• Category: Patterns
• Monday, 14 December 2009 07:20

For the next week I will be making lots and lots of Christmas pillowcases. I learned this particular pattern while living in Ketchikan, Alaska from the Rainy Day Quilt Guild. I hope you will want to give it a try...

I love Christmas fabric. I can't get enough of it! Normally I do buy the expensive quilt shop fabric, but I gave myself permission to go to Hobby Lobby and partake of their 50% off sale on holiday fabric. When it comes to making pillowcases, the quality of this fabric is surely good enough.

To make one pillow case you will need the following materials.

♥ One strip of fabric 9 inches by width of fabric for the cuff

♥ One strip 2 inches by width of fabric for the contrast strip

♥ One 25 inch by width of fabric for the body of the pillow

Once you have the three parts cut it is time to put them together.

These are the contrast strips. Aren't they pretty?

First lay out the 9 inch strip with the right side up. Next lay a contrast strip, which has been folded in half and pressed, on the top edge. The rough edges up, please...

Next take the 25 inch piece and lay it right sides facing each on top of the strip and cuff. Roll the fabric up toward the top like a burrito.

Take the bottom of the cuff and pull it to the top and pin all three layers together.

Using a 1/4 inch foot, sew along the edge, making sure that you capture all three parts. I have had some unfortunate experiences with my seam ripper when I don't pay close attention...

Once you have sewn the seam, pull out the burrito inside. This is my favorite part...

After the cuff has been pulled out, press making sure that the strip is pressed towards the body of the pillowcase. Now, I have discovered that not all fabrics are created equally. For some reason, the width of the fabric is not the same, so the edge needs to be trimmed.

And now they are even! What an amazing feeling a straight edge can bring...

Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam along the bottom and side raw edges with the right side out. Yes, I said right side out. Just trust me.

Now turn the pillowcase inside out and press the edge. In order to make the seam really strong and impervious to shredding, this pillowcase uses a french seam. Sew along the edge 5/8 inch to encase the seam. Turn right side out again and press the edge for neatness.

I tried out the pillowcase on a real pillow to make sure it really fit. To my everlasting surprise, it did.

Since this pillowcase is a gift, I like to fold it and tie a ribbon around it.

Or you can hand the pillow to a happy kid and let him wrap his arms around it instead. I love using this kid for my model.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Sewing!