Welcome to our step-by-step tutorial on how to sew a beautiful pillowcase! We'll guide you through the process using the popular Burrito Method, which results in a clean and professional finish. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a lovely pillowcase that's perfect for adding a personal touch to your bedroom decor or gifting to friends and family. You can get started by picking your own pillowcase kit here, or pulling some fabric from your stash.
You will need:
- ¾ of a yard for the body (27-inch piece)
- ⅓ of a yard for the cuff (12-inch piece)
- ⅛ of a yard for the the flange (cut down to 2 inches)
OR
Before we start sewing, make sure to fold the flange piece in half lengthwise and press it to create a crease.
Step 1: Layering the Pieces
- Lay out the cuff piece with the right side facing up.
- Place the folded flange piece along the top raw edge of the cuff, aligning raw edges.
- Pin the flange piece to the cuff, ensuring the raw edges are together.
Step 2: Adding the Body Piece
- Open up the body piece and lay it flat with the right side facing down.
- Align the raw edge of the body piece with the raw edges of the cuff and flange, sandwiching the cuff and flange between the layers of the body piece.
- Pin the layers together, ensuring the raw edges are aligned.
Step 3: Rolling Up the Fabric Burrito
- Starting from one end, roll up the body piece tightly, keeping it about 5 inches away from the top raw edge.
- Once rolled, align the raw edge of the rolled fabric with the raw edge of the cuff.
- Pin the layers together along the raw edge.
Step 4: Sewing the Seam
- Sew a straight seam along the pinned edge, about a quarter of an inch from the edge.
- Remove your pins as you sew.
Step 5: Turning Inside Out
- Turn the fabric tube inside out by pulling the body piece through the cuff.
- Shake out the fabric to ensure it's fully turned and lies flat.
Step 6: Pressing the Pillowcase
- Press the cuff and flange flat to ensure crisp edges.
- Straighten any uneven edges if necessary.
Step 7: Trimming the Salvage
- Fold the pillowcase in half lengthwise to locate the salvage edges.
- Trim off the salvage edges to create a clean edge.
Step 8: Sewing the Final Seams
- With the pillowcase inside out, sew along the two open sides with a quarter-inch seam allowance.
- Trim the seam allowance if needed.
- Turn the pillowcase right side out.
- Press the seams flat.
- Sew a final seam along the two open sides, slightly wider than a quarter-inch, to encase the raw edges within the seam.
- Trim any excess threads.
Step 9: Final Touches
- Turn the pillowcase right side out and press if necessary.
- Admire your finished pillowcase!
Congratulations on your new pillowcase! We love having a stack on hand and switching them out for holidays throughout the year. And if you’d like to see a video version of this tutorial, check out Nicole on our YouTube channel here and make sure you’re following us on our Facebook page to get all the tips and tutorials first!
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