How to Make a Pillowcase Cover

When you look for bed sheets and can't find pillowcase covers to match or you need extra cases to go with what you have already purchased, there is an easy and less expensive solution than buying or ordering more. Pillowcases can be easily made from an extra twin top sheet. For the cost of one top sheet you can make four or more pillowcase covers. With an extra step or two you can make pillow shams to match your new sheets. You don't even need a pattern, just a tape measure or yard stick.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Extra twin top sheet or 1 ½ yards of fabric per set of pillowcases
• Batting and lining for pillow sham
• Thread to match
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Serger sewing machine (optional)
• Presser foot for quilting
• Iron and ironing board
• yard stick or tape measure

How to Make a Pillowcase Cover

1. Pre-wash fabric and iron it.

2. Measure the pillow you want to make a pillowcase cover for and add an inch on one side plus an inch on the top and bottom. Add eight inches to the other side. Cut two pieces of fabric. For a standard pillowcase you will need to cut two 36 x 20 inch pieces of fabric.

3. Place the two pieces right side together and sew around three sides leaving a 20 inch side open. Use a Serger to make a zig-zag stitch all around to finish the seam.

4. Turn down the open edge 1/2 inch using an iron. Stitch down 1/4th inch from the edge. Turn down 3 ½ inches and iron in place. Stitch down 3 1/4th inches from the edge.
   Turn inside out.

How to Make a Pillow Sham

5. To make a pillow sham measure the pillow you want to cover and add 8 inches to the top and bottom and 8 inches to the sides of the pillow sham. A quilted fabric works best for the top.

6. To quilt a piece of fabric for the top, cut batting and backing the same size as the top piece. Pin or stitch in place with a basting stitch. A basting stitch is a very large stitch that goes down into the three layers and up and out of the three layers of fabric, batting and lining. An easy pattern to quilt by machine is stripes. Using a quilting presser foot, sew a line of stitch every 2 to 3 inches through the fabric. Remove basting stitch. You can get as fancy as you wish with the quilting.

7. To cut the back of the pillow sham, cut a piece of fabric the size of the front piece plus seven inches on the side.

8. Cut the piece in half. Turn the center edge down ½ inch on both pieces and iron. Sew down 1/4 inch from the edge.
   Turn the sham right side out and iron.

9. Place the two pieces on top of the front piece over lapping them about 3 inches. Pin the sides all around and stitch around the edge. Turn the pillow sham right side out. Iron.

10. Top stitch all around the pillow sham 3 ½ inches from the edge. Insert the pillow into the sham where the backing overlaps in the back of the pillow.

Resources

• machine-quilting-tips-and-tricks