Sunday, September 21, 2014

tutorial: five minute pillowcase with French seams, envelope style

This is a tutorial for a standard size pillow. The selvage runs horizontally across the back of the pillow. I've made several of these and it's a fun way to show off a pretty selvage. The French seams inside keep everything neat and tidy!

What you need:
1 yard of cotton or voile fabric (I prewash mine when making pillowcases)
thread and other sewing notions
sewing machine

1. Line up your selvages, square the right side of your fabric, and trim to 30 inches long.
Pillowcase tute
2. Fold the fabric WRONG sides together so that you have a rectangle that measures 19 inches tall by 30 inches wide. Overlap the selvages. Pin raw edges together.
Pillowcase tute
3. Sew along each raw edge with a 3/8" seam allowance. (See above picture.)

4. Turn pillowcase inside out (so now the right sides are together) and poke out corners. Press seams.

5. Sew along each side again, encasing raw edges, with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Pillowcase tute
6. Turn pillowcase right side out and press seams. All done!
Pillowcase tute


Pillowcase tute