Taking things for granted

You know that sometimes we take things for granted. Today I am sewing with a friend in the Chicago area and my project was to make the grand-kids pillowcases for Christmas. To my shock my friend had not made pillowcases.  She has sewn for over 50 years and was very excited to learn pillowcases are fast and easy.  So, my lesson today for you is how to make a hotdog sewn pillowcase.

FINISHED SIZES
Standard Case: 21" x 32"*
1 1/2 yards of 44" fabric for 1 set of Standard Cases

Queen: 21" x 36"  
1 3/4 yards of 44" fabric for one set of Queen Cases

King Case: 21" x 42" 
2 yards of 44" fabric for 1 set of King Cases

Bands for all pillowcases you will need 1/4 of a yard
Flat piping 2 1/2"
Both pieces are folded length and pressed to crease the fold. 

We are going to make a standard pillowcase.  

Step 1 Cut band fabric 9" by width of fabric.

Flat piping and main pillowcase fabric

Step 1: Baste flat piping to the main pillowcase fabric raw edges together.  Above picture represents how your pieces should look. Baste the band (flat - single layer) to the two pieces you previously basted. The below picture will help with how you should have right sides together and when basting.

Band with right sides together basted to main fabric and flat piping will be found between the 2 pieces

Step 2: Roll main body to represent your hotdog leaving the top (if directional fabric) hanging loose. See picture below. 

Caution keep extra pillowcase fabric out of the seam area

 

Making of the hotdog

Step 3: Using a three thread serger, 2.5 stitch length, left needle position we are going to finish the edge and stitch together at the same time.  Serger stitch along the basting stitch edge.  

Step 4 Reach into the sewn tube

and pull out hotdog - fabric from the bun. Press flat.

Step 5 Using a rotary cutter and ruler clean your edges up making them even without removing too much. 

 Step 6 Serge along the long side of the pillowcase, watch the below video to help you make a clean finished seam. This helps to finish the seam without bulk and does not need anything extra to bury threads or knot threads. 

 

Step 7 It's time to finish the edges . With right sides together, fold the pillow case in half matching the raw edges. Serge the side seam first then the end seam.

 

 Step 8 Press and put on your pillow.  Our Christmas each year we do not wrap gifts with paper we put the gifts in the pillowcases and the kids just love them!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas, 

Denise