Tutorial ~ Ruffle Pillowcase

A day late and a dollar short, that’s always the case for me!  Here is the tutorial promised for yesterday,  and here is a sneak peek to explain my tardiness….

Eeeeeek!  I did it!  And I love it!  Thank you thank you for all of your input on the matter.  Really I loved every single comment, and I really thought about every bit of advice.  In the end, I just went with what made me happy :).  I figure if a buyer can feel it’s a happy home, that will count for something.  Also, we jumped on a jet plane to Utah yesterday, that always takes a wee bit ‘o time.  So here it is, and If I were smart I would have waited to post all the bed linen tutorials until I could show them off on the bed.  This pillowcase may look a tad uninspiring sitting on a table.  All in due time.

Tutorial ~ Adding A Ruffle To A Pillowcase

Supplies:

• standard size pillowcase
• half a yard of fabric
• all your sewing stuff

For the sake of ease and budget I used a pillowcase I already had.  I used a half a yard of fabric and it was just enough to give me a 4 inch ruffle around a standard size pillowcase.  You could of course use any size pillowcase and use less fabric for a smaller ruffle.

Start by cutting off the end of the pillowcase, just on the inside of the seam like shown.

Cut your fabric into two 44 x 8 inch strips.

Press each in half with an iron.

Now sew a basting stitch the entire length of  each along the raw edge.

Now just pull on the bobbin thread and gather up both pieces.

This is the point I decided to sew one end of each strip together to make one long strip.

Now lay the pillowcase on a flat working surface with the right side out, line the strip end with the edge of the pillowcase, right sides together like shown and pin. The raw edges together as well.  Loosen the gathers until the center seam lines up with the other end of the pillowcase and pin.  Now even out the gathers in between and pin every few inches.

Just a tip, if you gather up that first little bit at the end and then add a second pin really close.  That will help ensure that you don’t end up with no gathers at the end.

Flip the pillowcase over and pin the ruffle on the same way.

Now just sew them up right along the basting stitch.  I used a longer stitch like you would for a top stitch, so just a little longer than what you would normally use, it will help the ruffle to lay smooth.  Serge or finish the edge with a zigzag stitch.

Fold the ruffle over and press the seam in with an iron.  Top stitch with a longer stitch length around the perimeter to give it a clean look and keep the inseam in place.

All done!  How cute would two be on a double bed in a little girls room?  And so so easy!

I can’t wait to show you the rest!  I have sketched out a throw pillow that I am so excited about but it will have to wait until I get back to Arkansas in two weeks.  It was everything I had not to pack all my fabric!  I did throw in a few scraps for a pieced pillow, it’s my first attempt, so hopefully I will have a pic for that soon, wish me luck.

Tomorrow I have a fun and easy project to use fabric without sewing.

Again, thank you for all the advice, input, and incouragement!   keep it coming :).

Tagged as: bedding, Eleni's room, home decor