Hey everyone — let's sew a pillowcase that hides its seams
Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to make a standard pillowcase with the burrito method, so every raw edge stays tucked inside.
Here we go. One main fabric. One cuff. No exposed seams. Super duper easy.
Meet the fabric first
We are working with the Bright Yellow Lemon Meringue Cotton from Poppie Cotton. It is part of the Country Confetti collection.
This is a cotton fabric. The fiber type is cotton. The width is 44"/45". It is sold by the yard, so you can order what this project needs.
The color is bright yellow. Think lemon meringue. Light, cheerful, and sunny on a bed. It wakes up white sheets in a hurry.
Quilting cotton cuts clean and presses crisp. That 44"/45" width covers a standard pillowcase without piecing the body. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
The project: a burrito-method pillowcase
We are making one standard pillowcase. Finished size is about 20 inches by 30 inches. That fits a standard bed pillow nicely.
The burrito method sounds funny. It works great. You roll the body inside the cuff, sew one seam, and pull it out. The cuff seam stays hidden, neat, and smooth in the wash.
This bright yellow cotton suits it well. It rolls easily and presses into a sharp cuff edge. And that color makes a plain pillow feel like a treat.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Take your time. It is not a race.
Materials list
- 3/4 yard of Bright Yellow Lemon Meringue Cotton 44"/45" for the pillowcase body
- 1/4 yard of a coordinating cotton for the cuff
- Optional: a 2-inch strip across the width for a thin accent next to the cuff
- All-purpose sewing thread to match
- Sewing machine with a size 80/12 universal needle
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat, or fabric scissors
- Pins or clips, iron, and ironing board
- A standard pillow, about 20 inches by 26 inches, to test the fit
Here is the cutting math. Cut the body 27 inches by 40 inches. Cut the cuff 9 inches by 40 inches. If you add the accent, cut it 2 inches by 40 inches and press it in half lengthwise.
Brief steps
- Cut and press. Press all your fabric first. Cut the body and cuff to the sizes above. Square your edges as you go.
- Lay out the cuff. Lay the cuff right side up, long edge across. Lay the accent strip along that long edge if you are using it, raw edges together.
- Add the body, then roll. Lay the body right side down on top, matching the top raw edges. Pin a little. Roll the far end of the body up toward the pinned edge, like a burrito filling. Stop a few inches short.
- Wrap and pin. Bring the bottom edge of the cuff up and over the roll. Match all raw edges at the top. Pin through every layer. Set your stitch length to about 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
- Sew and pull. Sew that pinned edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Reach inside the tube and gently pull the rolled body out. Just like that, your seam is hidden inside.
- Press the cuff. Press the cuff flat. Give that accent a good press too. Topstitch close to the cuff edge if you like. Completely up to you.
- Finish the case. Fold the case wrong sides together. Sew the side and bottom with a 1/4-inch seam. Turn it wrong side out, poke out the corners, and sew those same edges again with a 3/8-inch seam. That is a French seam, so no raw edges show inside. Turn it right side out and press.
Practical tips from my table
First, press before you cut. A good press makes your 40-inch cuts honest.
Second, pin that burrito edge well. I skimped on pins once and my cuff twisted. The fix was simple. Pin every 3 to 4 inches, then sew slow.
Third, slow down at thick spots. That rolled edge is bulky for a few inches. Slow down or the needle deflects.
Fourth, you have options. Skip the accent for a clean look, add it for a pop, or use the same yellow for the cuff. All three are right.
And here is your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. If your cuff is 1/8 inch wider on one end, nobody will measure it. You are your own worst critic. Everyone else sees a really really cheerful pillowcase.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. I hope this one brightens your whole bedroom. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Bright Yellow Lemon Meringue Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
