Custom pillowcases are easy and fun to make – and you can make them in any fabric combinations! From kid print fabrics to fabrics for the sports fan in your life and even amazing solids, making pillowcases is a quick project. In this article I’ll show you the “Burrito” method of making pillowcases, with two options for your seams – one with regular seams and one with French seams. Both are super easy to do with the burrito pillowcase pattern! Learn more about making pillowcases in our comprehensive article that shows another method.
I’ve made standard pillow size pillowcases, but it is easy to adjust your fabric dimensions for toddler, super standard, queen, king, and body bed pillows. Here is a fabric calculator showing how much fabric you will need for the main fabric, accent strip, and cuff for the different pillowcase sizes.
The ‘Burrito” method of making a pillow case makes it easy to finish off the inside cuff seam nicely, with only one stitching line.
Burrito Pillowcase Tutorial
Learn how to make a pillowcase with cuff and accent trim with the burrito method that finishes the inside cuff with just one seam with this easy tutorial.
Some people call this method the magic pillowcase.
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Materials
- For a standard size pillowcase:
- 27" x 45" piece of fabric for the main body of the pillow
- 4" x 45" piece of fabric for the trim or accent piece
- 12" x 45" piece of fabric for the cuff
- NOTE: These are cut width of fabric. Some manufacturers vary the width from 42 - 45", and that is okay. A little bit narrower will make the pillowcase a bit tighter.
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Quilter's ruler
Instructions
- Start by cutting your fabrics to the dimensions needed for your pillow. Refer to the cutting chart above. I'm making a standard size pillowcase for this tutorial. Here are my fabrics cut out.
- Next take your 4-inch trim piece of fabric and press it lengthwise in half.
- Layer your fabrics with the pillowcase body, then the pressed trim and then the cuff fabric, lining up one edge along the 45" width. NOTE: If you are using different manufacturers fabrics, they might be a little different in width. Trim all fabrics to match the the narrowest fabric width.
- Now you'll make your "burrito". Keeping the 45" edge of the fabrics together, layer the cuff fabric right side up, place the folded and pressed trim along one edge and then place the pillowcase body fabric on top, right side to the right side of the cuff fabric, sandwiching the folded and pressed trim between the layers and matching raw edges. I like to pin these fabrics, so they don't slip. Roll or fold the pillowcase body fabric so that it can fit inside the tube you will make of the cuff fabric in Step 5.
- Now bring the other cut edge of the cuff fabric over the wrong side of the pillowcase body fabric, match raw edges and re-pin all of the layers. This forms the "burrito" with the cuff fabric on the outside.
- Here is the 'burrito' all pinned and ready to sew.
- Sew along the pinned edge with a quarter inch seam allowance. Remove the pins as you sew.
- Now it's time to turn the "burrito" inside out. Start by pulling the pillowcase body fabric out from the tube.
- Continue pulling the pilllowcase right side out.
- Here it is all turned and ready to be pressed.
- Press the trim and cuff. Here you can see both the inside and outside of the pillowcase. You can see how this method finishes off the inside of the pillowcase cuff nicely.
- Now all you need to do is sew the side and bottom seams. Fold the pillowcase right sides together and sew along the side and the bottom. You can use a 1/2" seam allowance on your sewing machine, or use your serger, if you have one.
- Turn the pillowcase inside out and give it a final press.
- Here is the finished pillowcase all folded and ready to dress up a bed!
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Here is the finished pillowcase:
How to Make a French Seam on your Pillowcase
In the above tutorial, I used my serger to finish the exposed seams on the pillowcase. If you don’t have a serger, you can zigzag stitch the seams. Another method is to use French seams to finish the side and end seams.
Begin by cutting your fabrics, pressing and prepare them for the burrito method of sewing the cuff and trim to the pillowcase body, as done in tutorial above.
Sew the seam to enclose the raw edges for the cuff and trim.
Press and turn right side out. Different fabric manufacturers have slight differences in their fabric widths.
Trim so that they are all the same width. Also, trim off any wide selvedge edges. Some fabrics have little or no printed edges – those don’t need to be trimmed. We just don’t want part of the printed selvedge edge to show on our finished pillowcase.
Now we’ll sew a French seam. To learn more about a French seam, check out our complete article. Fold the pillowcase in half with WRONG sides together. Sew a 1/4-inch seam allowance down the long side and the end of the pillowcase.
Press this seam open as best as you can. This will make a nice finished seam. Then, turn the pillowcase with the wrong side out, right sides together. Sew along the long edge and across the bottom with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. This encloses the raw edges.
Turn the pillowcase right side out and give it a good press. All done!
All of the seams are completely finished on the inside. This is a simple project, perfect for beginner sewists and you learn a few new skills for your sewing toolkit! See how beautiful the inside looks?
And, the finished pillowcase ready for sweet dreams!
Here are the two pillowcases made with the burrito method with French seams.
Selecting fabrics for a burrito pillowcase
The above-finished pillowcases are a good example of what not to do when selecting fabrics. The fabric designs are one-way fabrics. It’s easiest to see in the pillowcase with the dog fabrics. All of the dogs are sideways. 🙁
When looking at the fun fabrics to select for your pillowcase, make sure that it is a non-directional print, or if it is a directional print that the design runs parallel to the selvage of the fabric.
Learn more about the basics of making a pillowcase, and browse through more diy home dec projects on Create Whimsy.
