Hey everyone, today we're making a bright and easy pillowcase that you can finish in an afternoon.
Here we go. Let's talk fabric first.
This is Flock Together Wavy Stripe Jewel Cotton, from In The Beginning Fabrics. The designer is Jason Yenter. It is 100% cotton, and the width of fabric is 44"/45". That's what the product listing tells us, plain and simple.
The print is a wavy stripe. The tags call it abstract and striped, with a multi color story. So those wavy lines carry lots of color as they move across the fabric.
I love that movement for bedding. A straight stripe can feel a little stiff. A wavy stripe feels soft and relaxed. Just like that, it looks right at home on a bed.
Why this fabric suits a pillowcase
A pillowcase is one big, simple shape. That gives this stripe room to run. You can watch the waves travel from the cuff to the end. Nothing gets lost in tiny piecing.
The multi color story helps, too. It plays nicely with lots of quilts and blankets you already own. Make one for a guest room. Make a pair for your own bed. Completely up to you.
My preference is to run the stripes across the width. That way the waves wrap around the pillow. But you can turn them lengthwise if you like that look better. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
What you'll need
- 1 yard of Flock Together Wavy Stripe Jewel Cotton, 44"/45" wide, 100% cotton, for the body and cuff
- Matching all-purpose thread for construction
- Your usual basics: rotary cutter or scissors, a long ruler, pins or clips, a marking tool, and a size 80/12 needle
- An iron for pressing — pressing really matters on this one
This plan makes one standard pillowcase. Finished size is about 20" by 30". That fits a standard bed pillow nice and snug.
Here is the cutting math. From your yard, cut one body piece 27" by 43". Then cut one cuff piece 11" by 43". That uses your yard well and leaves a small strip for a test seam.
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Then square up the edges. Look at the wavy stripes before you cut. Decide which direction you want them to run. Go slow here. A straight first cut makes everything easier.
Second, make the cuff. Fold the 11" by 43" cuff piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press that fold flat. Now you have a cuff that is 5 1/2" by 43".
Third, use the simple burrito method. Lay the body piece right side up. Lay the folded cuff along the top edge, raw edges even. Then roll the body up toward the cuff. Wrap the cuff around the roll and pin through all layers. Take your time. It's not a race.
Fourth, stitch that top edge with a 1/4" seam. Use about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Then pull the body out through the end of the tube. Press the cuff flat. Oh my goodness, that clean finish never gets old.
Fifth, finish the sides. Trim the case to a clean 20" wide by 30" long, folded. Stitch the side and the bottom with a 1/4" seam. Then turn it wrong side out and stitch again at 3/8" to enclose the raw edges. That is a simple French seam, and it looks really really neat inside.
Sixth, turn it right side out. Press it one more time. Slide your pillow in. Just like that, you're done.
My tips from the sewing room
Tip one: test your seam on that leftover strip first. Check your stitch length and your tension. I've skipped that test before. I've also picked out that seam before. Two minutes now saves real time later.
Tip two: press the cuff before you pin. A wavy print can hide a wobbly fold. Pressing keeps that edge honest and straight.
Tip three: slow down when you stitch over the thick cuff layers. Go too fast and you can bend a needle. Turn the handwheel by hand for the last few stitches if you need to.
Tip four: it doesn't have to be perfect. If a wave sits a little crooked at the seam, leave it. You're your own worst critic. Folks will just see a happy, colorful pillowcase.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper easy, and super duper fun to gift.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Flock Together Wavy Stripe Jewel Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
