Pillowcase Tutorial - A Beginner Project

Pillowcase with trim and border

Supplies:



Fabric A - body of pillowcase - 3/4 yard

Fabric B - border - 1/3 yard

Fabric C - trim - 1/8 yard

Measuring Tape

Scissors, cutting and trim

Pins and pincushion

Preparation & Instruction:

1.  Wash and dry fabric, if desired

2.  Straighten fabric

3.  Trim selvages off of fabric

4.  Cut:

      a.  Fabric A -  27" X 41"  -  pillowcase body

      b.  Fabric B -  11" X 41"  - border

      c.  Fabric C -  2 1/2" X 41" -  trim

5.  Fold and press the trim (Fabric C) in half, wrong sides together.  Press.

6.  Place the folded trim piece on top of the right side of the border (Fabric B) making sure raw edges are together.  Pin the ends, the middle, then in between. 

7.  Place the long side of the pillowcase body (Fabric A), wrong side up, on top of the trimmed border making sure the raw edges are together. Pin each end, the middle, then in between.
8.  Using a stitch length of 3.5 - 4, baste all layers together with a scant 1/2" seam allowance.  Press.
9.  Optional:  Using a 3.0 stitch length, topstitch the trim to the pillowcase body 1" from the raw edge of the trim to anchor the trim to the pillowcase.
10.  Place your project on the table with the border right side up and the pillowcase body wrong side up.  Roll the pillowcase body toward the stitched edge until you can bring the unstitched raw edge of the border over the rolled body to match the basted raw edges.  Pin at the ends, the middle, then in between, pulling gently to fit.  The border fabric should be right sides together with the pillowcase body rolled in between.

11.  Turn roll over so that you can see the basted stitches.  Using a 3.0 stitch length, stitch just to the left of the basting stitch - full 1/2" seam allowance.  Press.

12.  Grade seams allowances to reduce bulk.  Press.   Pull the body of the pillowcase out of the border.  Press all seams flat.

13.  French seams:  Wrong sides together, match raw edges at the sides and bottom of the pillowcase.  Pin the border and trim area so that they "match" at seams and trim edge.  Pin the ends, the middle, then in between.  Using a 3.0 stitch length, stitch the sides and bottom with a "good" 1/4 seam allowance.  Press "as stitched".   Trim the seam allowances by half.

14.  Open pillowcase and press seams to one side.  Turn pillowcase inside out.  Press seams so that the seams edges are sharp.  Check to see that the trimmed area seams match, then re-pin the sides and bottom.  Stitch to encase the previous seam allowances.  Turn right side out and press well.