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How to Make a Standard Pillow Case

Make a standard pillow case with construction and cut in mind. A standard pillow case is 20 by 30 inches, consisting of the body and the band. Acquire 1 ½ yards of fabric to make the body and ½ yard for the band. Pick matching or coordinating fabric, preferably woven cotton or a blend. Evaluate the grain. Threads that run up and down are the lengthwise grain. Threads that run side to side are the crosswise grain. The pre-finished edge is called the selvage. Make the cut squarely on the grain or perpendicular to the selvage.

Things You'll Need

Fabric Shears Measuring tape Chalk Thread Sewing machine

Instructions

- 1
  Use a measuring tape and chalk to mark the fabric. Make the body 27-by-42 inches and the band 9-by-42 inches.
- 2
  Cut the two pieces of pillow case fabric with shears.
- 3
  Fold the band fabric in half lengthwise so that the wrong sides are together. Iron the fabric. Then open it and lay it flat.
- 4
  Tuck the long edges of the pillow case band. Fold and press the long edges inward ½-inch, wrong side to wrong side.
- 5
  Attach the pillow case band to the body. Sandwich the raw edge of the body fabric between the edges of the band fabric. Then pin the fabric into place.
- 6
  Make a straight stitch across the layers with a ¼-inch seam allowance.
- 7
  Fold the pillow case in half so that the fabric is right side to right side. Sew the selvage edge and the end. Use a serger or a zigzag stitch with a ¼-inch seam allowance to prevent fraying. Trim the seams and iron the fabric. Then turn it inside out.

Sewing