Do you ever get tired of looking at your sheets? I do, but that’s because we have three sets of sheets. Two are beige and one set is flannel with snowflakes, meaning we only use the flannel in the winter. So roughly nine months out of the year we are looking at boring beige.
Sure we could go out and buy new sheets, in fact we just did that yesterday and know we have dark teal, but still solid color. This project will spice up your bedding. It doesn’t take a long time and could easily be a beginner sewing project if you just use one fabric.
Go through your fabric stash or hit up your fabric store for some cute, quirky, elegant, rustic or floral prints. The sky is the limit! Then set aside about an hour to make a new pillow case for your bed.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Supplies
Fabric in 3 coordinating patterns
Scissors
Thread
Pins
Sewing Machine
Pillow Case
Grab a pillow case from your linen closet or off a pillow if need be. This will be your pattern. Lay your pillow case on top of the fabric that will be the body of the pillow case. Place the fold or side seam of the pillow case on the fold of the fabric, then you will create one side seam instead of two. You can pin the pillow case to the fabric, weight it down or go rogue and just hold the two together while cutting.
You need to leave a ½ seam allowance at the bottom and side and when you get to the top fold down the pillow case on the stitch line and cut across the top leaving a half inch seam allowance. Cut first piece of fabric.
Set aside the first piece of fabric. Then measure the pillow case from the top stitch line to the top of the case. Then double that number and add a ½ inch. That will be the top portion of the pillow case.
Take your second coordinating fabric and fold lengthwise to easily create the same width as the pillow case. Lay the pillow case on top of the fabric matching folds and placing stitch line on bottom edge of fabric. Cut second fabric making sure to leave a ½ inch seam allowance at the side and doubling the measurement you took from the pillow case to create the top fold.
Next cut third accent fabric. This will be a thin piece of fabric sewn in between the other two fabrics. A little detail to make the pillow more unique. Fold your third fabric in half lengthwise to create the same width as the pillow case. You will cut this fabric at the height of one inch. Cut a one inch height along the width of the pillow leave a ½ inch seam allowance.
Now that you have your three cut fabrics it’s time to assemble. Take your thin accent fabric and fold in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.
Place in between the other two fabrics with all right sides together and cut edges lining up. Pin fabrics together.
Once pinned together put the fabric under the presser foot of your machine and line the cut edge up with the edge of the presser foot. This will create your seam allowance as you sew. Sew all the way down in a straight line, back stitching at the top and bottom. Clip threads.
Now fold the top fabric over to create the top fold in the pillow case. Turn the edge under a ¼ inch and pin with the folded edge lined up with the stitch line that you just created. Pin all the way down making sure to keep things lined up. Put fabric under presser foot and stitch on the very edge of the pinned fabric, right next to the first stitch line. Don’t work too fast or remove too many pins at a time or the fabric could pucker or create an extra fold. Sew all the way down in a straight line, back stitching at the top and bottom.
Now you have one big piece of fabric, so it’s time to create the pillow case. Fold fabric in half lengthwise with wrong sides together. You will be creating a French seam to hide the raw edges. Pin fabric together and start at the bottom corner on the fold. Line fabric up with the edge of the presser foot and stitch in a straight line turning at the next corner and back stitching at the top and the bottom.
Flip fabric inside out and push corners with something pointy, like a chop stick or knitting needle. Press fabric flat at the seam line and put the bottom corner at the fold under the presser foot. Line the seam line, you just created, up with the edge of the presser foot. Sew in a straight line turning at the corner and back stitching at the top and bottom. Turn pillow case right side out and the raw edges will be trapped inside of the seam you create. Clip any threads and try your pillow case on a pillow.
Now you have a one of a kind pillow case to fancy up your bed. You can create pillow cases for different holidays if you want to decorate your bedroom. You can also find fun character fabrics and make a special pillow case for your child. It’s the end of boring pillow cases!