It seems like many of you would like to learn how to sew. I was trying to come up with things to do on here and Mother Dear suggested that I do a simple sewing project. A pillowcase is something that is something that is simple, yet practical. You could even put a pair or two in your hope chest.
Find two fabrics that go together. I picked a printed fabric with a solid fabric that complemented it.
Pick a similar colour thread to go along with the fabric. I picked a pink thread that went with my solid coloured fabric.
The easiest way to cut the fabric is to trace around a pillowcase, adding 1/4-inch along the sides for seams. For the floral fabric, I cut 28 1/2-inches long and 19-inches wide. The long side was set along the crease in the fabric, so there is only one piece of fabric, not two. The pink fabric is 7 inches long and 19-inches wide. Again, make sure the long side (which is actually the shorter side in this case) is set along the crease. If you can’t do that, just cut two pieces and you’ll sew them together later. These measurements made my pillowcase a little long, I would shorten the solid coloured fabric about an inch or so but not much more.
The seams for the pillowcase is 1/4-inch. My sewing machine didn’t have measurement marks, so we put some on.
Mother Dear had this nifty measuring gauge, but a ruler will work just as well.
Mark off a 1/4-inch and place a piece of tape there to mark it.
Now is the time to sew together your solid coloured fabric if you cut two of them. Sew together the shorter sides with right sides together. Now fold the fabric in half with wrong sides together, so it looks long and skinny. Crease and iron the fold and pin if you would like a more secure hold. Sew the bottom in place with a 1/4-inch seam.
Pin the floral fabric and the solid fabric together long-wise. Sew with a 1/4-inch seam and press open.
Now, you even the fabrics. My solid coloured fabric was a tad longer than my floral fabric. To even it out, I used a rotary ruler (ruler used for quilting) and a rotary cutter. Make sure you line up the fabric and the ruler, so it is an even cut. Do this on both sides.
If you would like, now is the time to add some decoration to your pillow. I added some rickrack that went along with my fabric colour. For a more elegant look, you could add ribbon, lace, tatted lace, etc. Pin the rickrack between the floral and solid fabrics. I made mine, so you couldn’t see the seam between the two. You’ll need to change threads so it matches your rickrack and sew down the middle of it.
Pin around the side and bottom of the pillow with right sides together. Make sure the rickrack is aligned, otherwise the rickrack won’t line up after you’re done sewing. It helps to put a pin right in the middle of the rickrack after you have gotten it lined up. Sew around the edge and bottom with a 1/4-inch seam. Flip so it is right side out.
You now have your finished pillowcase!
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This was a great tutorial! I love it! Easy and simple and so pretty! Rachel has that same fabric that she is going to make a quilt out of! :)
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That is very pretty!
God Bless,
Anne
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