How to Make Pillow Cases

Who didn't learn how to sew in home economics class during eighth grade? Maybe twenty years ago if you were a guy, you learned woodshop or welding instead of cooking and sewing. Nowadays even the boys are learning how to cook and sew. One of the easiest items to sew is a pillow case. Making pillow cases is a breeze. Find the right fabric and follow the pattern and before you know it you will have beautiful cases to adorn your pillows.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Pattern (Optional)
• Pins
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Needle
• Iron

Instructions

Make Pillow Cases

1. Purchase a fabric from your local fabric store to match the decor of your bedroom. Fabric stores carry a huge variety of fabric styles to meet any need. While you are there, pick up a pillow case pattern. Making pillow cases is a simple process with or without a pattern, but why attempt it without a pattern if you do not have to.

2. Remove the pillow case pattern from the envelope it comes in and lay the pieces on the ground. There is probably only one or at the most two pieces to your pattern. Like I said, it's a simple process.

3. Pin the pattern to the fabric using straight pins. Patterns come with dotted lines that you will cut on. Place your pins inside the dotted lines. After your pattern is pinned, using a sharp pair of scissors, cut the fabric and pattern along the dotted lines.

4. Take the two pieces of the fabric that you just cut from your pillow case pattern and turn them inside out so the print side of the fabric is on the inside. Pin three of the sides together. You will have one side that remains open.

5. Using a sewing machine, start at one side of the open end of your fabric and sew a straight line down the one side, across the bottom side, and up the other side. Your pillow case is now sewed together in the shape you will use it. Do not turn it right side out yet.

6. Take the top of the pillow case, the open end, and turn it down about an inch. Take a needle and thread and hand stitch a hemline in the open end of your pillow case. This will give the open side of the pillow case a clean look.

7. Press the hemmed end with an iron to lay it flat. Now turn the pillow case right side out so the beautiful print you chose for your decor is showing. You now have a finished pillow case. In order to have several pillow cases, repeat the process with additional fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Always measure your fabric before you buy it to ensure you buy enough. It depends on how many pillow cases you intend to make, how much fabric you will need. There is usually an amount of fabric needed indicted on the pattern. Just follow the instructions.

• Always be careful when working with straight pins. They are thin and sharp and do get lodged in carpets easily. Keep your straight pins in a pin cushion and only remove them as you need them. When you are finished with a pin, put it back into the pin cushion right away.