Make sure to wash and dry your fabric before you start sewing. This will preshrink the fabric, so the size of your pillowcase doesn’t change.
Seam allowance is the space between your stitch and the edge of the fabric. Most patterns generally call for an allowance of 1⁄4 in (0. 64 cm) to 1⁄2 in (1. 3 cm). [3] X Research source Pillowcases can be any size. The measurements we’ve included in this article are for a standard pillow, but you can alter the measurements as you’d like by measuring the size of your specific pillow.
Think of it like this, the “right” side of the fabric is the side of the fabric that will be the outside of your pillowcase, and the “wrong” side will be the inside of the pillowcase. The extra 2 in (5. 1 cm) in width (after folding the fabric in half) gives you plenty of seam allowance, and the added 4 in (10 cm) in length allows for seam allowance and a folded hem.
Try pinning the 2 pieces of fabric together with straight pins to help guide your stitching. Place a pin horizontally into the fabric, and then bring it back out of the fabric, so the top and end of the pin pierce through it. [6] X Research source If you’re using your sewing machine for the first time, check the manual—there are tons of handy tips and tricks and instructions on how to do specific stitches.
Hold the 2 pieces of fabric together with your hands as you sew or use straight pins.
Make sure you’re only stitching each fold to one side of the fabric; otherwise, you’ll accidentally sew your pillowcase shut.
Sew a colorful or patterned ribbon over the opening’s folded hem. Simply pin the ribbon to the edge of the hem, and attach it to the fabric using a similar colored thread and straight stitches. Use fabric glue to attach lace around the border or opening. Decide where you’d like the lace to be, dab glue along the lace’s edge, and then press it against the fabric. Try stitching your name or a quote across the body of the pillowcase sewing by hand or with a sewing machine. Sketch your design on the fabric, and then guide your needle along it.
