In a previous post, I talked about the wonders of the remant rack of your local fabric store. Another easy project to undertake is the fleece pillowcase. It requires only two seams and a hem, so it is very easy to complete if you have a sewing machine, and it is oh-so soft and cozy on a winter night.
For this project, I lucked into a beautiful piece of remnant fleece that was a yard and quarter long, but you really only need a scrap that is two-thirds of a yard in length. Most fleece comes in 58 inch widths, so that is perfect for covering a standard pillow.
Step 1: Cut your fabric.
Leave the 58 inch "width" intact and cut the "length" of the remnant. I cut mine to about 21 inches; you may wish to cut yours a little longer if you have extra-puffy pillows, as this measurement will make the width of the pillowcase. Don't go too far overboard, though, because too much fabric will make a baggy pillowcase.
Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, so the 58 inch side of the fabric (which is the width of the fleece on the bolt, but is the length of the pillowcase; this is confusing to read but will make more sense with a piece of fabric in your hand) is doubled. Make sure right sides of the fabric are together. You will see that the part that will become the bottom edge of the pillowcase is already made by the fold; you just have two side seams to do in order to make a bag, which is all a pillowcase really is.
Step 2: Sew up side seams.
Sew each side seam with 3/8 inch seam allowance. This isn't set in stone; it is just a sewing convention I was taught. More or less seam allowance will make the pillowcase tighter or looser, so here is where you can make up for a mistake in cutting if needed. Lock in your stitches at the top and bottom of the seam.
Step 3: Sew the hem.
Fold the raw edges of the opening down an inch. Make sure you are folding toward the wrong side of the fabric, which should still be the side of the fabric you see. Since fleece doesn't fray, you don't have to fold in twice as you would with other fabrics. Sew the hem with a zig-zag stitch.
Step 4: Turn the pillowcase right side out.
You are done!
The Analysis
Fast: This project routinely takes me a half an hour; it may take you a bit longer if you are a novice sewer.
Cheap: Definitely. Take advantage of that remnant bin. I got a yard and a quarter of this fabric for $4.63, and I used about two-thirds of a yard. That works out to $2.44 for fabric costs. Throw a few cents on for thread, and you arrive at $2.50. You cannot buy a standard pillowcase in any fabric for that amount.
Good: My hubby raves about these in the winter months; they are so soft and warm. I think they are one of those little touches that make it that much easier to turn down the heat at night and cozy up, listening to the sweet sound of the heat not running and money not being spent.
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