Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to sew a standard pillowcase with neat, enclosed seams using the simple burrito method.
The fabric is Black Red Nosegays, from Scarlet's Treasure. It's by Henry Glass. The collection is by Color Principle. It's 100% cotton. It runs 43/44 inches wide.
A nosegay is a small bouquet. That's the print you get here. Little gathered bouquets in red sit across a black ground. They repeat in a tidy, tossed layout. Nothing feels crowded. The print stays clear and readable.
Scarlet's Treasure works in a timeless palette. Red, black, and white. The collection brings a garden indoors. Peonies, poppies, and daisies bloom across these prints. They never need watering. On black, the red bouquets really pop.
The project: a pillowcase
A pillowcase is honest, useful sewing. You cut three simple pieces. You roll them up like a burrito. You sew a few straight seams. Then you pull it right side out. Just like that, the raw edges hide inside. Super duper clever.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? First, quilting cotton presses crisp. That makes the wide cuff fold clean and sharp. Second, the small bouquets give you freedom. No single big motif has to land perfectly. Third, the black ground is practical. It looks smart on the bed. It also hides everyday wear kindly.
Here's my sizing. This case fits a standard pillow, usually 20 by 26 inches. It finishes about 20 inches wide by 30 inches long. That extra length is the cuff showing off. Completely up to you if you trim it shorter.
What you'll need
- 3/4 yard of this Black Red Nosegays cotton for the main body
- 1/4 yard of a coordinating fabric for the cuff, or use more of the same print
- A thin strip, about 1/8 yard, for an optional trim band
- Matching all-purpose thread
- An 80/12 universal needle in your machine
- A ruler, pins or clips, and scissors or a rotary cutter
- An iron — you'll use it a lot here
Here's the cutting math. Cut the body at 27 by 40 1/2 inches. Cut the cuff at 9 by 40 1/2 inches. Cut the trim, if you're using it, at 2 by 40 1/2 inches. The 40 1/2-inch width uses the full 43/44-inch width nicely. You just trim the selvages first.
Brief steps
One: press everything first. Fold the trim strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press it flat. Lay the cuff right side up. Place the trim along one long edge, raw edges together.
Two: lay the body on top. Right side down. Line up that same long edge. Pin across the top only. Now roll the body up toward the pins. Roll it snug, like a burrito. Bring the far edge of the cuff up and over the roll. Pin all the layers together.
Three: sew that pinned edge. Use a 1/4-inch seam. Set your stitch length around 2.5mm. That's about 10 to 12 stitches per inch. Go slow over the thick spots. Then reach inside the tube. Pull the rolled body out gently. Just like that, the seam hides inside the cuff.
Four: press the cuff flat. Fold the case wrong sides together. Sew the side and bottom with a 1/4-inch seam. Trim to about 1/8 inch. Turn wrong side out. Press. Sew again with a 3/8-inch seam. That French seam encloses the raw edges. Turn right side out and press.
Practical tips
Check your bouquets before you cut. Lay the fabric flat. Make sure the nosegays run the way you want on the body. I have cut one upside down before, folks. The fix was seam ripping and a deep breath. Check first.
Press, don't push. Let the iron sit and lift. Dragging can stretch the cuff edge. Slow down at the French seam corner too, or the needle can balk. Ease through it.
Now the permission beat, y'all. Your pillowcase does not have to be perfect. A slightly soft corner still holds a pillow just fine. You're your own worst critic here. Nobody sleeping on it is measuring your seams. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Want options? Skip the trim band for a cleaner look. Or make the whole case from this one print. Or make a matching pair from 2 yards total. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Pick the version you'll actually use.
Thanks for sewing along with me, folks. Slip it on a pillow and enjoy that pop of red. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black Red Nosegays Scarlet's Treasure 44"/45" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
