How to Make a Pillowcase

Making a pillowcase can be a fun way to spruce up a room, add comfort to an old chair or just practice some hems on your sewing machine. Here are some tips for making a simple pillowcase.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sewing machine
• Pillow (for measurement purposes)
• Fabric for pillowcase
• Thread the color of the fabric or slightly darker

1. Find a cloth that will go well with the wall color, curtain or carpet.

2. Purchase enough cloth to wrap the pillow. Remember to leave room for the seams and the opening at the front. It should be the shape of a rectangle and three times the length of the pillow.

3. Fold your rectangle in half with the pattern on the inside. Be sure to line up the edges.

4. Select a setting on your sewing machine that will provide a strong hem. Begin sewing the cloth. Leave enough room between frayed ends and the "good" cloth, as the frayed ends are likely to spread. But don't go so far as to make your pillowcase too small for your pillow. Remember to leave a side open to put the pillow inside.

5. Turn it inside out and check for size. Also, fold the excess inward so you will have an idea of where you are going to put the hem for the opening.

6. Reverse the pillowcase again and sew the final hem.

7. Flip it inside out again and iron your pillowcase so the hems lay properly and will fold for easy storage.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure twice, cut once. You will need more fabric than you think.
• If the pillow is meant for a bedroom, use a soft cloth.
• You can also use fancy stitches, lace or other decorative touches to make your pillowcase more decorative.