Pillow Talk: How to Sew a Pillowcase

Covering pillows is essential -- the oils from your hair and face collect on the pillow, which means the pillow needs regular cleaning. Easiest way to do that? Use a pillowcase.

You can add a personal touch to your pillowcase by sewing your own. Use any textile you like in any print.

Materials

Basic sewing supplies

1 yard 50-inch wide cotton fabric or linen in pattern of choice

1/2 yard 50-inch fabric (in another pattern if you like)

How-To

Wash, dry, and press the material.

With a ruler and chalk, measure a 24-by-40-inch (28cm x 101.5cm) rectangle on the wrong side of the larger piece of cloth; cut it out.

Measure an 11-by-40-inch (28cm x 101.5cm) rectangle on the wrong side of the smaller piece (for the cuff); cut it out.

Pin the cuff fabric to the body fabric, right sides facing, aligning fabrics along one 40-inch edge.

Sew together along this side, 1/2 inch (13mm) from the raw edge. Open up fabric, and press hem against the cuff fabric.

Sew a zigzag seam along the raw 40-inch edge of the cuff fabric. Fold the piece in half, right sides facing, so short ends meet; leaving the cuff end open, sew along the two sides.

Fold the cuff over so that its zigzagged edge overlaps by 1/2 inch the seam joining the two piece. Press and pin in place. Turn the pillowcase right-side out, and stitch directly over the seam that joins the two fabrics to secure the cuff.