Cute pillowcases can help make your bedding bright and cheerful and bring smiles to bedtime! In this article, I show you how to make a simple pillowcase with one fabric and how to make a pillowcase with a coordinating cuff and trim with this free tutorial
These are perfect projects for beginners and don’t take long to make – less than 30 minutes from start to finish depending on which style you select and how you plan on finishing the seams. And, make great gifts!
Making your own pillowcases is a great way to use up some of your scraps and fabric stash! Or, buy some fun fabric prints just for someone special to make their pillows match their personality! This simple sewing project is perfect for children to sew as there are only straight lines to stitch.
There are several different ways to make pillowcases. I’ll start with a simple one-fabric pillowcase and then show you how to make one with a contrasting fabric cuff. Read also our article on how to make an envelope pillowcase, with an inner flap.
How to Make a Standard Pillowcase with One Fabric
Here is how much fabric you’ll need to make a simple pillowcase from one fabric for your pillow size. This is an easy project that only has one pillowcase piece.
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Step 1: Cut out your fabric
Start by cutting your fabric using the fabric calculator above for your pillow size. I’m making a toddler size for a truck lover in my life! Begin by folding over along one of the short sides 1/2-inch and press. This will be the opening for your pillow.
Step 2: Sew side seams
I’m making this with French seams for the pillowcase seams. You can sew the seams with straight seams with a 1/2-inch seam allowance and zig zag stitch the raw edge, or serge the seams – whatever way you’d like to finish the inside!
Fold the fabric in half lengthwise. The shorter dimension is the pillow height; the longer dimension is the side-to-side dimension with one end open. To sew a standard pillowcase with a French seam, place wrong sides together and sew along both side seams with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. The folded and pressed edge is left open. Sew down one side, across the bottom and back up the other side.
Press the seam open as well as you can – it is difficult near the corners. This makes it easier to press the seam flat for sewing the second seam for the French seam.
Trim close to the corner to reduce bulk in the corner when turning.
Turn the pillowcase with the right sides together. Give it another good press keeping the side seam right along the edge.
Sew along the three edges with a 1/2-inch seam allowance to finish the inside seams. Here you can see the 1/2-inch that we folded down and pressed in Step 1.
Press the seams well. We won’t turn it right side out until after we sew the cuff.
Step 3: Sew down the cuff
Turn the top of the pillowcase in 4-inches, with the 1/2-inch pressed fold along the edge so there are no raw edges. Pin in place.
Topstitch along the edge about 1/16-inch from the edge. I like to use my topstitch foot and just let the guide do the work to keep the stitching straight.
Step 4: Press and enjoy your new pillowcase
Turn your pillowcase right side out and give it a good press.
Insert your pillow and enjoy your finished pillowcase made from one piece of fabric.
How to Make a Pillowcase with Coordinating Cuff and Trim
Here is a fun way to use different fabrics to make a cute pillowcase with a coordinating or contrasting cuff and trim. Cuffs and trims are perfect ways to use up some fat quarters that you just “had to buy”!
Here is a chart that shows how to cut fabrics for different sizes of pillowcases with a contrasting cuff and trim, and shows the standard size pillows.
How to Make a Pillowcase with Coordinating Cuff and Trim
Pick your own fabrics and sew up some of these easy pilllowcases for yourself or as a gift! Handmade pillowcases are fun to make and give!
This is a great beginner sewing project! There are three pillowcase pieces for this method: The pillowcase body, the trim and the cuff.
Materials
- 3/4 yard of fabric for the main fabric
- 1/3 yard of fabric for the cuff
- 4″ of fabric for the contrasting trim piece
- Matching thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Cutting mat and long ruler
- Iron and pressing surface
Instructions
- Start by auditioning fabric combinations before cutting. I like lots of contrast in my combos. The cuff and insert are great ways to use up scraps in your stash!
- I use fabrics that are 44-45″ wide for my pillowcases and use my rotary cutter and ruler to make it easy to cut straight lines. Cut the three fabrics as follows: Main body at 27 inches by 44-45″. The cuff at 12 inches by 44-45″. The trim at 4 inches by 44-45″.
- Iron the trim fabric in half lengthwise, with wrong sides together. This will be inserted in a seam as a flap or flange. Layer the right sides of the main body and cuff together, and put the trim fabric between them to sew. Sandwich the trim between the body and cuff fabrics – remember that the trim has been folded in half and ironed. Make sure the raw edges of the trim are aligned with the raw edges of the body and cuff of the pillowcase. Sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance. I like to use my serger for this step, but a serger is not required.
- Press the trim to the cuff.
- Even though all of the fabrics were 44"-45", they are never the same - the fabric widths always seem to vary slightly. Trim up the edges to straighten.
- Clean finish the raw edge of the pillowcase cuff. I serged the edge, but a nice zigzag works well, too. This is the top of the piece of the fabric that will be turned down to make the cuff.
- This is what the pillowcase looks like now. Fold it in half with right sides together, lining up the bottom and side edges.
- Sew both the side and bottom seams with 1/2" seam allowances.
Turn the cuff edge to the inside the pillowcase. Line it up with the seam for the cuff and body where you sandwiched the trim. I like to pin this to keep it straight.
- Sew either by hand or machine. And you are done! Turn the pillowcase right side out and press!
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How much material do you need to make a pillowcase?
I use 3/4-yard of fabric for the main body of the pillowcase and 1/3-yard for the cuff. It’s optional to add the contrasting insert (but does make it fun!) and use 4-inches of fabric at the full 40-45 inch width.
Can I make a pillowcase with one yard of fabric?
Yes! Most standard pillow sizes (body pillow excluded) can be made with just one yard of fabric! Check out the standard pillowcase and the pillowcase with coordinating cuff and trim above.
I’ve heard about making a pillowcase with the “burrito” method. What is that?
Learn the burrito method with our step-by-step tutorial. The big difference is the entire cuff is encased with no raw edges with only one seam, which is different than the method above where you double stitch one seam.
What is an envelope pillowcase?
An envelope pillowcase has a flap on the open end that covers the pillow on the inside. This method is used when you want your pillow to be totally covered – perfect for guest pillows. Check out our how to make an envelope pillowcase tutorial.
What fabrics can I use to make pillowcases?
100% cotton fabrics work great. They are washable and comfortable. If you feel adventuresome, you can use silk – but it is finicky to work with. Cotton lawn fabrics make a nice lightweight pillowcase. Make a Christmas pillowcase with specialty holiday quilting cottons!
Here Bobbie used fabric that a young artist can color with fabric pens.
After sewing the pillowcase, it’s time to use the fabric markers to decorate and color the design! Put a piece of paper or plastic inside the pillowcase so that the marks don’t bleed through to the other side. Wax paper works great for this!
The happy girl shows off the new pillows she decorated!
More fun pillowcases!
This is a pile of pillowcases I made for our local Ronald McDonald house to bring smiles to children (and adults) staying at the house.
Browse through more diy home dec projects on Create Whimsy.
