG THE RAW EDGES

Sew with a 1/4″ seam along the raw edges, or you may use a serger as pictured.

5: UNROLL THE BURRITO AND PRESS

Begin to tug at the fabric inside the burrito, pulling it out of the tube.

6: TRIM TO SIZE

It’s time to trim off the selvages and get your pillowcase to the right size! First, trim the pillowcase so it is 28″ from the accent strip to the opposite end. Then, remove the selvages so the pillowcase is only 40″ wide. I like to fold my pillow case in half like this so it is easier to measure and cut the 40″ length (which means trimming to 20″ when folded in half).

7:FINISHING WITH A SERGER

If you are using a serger, fold the pillowcase in half , and serge the raw edges on the top and right sides only. Turn right side out and press. You’re done! That’s it!

You’ve learned how to make a pillowcase and you’ve finished the burrito pillowcase pattern. You can also make the pillow without the 2″ accent strip, or sew it up in all one fabric for a more traditional look! Do it right now and you can obtain your own personalized pillowcases.