The holidays are all about traditions, so here's a fun idea for a new one to start this year. Whip up a special pair of Christmas pillowcases for each of the kids on Santa's list at your house. This project is super fast and easy, and it uses just 1½ yards of main fabric and ½ yard of contrasting trim fabric. It will be a special day each year when the holiday pillowcases make their appearance on all the beds in the house. Your kids will also love helping to pick out their own special fabrics.

These cute kids pillowcases follow the same instructions as our equally cute grown up versions: Visions of Sugarplums Christmas Pillowcases.

Why stop at Christmas? You could make a special set for birthdays, Valentine's Day, sleepovers, and more. I'm getting a little sleepy just thinking about it.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome Jem Gold 3)

Fabric and Other Supplies

Fabric amounts shown are for TWO pillowcases.

• Fabric for body of pillowcase: 1½ yards of 45" wide fabric, we used: Be Merry Medium Snowmen in Pink
• Fabric for pillowcase trim: ½ yard of 45" wide fabric, we used: Be Merry in Cream Stripe
  NOTE: We made a second set of 'boy's room' pillowcases using Be Merry Large Snowmen in Red for the body of the pillowcase and Be Merry Red Words for the trim.
• 2 standard 20" x 26" bed pillows
• All purpose thread
• Contrasting color thread for topstitching
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Straight pins

Getting Started

1. From the fabric for the body of the pillowcase, cut two rectangles, 21" x 53".
2. From the fabric for the pillowcase trim, cut two rectangles, 9" x 41".
   

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

Pillowcase body

1. Fold one pillowcase body rectangle in half, right sides together, so it is now: 21" x 26½".
   
2. Pin the two 26½" sides together. Stitch both sides, using a ½" seam allowance.
   
3. Clip corners and turn pillowcase right side out. Push out the trimmed corners from the inside to make nice, square corners on the outside. Use your finger or a blunt edge tool, like a large knitting needle. Press.
   
4. Repeat for second pillowcase body.

Pillowcase trim

1. Press a double-fold hem along one raw edge of the pillowcase trim piece. Turn up the edge ½" and press, then turn up another 4" and press again
   
2. Unfold the pressed hem. Your fold lines will remain.
   
3. Fold the 9" x 41" trim piece in half, right sides together, so it is now: 9" x 20½".
4. Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch the along the 9" raw edge. Press seam open.
   
5. You now have a 9" x 40" circle of trim.
6. Repeat for second pillowcase trim piece.

Finish pillowcase

1. Slip your ‘trim circle" over the open bottom end of your pillowcase body, right sides together, matching raw edges and aligning the trim's seam with one of the pillowcase body's side seams. You are matching the raw edge of the pillowcase opening with the ‘non-folded" raw edge of your trim piece. Pin all around.
   
2. Using a ½" seam, stitch all around the pillowcase opening. Press the seam towards the trim.
3. ‘Re-fold' the raw edge of your trim, following the pre-pressed trim lines. Fold ½" and then 4".
4. Bring the folded edge of the trim around to the inside of the pillowcase. The folded edge of the trim should just overlap the inside pillowcase/trim seam. Pin in place from the front.
   
5. As you look at your pillowcase from the front, you should have 4" of trim showing from seam to folded edge.
6. Topstitch ¼" in from the seam to secure trim. We used a contrasting color thread for a decorative touch. Press.
7. Repeat to finish second pillowcase.
   

Hints and Tips

Alternate pillow sizes

If you have larger or smaller pillows you'd like to make cases for, simply adjust our measurements to accommodate your pillow size. For example, king pillows are normally 20" x 36" so the width remains the same but you need an additional 10" in finished length (20" in cut length). This means rather than cutting the fabric for the body of the pillowcase 21" x 53", you should cut it 21" x 73". However, two yards of fabric equals 72". This is where the 'fudge factor' comes in. Can you 'fudge' a little to save some money? I'd say, 'yes.'You can totally get away with this slightly shorter length to avoid buying more than a standard two yard cut. Your trim piece won't extend quite as far over the edge of the pillow, but will still cover it nicely.

Contributors

Project Design: Alicia Thommas
Sample Creation: Aimee McGaffey

Other machines suitable for this project include the Bernina activa 210 and the Elna 2300.

Comments (5)

Studio Julie Snow said:

... I love these instructins - beautiful!

November 02, 2011

Kimberley said:

... I love this project! You can put so much personality in these pillowcases. A great gift idea!

February 26, 2011

Dana J said:

... Thanks for the great tutorial! I used this to help my 6 year old learn to sew! She made a pillow case for a friend for a bday party and was SO PROUD she could say she sewed it herself. Thanks for all the great tuts!

February 11, 2011

Shannon Reynolds said:

... Your tutorial is fatastic! It is well organized and was very easy to follow. My pollowcase for my daughter's bed turned out great! Thank you so much!!

June 29, 2010

jodieth said:

... Oh, how this fabric looks wonderful in pillowcases. I made Christmas pillows for my kids and godchildren 18 years ago!

December 08, 2009

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