Learn how to sew up a pillowcase in a roll. This is a great technique if you don’t want to show the seams. It uses a french seam technique to hide them. It’s easy to do and with the images walking you through each step, you’ll be finished in no time.
What is a French Seam?
A French seam is a sewing technique used to enclose raw fabric edges within the seam itself, resulting in a clean, professional finish on both the inside and outside of the garment.
Just because it’s used in garment making, it doesn’t mean that we can’t use if for quilting and other sewing projects. This is the perfect project to use it in.
As you can see from the fabric, these were made a while back.
For Christmas.
This Pillowcase is not just for the holidays only – though it would make a nice Mother’s Day present.
Come Sew with Us!
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Every year we swap our favorite things (my sister, mom and sister in laws). This year I choose to make everyone a new pillowcase. Because having a new pillowcase is one of my favorite things.
This one makes you totally look like a professional stitcher.
It has a trim piece, a cuff….and the seams are not raw!
No, you don’t need a serger for this, it’s all done with a french seam. Don’t run away. It’s not as bad as you think.
Let’s begin shall we?!
Cut list for each pillowcase:
From Main Fabric, cut 1 piece that is 27″ x 40″
From Coordinating Fabric, cut 1 piece that is 9″ X 40″
From Trim Fabric, cut 1 piece that is 2″ X 40″
FABRIC: pick it up at Fat Quarter Shop
Supplies you may need:
- Rotary cutter or a new sharp blade
- Cutting Mat
- Quilt Ruler
- Sewing Machine this brother is my favorite!
- Iron here
- Thread
- Bobbins
- Scissors
- Seam Ripper not my favorite thing to do!
Pillowcase Roll Tutorial~
1- With wrong sides together, fold the trim piece in half lengthwise and press.
2- Match the raw edges of the Trim along the top edge of the Cuff and pin to hold.
3- Place the Pillowcase Body on top of the Cuff/Trim with right sides together and pin or clip in place
4- Taking the bottom of the pillowcase body, roll it right up to the top edge – you don’t want it to line up with the pinned edge, it needs to stop before it so it isn’t caught in your stitching seam.
5- Take the bottom edge of the cuff fabric and wrap it up to the edge and repin to secure
6- Sew along the raw edge that is pinned
7- Pull the pillowcase out right sides
8- Give it a good iron, things will be just a little scrunched and off
9- Pin the side seams and along the bottom— WRONG sides are touching, the right sides are facing out. This is a french seam. Just go with it for a minute.
10- Sew along the pinned edge.
11- Trim the seam to make sure there isn’t anything not straight. These can get caught in the seam later and don’t look nice.
12- Turn the pillowcase wrong sides out – push the corners out and iron if needed
13- Make the seam go right along the outside and stitch again just past the original seam.
14- Turn the pillowcase right sides out again and you are finished.
The beauty of this is the seams are hidden – no raw edges! It has a very finished look.
You can mix it up with the cuff and trim or you can leave out the trim and just go with a cuff….you decide.
They are a little tricky the first time around, but you’ll get the hang of it and it will go quicker.
Have you made these before? Have any additional hints to help us out?
Don’t you just love new pillowcases?
More Pillowcase Tutorials:
Sew a pillowcase with a cute cuff and trim. This is easy enough tutorial, it’s a great project for an early sewer.
2 different ways to sew a pillowcase.
Check out the tutorial list of projects that you can finish in an afternoon.
Becky Jorgensen is the creative quilter behind Patchwork Posse, the Patchwork Planner and her online quilt group Patchworkers Plus. You can find her patterns in books, magazines, and her quilt membership. Gather your quilting supplies, organize your sewing space, explore the process of disappearing quilt blocks, or finish a free quilt pattern. I'll help you use what you have, finish what you start and make your quilting journey fun!
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Fun project! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later today that features your pillowcase tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=87448 –Anne
Thank you Anne!!
Very nice project, easy to follow instructions. I made pillow cases for 6 of my grandchildren a couple of years ago for Christmas, being they all live 3 to 4 hours away, I figured they could use the pillow cases to take their gifts home in, of course then too use them for pillowcases when they get home. 4 of my grandchildren are teenagers and I see they are still using them, maybe time to make a new one for this Christmas & I will try out your pattern. Thanks!!
I make things to be sold in the local railroad museum’s gift shop. I’ve made aprons, pillows, Quillows, quilts, Crayon Rolls (holds 8 crayons), drink coasters, table runners, gift bags, pocket tissue holders, Mug Rugs, pillowcases (like the ones in this tutorial) and Tooth Fairy pillows. I’m always looking for new ideas. Thanks!
you are welcome! Looks like a nice variety of items!
Nice post! The beauty of this is the seams are hidden – no raw edges! It has a very finished look.
THANK YOU
I love doing these, but everything i go to do it, I have to search for instructions as I can never remember the order of things! I would love to 0rint this out but download isn’t working?