Make Pillow Cases

If you're new to sewing, making pillow cases is a great way to start learning the skill. Pillow cases are easy to make, and they can add just the right accent to your bedroom. Learn how to make basic pillow cases and decorative pillow cases using the rolling method.

Steps

Basic Pillow Cases

  1. Pick out fabric. Pillow cases are often made from a fabric that feels comfortable against the skin, like soft cotton, satin, flannel or a jersey knit fabric. Pick out fabric that matches the color scheme in your bedroom, especially your bed covering and sheets. To make a set of standard pillow cases, you will need {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of fabric.
    • If you're going to sleep on the pillow cases, be sure to choose a washable fabric.
    • If you're making pillow cases that are more decorative in purpose, the fabric you choose doesn't have to be soft or quite as easily washable. Choose any type of fabric you'd like to complement the color scheme in your bedroom.
  2. Cut the fabric to size. To make a standard pillowcase, use a scissors or a rotary cutter to cut out a piece that is 45" x 36". If you're using a patterned fabric, take care to cut it so that the pattern is straight.
  3. Fold the fabric in half. Fold it length-wise with the finished sides, or "right" sides, of the fabric together. The unfinished sides, or "wrong" sides, should be facing out.
  4. Stitch the long side and one short side. Use a sewing machine or a threaded needle to make a straight stitch up the long side of the fabric. Turn the fabric and continue stitching one of the sort sides. When you're finished, turn the fabric right side out.
    • Use a thread that matches your fabric or a contrasting thread to add a little flair.
    • If you're stitching by hand, take your time and make sure your seam is completely straight. You can pin the fabric with straight pins to help guide your stitching if necessary.
  5. Hem the open side. Start by folding the fabric back to create a 1/2-inch hem. Iron the fabric to create a crease. Fold the fabric back again, this time creating a 3-inch hem. Iron the fabric again and use your sewing machine or a needle and thread to stitch around the base of the hem to keep it in place.
  6. Decorate the pillowcase. You can add ribbon, decorative lace, or other decorations to the finished pillowcase. Consider sewing a colorful contrasting ribbon over the hemline to hide the stitch there.

Decorative Pillow Cases

  1. Choose Quilt Fabrics. For this method you need three different fabrics in coordinating colors. Choose one fabric to make up the main section of the pillowcase, a second fabric for the hem around the opening, and a third accent fabric.
    • Pick three solid colored-fabrics or go for three different patterns with like colors. The fabrics don't have to "match," exactly, but it helps if they each share one or two colors.
    • Try a festive pillowcase with fabrics in holiday colors or patterns. Holiday pillow cases make excellent gifts.
  2. Cut the fabric to size. Use a scissors or rotary cutter to carefully cut each piece of fabric to the right size. To make a standard pillowcase, cut the main piece of fabric to 26" x 44". Cut the second piece of fabric to 12" x 44". Cut the last piece of fabric for the trim to 2" x 44".
  3. Iron the fabric. To prepare the fabric to be sewn, use an iron to remove the wrinkles. Iron the large piece and the medium piece flat. Fold the trim in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and iron it flat.
  4. Lay out the fabric. Place the medium piece of fabric right side up on your work surface. Line up the trim fabric with the edge of the medium fabric, so that the raw edges are on the outside and the folded edge is on the inside. Finally, lay the large piece of fabric over the medium and trim fabrics, right side down.
    • Make sure all of the layers of fabric are perfectly aligned along the top edge.
    • Add a few straight pins along the edge of the fabric layers to hold them in place.
  5. Roll up the fabric. Use your fingers to begin rolling the top layer of fabric, which is the largest piece, toward the pinned edge. Continue rolling to within a few inches of the pinned edge. Now take the medium piece of fabric and fold it over the roll, aligning it with the pinned edge. Use more straight pins to pin all of the layers in place.
  6. Stitch the edge. Use your sewing machine or a threaded needle to make a straight stitch along the pinned edge of the fabric. The stitch should be {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} from the edge of the fabric. Remove the pins from the fabric as you stitch.
    • Make sure the stitch catches all of the layers of fabric.
    • Take care to make the stitch as straight and neat as possible. If you need to start over, use a seam ripper to remove the stitch, realign the fabric edges, and start again.
  7. Turn the fabric roll right side out. Pull back the medium piece of fabric to reveal the large fabric roll underneath. Gently tug on the roll and reverse the fabric, then straighten it out on your work surface. Iron the pillowcase so that all the components lay completely flat.
  8. Stitch around the edges. Reverse the pillowcase so that the wrong sides are facing out. Use your sewing machine or a needle and thread to stitch a straight seam around the remaining raw edges of the pillowcase. Leave the hemmed part of the pillowcase open.
  9. Turn the pillowcase right side out. Lay it flat and iron it once more before placing it over a pillow.
  10. Finished.



Tips

  • Try 100% cotton, linen or silk fabrics. Recycle fabrics.
  • Seam allowance is the amount of fabric that extends beyond the stitching.

Warnings

  • Use caution with hot or sharp tools, such as an iron, scissors or needle.

Things You'll Need

  • Fabric
  • Scissors
  • Needle
  • Matching thread
  • Common pins
  • Sewing machine
  • Iron

Related Articles

  • Make a Pillow out of Paper Towels and Cotton Balls
  • Make a Colorful Heart Pillow

Sources and Citations

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