Want to jazz up your bedroom decor?

Adding new pillowcases is on of quickest, and cheapest, ways to do just that. And, if you really want to save, making your own pillowcases is the way to go.

There are many ways to go about making pillowcases. And one of the easiest is called the Burrito Method.

Supplies

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own pillowcase.

Tools

• A sewing machine.
• A cutting tool, like a pair of scissors, or a rotary cutter.
• An iron.
• A ruler or tape measure.
• Something to mark the fabric while measuring, like a fabric marker or marking pencil.

Materials

• 3 pieces of fabric in the following sizes:
• For the main body of your pillowcase, you’ll need a piece of fabric that’s at least 27” x 40.”
• For the cuff, you’ll need piece of fabric that’s at least 9” x 40”.
• For the decorative trim, you’ll need a piece of fabric that’s at least 2” x 40”.
• Thread that goes well with the fabrics you’ve chosen.

Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to make your pillowcase.

Instructions

1. Choose your fabric.

Your pillowcase will be made up of three parts:

• The main body.
• The cuff, which will wrap around the opening.
• The decorative trim.

You can use the same fabric for all three pieces. Or you can use a patterned fabric for the body of the pillowcase, and two solid, coordinating fabrics for the cuff and trim. Or maybe there’s some other combination that you’d like to try.

2. Cut your fabric pieces.

Cut out the three pieces of fabric you’ll need to make your pillowcase. Here are the measurements:

• Fabric for the main body: 27 inches by 40 inches.
• Fabric for the cuff: 9 inches by 40 inches.
• Fabric for the trim: 2 inches by 40 inches.

3. Prepare your trim fabric.

Place the fabric you’re using for the trim on a flat surface, right side down. (Meaning the side you want to be visible when the pillowcase is finished is facing down.)

Fold the trim fabric in half lengthwise, then use your iron to give the whole thing a good pressing.

You’ll be left with a strip of fabric that’s 1 inch wide and 40 inches long.

4. Combine the trim fabric and the cuff fabric.

Place the fabric you’re using for the cuff on a flat surface, right side up. (So the side you want to be visible when the pillowcase is finished is facing up.)

Lay the strip of trim fabric on top of the cuff fabric. Line up the 40 inch raw edge of the trim fabric with the 40 inch raw edge of the cuff fabric, then pin the two pieces together.

5. Add the third piece of fabric.

Take the piece of fabric you’re using for the main body of the pillowcase and lay it on top of the cuff/trim combo. You want this fabric to be right side down. (Meaning the side you want people to see when the pillowcase is finished is facing down.)

Make sure the 40 inch raw edges of all three pieces of fabric line up. Then pin the three pieces of fabric together.

6. Wrap up your fabric.

Starting at the bottom, roll the main fabric piece up towards the top. If it helps, imagine you are rolling the dough to make cinnamon rolls.

When your roll reaches the middle of the cuff fabric, stop rolling.

Now, take the bottom edge of the cuff fabric and wrap it up and over the roll.

Line up the top and bottom edges of the cuff fabric and pin them together, leaving enough room for the 3/8” seam allowance.

At this stage, your project should look a bit like a 40 inch long burrito made out of fabric.

Now, keeping that 3/8” seam allowance in mind, sew along the raw edges of the cuff fabric.

7. Pull out the roll.

Go to one of the open ends of “fabric burrito,” and pull the cuff back to expose the roll inside.

Now, slowly and gently pull out the roll.

Once the roll has been freed, spread the piece out on a flat surface, right side up. Finally, give the cuff and trim a good press with your iron.

8. Prep for more sewing.

Lay your unfinished pillowcase on a flat surface, right side down.

Now, fold the piece in half, so that the “wrong sides” are facing each other.

Line up the 27 inch raw edges. Try to make sure the seams of the cuff and trim are lined up. At the very least, try to make sure the trim fabric on the top half is lying directly on top of the trim fabric on the bottom half.

Now, if you’d like, you can press all three pieces of fabric, to get rid of any wrinkles.

Next, pin the sides together, leaving room for a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Do the same to the bottom of your unfinished pillowcase, pinning the raw edges together, but leaving room for a ¼ inch seam allowance.

9. Sew the pillowcase “closed.”

Keeping that ¼ inch seam allowance in mind,  sew along the raw edges on the side and across the bottom of your pillowcase.

And here is an optional step. To cut down on bulk (which will really help in the next step), you can cut off the two corners on the bottom of the pillowcase. Use a sharp cutting tool to make diagonal cuts. And make sure you don’t cut the stitches.

10. Finish making your pillowcase.

Turn the pillowcase wrong side out. Then reach into the pillowcase and use your finger to push out the bottom corners.

Use your iron to give the seams a good pressing.

Next, pin together the side of the pillowcase that you just sewed. Do the same to the bottom of the pillowcase.

Leaving a ½” seam allowance, stitch along the sides and the bottom of your pillowcase.

Finally, turn the pillowcase right side out, so that the side you want everyone to see is showing. And use your iron to give the seams one more good pressing.

And there you have it. Your brand new, custom made pillowcase is now complete.

It will no doubt be the first of many. Because once you know how easy it is to make your own pillowcases, you’ll probably find it hard to stop.