Friday, October 11

Day 11 - Sleep Over Pillowcase

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


We're just about done with week two which is all for the kids. Today's project is a fun one that's really easy to put together - a sleep over pillow case!


It's pillow and overnight bag all in one. This would be perfect to give to grandkids or a niece or nephew who might spend the night sometime. 

 

There's a handy handle for toting it to the sleepover destination. 





A big pocket with velcro closure to keep all the sleeper's things together.


Plenty of room for jammies, a toothbrush, and more!


 The pillowcase itself even velcros closed to make sure the pillow doesn't slip out in-transit.



Ready to make one? Here's what you need:
  • 1 1/8 yards cotton fabric for pillowcase
  • 5/8 yard cotton fabric for pockets
  • 13" of sew-in velcro (I used 3/4")
  • thread
Start by pre-washing and drying the fabrics. Then cut out the following pieces:

From the main fabric:
2 pillow cases - 33 x 22"
2 handles - 12 x 3.5"

From the pocket fabric:
2 pockets - 18 x 11"
2 pocket flaps - 18 x 6"


Start by making the handle. Pin the two handle pieces with right sides together. Stitch along both long edges with a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave the ends open.


Flip the handle right-side out and press.


Now make the pocket. Lay the pocket pieces right-sides together and pin around the edges. Stitch around the edges with a 1/2" seam allowance leaving a 4" opening for turning on the bottom edge.


Clip the corners.


Flip the pocket right-side out and push out the corners nice and square. Tuck in the fabric at the opening (on the bottom edge) and pin the opening closed. Press.


Topstitch along the top edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.


Now make the pocket flap. Start by stacking the flap pieces with right sides together. Clip off the bottom left corner at about a 45 degree angle. I just winged it and cut it where I liked the look of it.


Fold the flap pieces in half and line up the short ends. Now you can use the corner you just cut as a template for the bottom right corner to make sure they match! Cut the corner right along that line.


Open the pieces back up (still stacked right sides together) and pin. Sew around the edges with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a 3-4" opening along the top edge for turning.


Clip the corners.


Flip the flap right-side out through the opening. Push the corners out nice and pointy. Tuck the fabric in at the opening and pin the opening closed. Press.


Topstitch around the sides and bottom with a 1/4" seam allowance.


Now lay out the pocket piece on the right side of one of your pillowcase pieces. Space it so you have 7" on the left side, 9" on the right side, and 6" above and below. Pin it in place. Stitch close to the edge around the sides and bottom of the pocket to attach it. Don't stitch across the top (remember the top is the edge you top-stitched earlier)!!


Now pin the flap in place. Make sure the sure the sides are lined up with the sides of the pocket, and set it so the top edge is 1" above the top edge of the pocket. Stitch right along the top edge of the flap to attach it.


Now attach the velcro for the pocket. Start by cutting two 2.5" strips of velcro. On the flap put one side (I did the scratchy side) of the velcro strips near the corners and pin them in place. Stitch around the edges of the velcro to attach it.


Fold the flap back down to see where the the velcro will hit the pocket. Place the other side of the velcro strips there and pin them in place. Stitch around the edges of the velcro to attach it. This part might take a little bit of finagling since the pocket is already attached, make sure you are only sewing through the pocket fabric and not through the pillowcase itself!


Now pin the handle in place. You want the raw, short ends to be flush with the top edge of the pillowcase. Pin it so the inside edge of the left side of the handle is 14" from the left side of the pillowcase, and the inside edge of the right side of the handle is 17" from the left side of the pillowcase.


Lay the other pillowcase piece face-down on top of this piece and pin around the edges. Sew around the top, left, and bottom edges with a 1/2" seam allowance (leave the right end open). Clip the corners.


Serge or zig-zag stitch around the top, left, and bottom seam allowances to keep them from unraveling.


With the pillowcase still inside out, on the right end fold the raw edges down 1/4" and press.


Then fold it down 2" and press again. Pin along the folded edge. Then stitch right along that edge.


Now you can add the remaining velcro (10" long) to the opening of the pillow case. Place the strips right along the edge of the pillowcase and center them on the opening (there should be 5.5" on either side of the strips). Stitch around the edges of the velcro to attach it.


Flip the pillowcase right side out (make sure you got all the pins out!), stuff in a pillow, and you're done!


The pocket is perfect for holding just what the kids need for a night over at grandma's house.


A pair of jammies, undies, a toothbrush, comb...


... and even room for a special friend!



These would also make fun favors for a sleepover party.


Here's about what it cost to make a pillowcase:

$6.00 - pillowcase fabric, 30% off
$3.00 - pocket fabric, 30% off
$1.00 - velcro (guessing on this, I bought a ton on super sale a couple years ago)
$0.00 - thread (left over from other projects)

Total: $10.00

And really you can count it as two presents... if you actually have the kids over for a night and give the parents a night off. Best present ever. ;)


Before we wrap up today, I give you the saga of B and the pillow case....

"Mama! Yoo sit. Next it!"

"WAT DIS?!? Mama?"
"It's a pocket for jammies. I'll show you."

There are no words for the grief that ensued when I actually PUT HIS JAMMIES IN THAT POCKET. Woe to him.

Cue nap time.

Tomorrow is our last day of kids week, can't wait to see you there!

2 comments:

  1. I am an experienced sewist who has made lots of pillows. Why didn’t I think of this? Love the simplicity and looks great finished. Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete

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