pillow case

Pillow case

Essentials

· Fabric: cotton

1 Measure the pillow you are covering to create a pattern. We need to add room for the seam allowances and the top finished edge. So I' m going to cut my Fabric to 21" wide, leaving room for 1/2" seam allowances, and 41" long because I added 11" to the length to make the nice finished fold at the opening of the pillow. Cut 2 of these.

2 To get started, I'm going to mark the fold area with tailor's chalk. Mark 1" from the edge, and make one more marking 6" from the edge fold at the 6" mark toward the wrong side of the fabric and press. Then tuck under at the 1" mark and press again. Now, follow those same steps for the second piece of fabric.

3 Unfold your fabric, and line it up at all corners and pressing lines. With right sides facing each other, pin the pillow case pieces together along these 3 unfinished edges. Now

we're going to stitch around those three sides using a 1/2" seam allowance. I'm using contrasting Thread so you can see the stitches better, but you would use matching Thread.

4 Backstitching at the start, stitch until you get to the first corner. Make sure the needle is all the way down, lift the presser foot and turn the fabric, lower the presser foot and continue stitching around these 2 edges. Finish the seam allowances with a zigzag or overlock stitch on the sewing machine. Turn the pressed folds toward the wrong side of the fabric, making sure to line up the side seams, and pin stitch 1/8" away from the folded edge.

5 Turn the pillow case to the right side. Give this crease one more pressing and turn back the fold toward the right side of the pillow at just about 4" and press. Now line up and tack the side seams by stitching back and forth along the seam line. This will keep the fold in place. Put your pillow inside, and that's it.