Super Pretty, Super Easy Pillowcases

Here's a fun and easy way to add some colour to any bedroom.

Supplies needed:
-.65metres (26") of 45" wide cotton fabric for body of pillowcase
-.3metres (12") of 45" wide cotton fabric for band of pillowcase
-matching thread
-scissors
-measuring tape or ruler
-sewing machine or serger



Steps:
1)Trim each of your fabrics so that they are 105cm(41") wide

2)Fold both pieces of fabric, right sides together.

3)Sew or serge  a regular seam along the long open side of the fabric body.  Now, sew a seam along one short end to create a bag.

4)Sew the short ends of the band fabric together to create a tube.

5)Fold the band fabric in half so that wrong sides are touching and you get a long skinny rectangle.

6)Turn the body fabric out so that the right side of the fabric is on the outside of the bag.

7)Place the band fabric tube over the open edge of the body fabric so that all rough edges are meeting.  Your fabric sandwich should look like this (band, band, body, body, band, band).



8)Sew or serge all around the top of the bag.  You should be sewing 2 layers of band and one layer of the body together.

9)Flip the band out towards the end and press.  Tah dah!  You've just made a pretty pillowcase with a band!

I added some decorative stitching along the edge of mine to give it an extra special something.  You could add more layers of banding and graduate them for extra effect, or try some wide ribbon or other embellishments. 

Each pillow takes less than 20 minutes to create and you can probably look in the remnant bin, either at home or at your local fabric store, for a real deal on the fabric.

These pillows look great in my room and add a little colour to my white bed but, I'm not keeping them for myself.  I'm donating them to one of our three local shelters for the homeless.  In fact, with the help of our local Fabricland and Quilt Guild we're hoping to make enough new pillowcases for each pillow in our three emergencies shelters by the end of October.  Fabricland has been generous enough to give free fabric remnants and prizes and the Quilt Guild ladies are sewing up a storm.  I'll let you know how it all works out in a few weeks!  I can't wait to see all of the pretty designs that everyone is going to come up with.

If you live in the US and would like to do something similar you can get involved in the Million Pillowcase Challenge and add your donations to the tally.  Click here for loads of free patterns!

Of course, these make great last minute Christmas gifts as well!  Let me know how you personalize yours~



(This project will be posted throughout the week at the linky parties from the linky party tab above.  Check out the sites for more great ideas!)

 BetweenNapsonthePorch was my top referrer again  last week, so go visit Susan and
check out Metamorphosis Monday for other fab ideas from her linky party!

(The biggest linky party happens on Tuesdays over at todayscreativeblog.)