Pillow Case Challenge

August 24, 2010 6:10 am jessica Crafts, Projects, Sewing, Trends

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog “Life Sew Good”.

My friend Summer lost her dad a little over a year ago to cancer. After she heard about a program that is trying to collect 1 million pillowcases to be donated to various hospitals, she jumped on board. Patients like to have pillowcases that are their own when they are in the hospital for long stays. I definitely wanted to be a part of this, and I thought it would be a fabulous idea to have our ThinkCrafts.com friends join in! Summer’s blog, has all the info you need on where to send pillowcases, as well as the story behind her motivation for doing this. All the pillow cases collected will be sent to St. Jude’s, a children’s hospital. I’ve provided you with a simple tutorial to make a sweet standard pillowcase. Please send pictures of the pillow cases you make and I can include them on a future post.

You’ll need:

1- 1 1/3 yd. main fabric—flannel or cotton
¼ yd. coordinating fabric—flannel or cotton
Measuring tape/ruler
Fabric Pen (optional)
Scissors
Thread
Pins

Preshrink your fabric using HOT WATER ONLY (no soap!). This is important if you are making the pillowcase to send to children in the hospital.

Cut 1 piece 27” x 42” main fabric (piece “A”)
Cut 1 piece 8 ½” x 42” main fabric (piece “B”)
Cut 1 piece 5” x 42” coordinating fabric (piece “C”)
Take piece B & C, fold in ½” length-wise and press.
Lie piece C on top of piece B, raw edges together

6. Lie piece A on top of piece C, lining up the raw edges and pin in place.

7. Sew ½” seam along raw edges. Back track on each end.

8. Serge or zigzag edge. Open so that you can see all right sides. Press piece C so that it lies on top of piece A. Turn the case over to the wrong side & press seam up toward piece B. Top stitch.

9. Fold pillowcase in half, right sides together, finished edges together. Sew ½ seam along all raw edges. Sew ½” seam along raw edges. Back track on each end.

10. Serge or zigzag edge. Open so that you can see all right sides. Press piece C so that it lies on top of piece A.

11. Turn the case over to the wrong side & press seam up toward piece B. Top stitch.

12. Fold pillowcase in ½, right sides together, finished edges together. Sew ½ seam along all raw edges.

13. Serge or zigzag edge.

14. Turn right side out.

You did it!!! Now make a few more & send them to Summer, along with a personal note with a prayer or special message for the unknown recipient. You will be part of a huge effort to bring specially made pillowcases to children at St. Jude’s!