Hey everyone. Today you are going to learn how to make a standard pillowcase with neat enclosed seams using the simple burrito method.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric First
This one is American Freedom #7 Blue Fireworks from Marshall Dry Goods.
It is 100% cotton. It is 45 inches wide. It is sold by the yard.
The name tells you the look. Blue. Fireworks. That is a bright, celebratory print.
The 45-inch width helps a lot here. A standard pillowcase body is cut wider than it is long. This width gives you that room in one clean piece. No piecing the main body together. Just like that.
The Project: A Pillowcase
We are making one standard pillowcase. Finished size is about 20 inches by 30 inches.
That fits a standard bed pillow nicely. Not too tight. Not too loose.
Why does this fabric suit a pillowcase? Three simple reasons.
First, 100% cotton is soft and breathable for sleeping. That matters more than anything fancy.
Second, a pillowcase shows off a print beautifully. You get one big, flat surface. Those fireworks get to shine without a lot of cutting them up.
Materials List
- 1 yard of American Freedom #7 Blue Fireworks for the main body and cuff
- 1/4 yard of a coordinating solid cotton for a narrow accent strip, if you want one
- All-purpose thread to blend with the blue background
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat, or good fabric scissors
- Pins or clips
- Iron and pressing surface
- Sewing machine with a standard presser foot
- A standard pillow, about 20 inches by 26 inches, to test the fit
Cutting the Pieces
From the fireworks fabric, cut one main body piece at 27 inches by 40 inches. Keep the 40-inch side running across the width of the fabric.
Cut one cuff piece at 9 inches by 40 inches.
If you are adding the accent strip, cut it at 2 inches by 40 inches. Press it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, so it measures 1 inch by 40 inches.
Sewing It Together
Step one: lay the cuff piece right side up. Place the accent strip along the top edge, if you are using it. Then lay the main body piece right side down on top, lining up those top edges.
Step two: roll the body up toward that top edge, like a burrito. Stop a few inches short. Then fold the bottom edge of the cuff up and over the roll. Line up all the edges and pin well. This looks a little funny. Trust the process, folks.
Step three: sew along that pinned edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Go slow and keep the rolled fabric out of the way of the needle. Slow down here or you can catch the roll in your seam.
Step four: reach inside and gently pull the body out. The cuff turns right side out. Your seam is tucked neatly inside. Press the cuff flat. Oh my goodness, that part is really really satisfying.
Step five: finish the side and bottom with French seams. Sew wrong sides together first with a scant 1/4-inch seam. Trim close. Turn wrong side out, press, and sew again with a 3/8-inch seam. That encloses every raw edge.
Use a stitch length of about 2.5 mm for regular seams. Press once more. Just like that, you have a pillowcase.
Practical Tips Before Bedtime
Prewash if you like. Cotton can shrink a little first wash, so washing first keeps your finished size true.
Check the direction of your print before you cut. Fireworks are forgiving, but lay it on a pillow once and look first.
Press the cuff really well. A crisp cuff is what makes a simple case look store-bought and neat.
And here is your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. If your cuff is a tiny bit wavy, use it anyway. You are your own worst critic. Nobody at a sleepover is inspecting your French seams.
If I can do this, y'all can do this. Take your time. It is not a race.
Thanks for sewing along with me, y'all. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the American Freedom #7 Blue Fireworks 45" wide Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
