All About Pillowcases

Appropriate pillowcases are:

  1. Made of a washable no-iron fabric that kids will like (cotton or flannel)
  2. Made of cheery, colorful, fun fabrics
  3. Appropriate for boys or girls, younger children as well as adolescents
  4. Sized to fit a standard pillow (21″ x 32″)
  5. Store-bought or hand-made
  6. Washed or clean, and put into individual ziplock bags

Pillowcase Patterns

There are a number of free patterns available online. Here’s one that’s pretty simple:

Supplies:

  • 3/4 yard of fabric for pillowcase body
  • 1/3 yard of fabric for the border of pillowcase
  • NOTE: Please wash the fabric before sewing your pillowcase. This is helpful especially for the protection of children with suppressed immune systems.

Sewing Instructions:

  1. Cut the body of the case: 26.5″ x 40.5″
  2. Cut the border of the case: 10.5″ x 40.5″
  3. Fold the pillowcase border in half lengthwise, with the wrong sides together, and press.
  4. Place the right side of the pillowcase border on the right side of the pillowcase body.
  5. Stitch them together using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
  6. Place right sides of the pillowcase together. Stitch down the side and across the bottom.
  7. Turn to the right side and press.
  8. Bonus step: Finish seams so that the pillowcases will not fray

When the pillowcase is done, please place each one in its own ziplock bag.

If you’re ready for a more challenging pillowcase project, check out these instructions for the “Hot Dog” method of pillowcase construction (courtesy of Erica’s Craft & Sewing Center, South Bend, IN).