how to pillowcase | Sewhooked

Isn’t it a beauty?

Now available as a free video tutorial!

This is the easiest, fastest, and cleanest-looking pillowcase method I’ve tried. So easy, so fun…and excellent for stash busting!

Honey Bee Quilt Store is participating in American Patchwork & Quilting’s 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. The first batch of gorgeous handmade pillowcases that Honey Bee has collected is going to the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, located in Round Rock, Texas.

I knew as soon as I heard about it that I wanted to participate.

Read more on the Honey Bee Blog.

I was asked by the store owner to share instructions online so they could easily direct customers to them. This is my version. I hope you enjoy the tutorial, make lots of pillowcases, and give them to friends or charity! (Oh, okay, you can keep one or two for yourself!)

You’ll need:

Three lengths of fabric in three coordinating colors. Makes one standard-size pillowcase.

BUN (cuff) – 12″ x WOF (width of fabric ~ 44″)
MUSTARD (flange) – 2″ – 3″ x WOF (optional)
HOT DOG (body) 24″ – 26″ x WOF (for longer pillowcases, lengthen here)

You can vary the bun/hot dog size up or down, just make sure that the total yardage between those two is 36″ – 38″. 9 – 12″ for the bun is ideal.

If you use two yards of coordinating fabric, plus 6″ of a third, you can make two coordinating pillowcases with opposite colors!

My colors for this tutorial – a pre-cut kit from Honey Bee. Isn’t the fabric just delicious?

Hot Dog, Bun & Mustard! Once your fabric is cut and pressed and you’re ready to go!

Roll out your BUN, right side up.

Press the MUSTARD in half

Place MUSTARD with raw edges matching along one side of the BUN.

Place HOT DOG on top of MUSTARD, face down. Align raw seams. Add a few pins to hold in place.

Roll the HOT DOG (hey, now it looks like a hot dog!) to within a few inches of the pinned edge.

Fold the BUN over the HOT DOG and pin along the raw edge, making sure to catch all layers of fabric.

Stitch along the raw edge using a 3/8″ (or scant 1/2″) seam allowance.

Remove any pins and birth your HOT DOG! Roll BUN back, gently tugging the HOT DOG out of the center.

Continue tugging and rolling until the HOT DOG is all the way out.

Your pillowcase should now look something like this.

Smooth out the fabric, then press the BUN and MUSTARD, tugging gently so it’ll lie flat. I like to press on both sides.

Square up your pillowcase by removing the selvage.

With WRONG SIDES together, align the MUSTARD and corners of the pillowcase.

Pin in several places.

Stitch around raw edges using a 1/4″ seam allowance (yes, yes, really, right sides out, wrong sides together!).

Turn the corner and sew across the bottom.

Trim corners (raw edges only, please!).

Turn the pillowcase wrong-side out.

Look how nice the BUN looks next to the HOT DOG!

Press the side and bottom seams flat.

Stitch using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Look at that, you made French Seams…no raw edges!

Turn right side out and press.

See how nicely the MUSTARD lines up? Did you notice that your condiment made a lovely little flap, too?

It looks good outside and in!

Delicious!

Now, let me know if you’re as addicted to these as I am! This beauty is number 11 and I know I’ll make more. In addition to donating to the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge, they also make great gift bags for quilts!

Need a hard copy? Printable PDF Tutorial!

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.