How to Make a Pillowcase - Creativebug Projects
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I thought I had the basic idea of how to make a pillowcase down. Turns out I was only bringing my ‘C’ game. Now that I’ve discovered Creativebug - my pillowcase “skillz” have improved a LOT!
I’ve got a crush on Creativebug. Sounds weird right? But if you’re like me and want to learn how to make something and have sort of the basic know-how but are missing specific details - then it’s the place for you.
I’ve known how to sew a little bit since I was a kid. I have a sewing machine and can find my way around it, but I’m certainly no expert. In fact, there are many projects that I have never taken on simply because I just didn’t know how to get from point A to point Z.
Then, I signed up for a free trial of Creativebug. And now I’m doing things I never thought I would. Things that seemed hard, but are really not. Turns out that watching a quick online class is just the step forward I needed to create some really amazing stuff.
I stumbled onto Annabel Wrigley when I checked out a book of hers from the library. I had no idea who she was, but the book was cute and I really enjoyed it. As I was digging through the classes during my free trial period - I realized she’s one of the instructors.
So I immediately went in search of one of her classes and found the ‘Easy Home Decor Sewing’ series. I watched Part 1 - Pillows and Pillowcases and went straight to my fabric stash (the link for this is below.)
And I am absolutely delighted with how great my pillowcases look! I haven’t tried the smaller pillows, but instead went straight for the regular bed pillows. They look so fancy, but they weren’t hard to make at all. My teenager is delighted with how hers turned out.
I remember making a pillowcase in home economics a lot of years ago (ahem - won’t tell you how many) and being tickled with how easy it was. But I have to say - these pillowcases look really great, but they’re just as easy to create. She uses this method I’d never heard of called the ‘burrito’ or ‘sausage’ method. And I even did french seams - in large part because the course includes how to make them. They sound hard, but they’re ridiculously easy.
Want to see how I did it? Annabel goes into much more detail in her course (and 2 additional pillow types!), but here’s some quick shots of my process.
Pick and Cut Material
I raided my fabric stash to make these, but this would be a great excuse to make a trip to your favorite fabric store. I chose a beachy themed set of fabrics and a mermaid/beachy themed set of fabrics. You can choose two or three different types of fabric. I really enjoy color so any excuse to use THREE different fabrics caught my attention.
Choice 1
Choice 2
You’ll separate your fabric into the main, the trim, and the edge. I used regular quilting cotton. Plan on a yard for the main, a 3″ strip for the trim, and a 10″ strip for the edge.
Create the Fabric Sandwich
This is the coolest part! If you’ve ever done any quilting - you know that quilters always talk about the quilt sandwich. Well, this ingenious technique is like a pillowcase sandwich. After removing the selvage edges (don’t want that in your finished product), you lay your edge fabric out flat lengthwise. After ironing the trim piece in half hot-dog style you place the raw edges of the trim up against the top raw edge of the edge fabric.
Then you’ll lay the main fabric along the top edge (on top of the trim fabric and edge fabric) right sides together and pin in place.
Then the best part! The fabric burrito makin’!
Take your main fabric and roll it up so that the edge fabric is exposed.
Next, you’ll grab that edge fabric and cover up the main fabric leaving the roll of main fabric in the middle of it. Pin along the length of the fabric.
It should look like this when you’re done.
Sew the Fabric Burrito
Now sew a straight seam along that pinned edge. I think she used a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Here’s the inside of the burrito.
Turn Fabric Burrito Right Side Out
The next step is to simply pull the inside of the burrito out so the whole thing magically turns into a gorgeous unsewn (the outer edges anyway) pillowcase. Be as gentle as you can with this step!
Sew Side Seams
So the only thing left to do is to sew both seams up to complete the project. In her video, Annabel talks about how to do a french seam versus a regular seam. I opted for the french seam just so I could learn how to do it.
And you’re done! Give those gorgeous new pillowcases a good press and show them off!
I just glossed over what I learned at a very high level, but there is so much more good stuff in this short class (including two more pillow types.) If you’re a little bit curious - go check it out! Get your first month of Creativebug for just $1, then save 30% at Jo-Ann.