Pillowcase Tutorial: some Home Dec inspiration!

We have some beautiful new fabric collections in the shop, like Andina by Art Gallery Fabrics! 

The fabrics are so colorful and vibrant that they inspired us to make a statement pillowcase for the living room.  We used a simple process, with an envelope-style closure.  If you’ve never sewn a pillowcase before, this is a perfect collection to start with, and we’ve included a tutorial here below.

We wanted to make a pillowcase that was 40 x 40 cm.  We chose two prints from the Andina collection in order to showcase one print on one side of the pillow, and a different print on the other side.

To make a 40 x 40 cm pillowcase, we first need to calculate how much fabric to cut out, including seam allowances and the fabric for the envelope flap.

For the first fabric (Fabric A) - the “front” of the pillow - we add about ⅓ of the final size (40 cm), plus 2 cm for a fold-over seam allowance on the long end of the fabric, to get our final cutting measurement:

One-third of 40 is approximately 13.3.  We round this to 13.5, then add 2 cm for the fold-over seam allowance.  So, the first cutting measurement for Fabric A (the “front) is 40 + 13.5 + 2 cm = 55.5 cm.

The second measurement for Fabric A is simply the final size: 40 cm.

So, for Fabric A, we cut a rectangle of 55.5 x 40 cm.

With Fabric B (the “back”) we don’t need the flap, so we only add 2 cm to the long end for the seam allowance.

For Fabric B, we cut 42 x 40 cm.

Why do we only add 2 cm for the seam allowances along the length of the fabric, but not the width?  

We add the 2 cm at both ends along the length of the fabric in order to fold over the seams 1 cm (and then again 1 cm) to finish it off nicely.  This isn’t necessary for the sides of the pillowcase, but there are lots of ways to finish the seams along the width, for example, with a zig-zag stitch or a serger.  Depending on how you choose to finish the seams along the sides, you may need to add a few centimeters to your cutting measurements.  We use a seam allowance of 0.5 cm for the sides in order to make the pillowcase slightly smaller than the pillow.  This helps give the throw pillow that plush and comfy look at the end.

Before doing the fold-over seams along the length, sew together (right sides facing) Fabric A and Fabric B, matching them up along the 40 cm edge.

Now, it’s time to do the fold-over seams at both ends.  Along the top edge of Fabric A (the edge that measures 40 cm) fold over the fabric 1 cm, press with the iron, then fold it over again. 

Sew along the edge of the seam to finish. 

Repeat this step at the other end of the length of fabric (on Fabric B).

Now we want to create a tube with the fabric. 

First, lay out the fabric on your work surface, right sides together.

Second, bring down the top edge of Fabric A to create the flap, approximately 13.5 cm. 

You should have a tube of fabric with the wrong sides facing you.  Make sure that everything lays flat and the edges are flush along the top where Fabric A folds over Fabric B.  

Pin the fabric together along the open sides and sew up each side using a 0.5 cm seam allowance. If you use a zigzag finish on your seams, or a serger, you may need a larger seam allowance; adjust as necessary.

Turn the fabric inside out and now you have your pillowcase!