I needed to custom make some pillowcase because the ones you buy
are larger now than what they used to be.
As you already know I was gifted some hand crocheted lace from a friend
that her grandmother had made. It is so
pretty. Fortunately I know how to make a
pillowcase.
There are plenty of ways to make a pillowcases. From simple and basic to fancy and
elaborate. I've made them a few
different ways but this is how I like to do it.
Just a nice simple basic pillowcase with endless possibilities.
I used 100% cotton muslin to make my pillowcases. After washing and drying it I pressed it with
an iron. Fortunately the 44" width
of the fabric was perfect. After I
squared up the end I cut two pieces 32" long.
At one end I pressed the edge over 1/2" and then folded over
3" to make the hem at the opening of the pillowcase. With my hem gauge I pinned and pressed it. Then I selected a decorative stitch and sewed
across the edge. You can certainly
straight stitch it here too.
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| Stitching the hem |
 |
| Stitching the first part of the french seam - WRONG sides together. |
I like to use French seams so I don't have any raw edges anywhere. Pinning WRONG sides together I sewed a
1/4" seam using a straight stitch down the side and across the bottom.
 |
| Finishing the French seam - RIGHT sides together. |
Using my pinking shears I trimmed the seam close to the stitching,
careful not to get too close and cut the stitches. I turned the pillowcase inside out and
pressed it making sure the seams were neatly pressed and corners square. Then I repeated the 1/4 seam along the side
and across the bottom.
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| Pressed and folded in half - looks great just like this! |
Once I turned the pillowcase right side out it was all
finished. Ta da!
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| Close up of the hem. |
I pressed it again and then got busy and hand
stitched the crocheted lace to the edge of the hem. I plan to make another set for some lilac
colored crocheted lace I have and I have some pretty white lace too that I'd
like to use for a set too.
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| After I added the crocheted lace. |
When I make the pillowcases with the white lace I plan to tuck it
under the edge of the hem before I stitch it.
That will make it nicely embellished, I think. And save me a step in stitching it on later.
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| So pretty! |
Have you ever made your own pillowcases? Think you'll make some now? If so, I want to see them! Hope you share. J
Those are quite lovely. I have never made any, and I am pretty sure I never will. I only use white cotton sheets and about 10 years ago I bought a pack of 2 dozen white cotton pillowcases. (They were inexpensive and it was a closeout thing) I don't think I will ever need any more, but I am tempted to put some decorative lace on the edges!
ReplyDeleteThe best part is putting the pretty stuff on them.
DeleteLove your pillowcases! Yes I have made several pillowcases and all with French seams like yours! Made them out of the recycled back of a quilt my son used for years that I had made him in his childhood. The backing was actually a bedsheet from KMart when Martha Stewart's line could be found there. Bummer they closed the Kmart on Fairview, that was my fav.
ReplyDeleteThe lace embellishments are lovely. :)
Thanks Teresa. It is sad to see them close Kmart. Closest one now is in Nampa. We had a really nice one on Parkcenter. I was bummed when that one closed
Delete