I enjoy making homemade gifts, and this year, I decided many on our gift list were going to receive pillowcases. Pillowcases? Yep! There are so many fun fabrics that I’m considering making myself some for each season. 🙂 On a recent snow day, I made six pillowcases as Christmas presents. Thanks to the serger, these pillowcases are only three seams. The hardest part of this project was cutting out the fabric. 🙂 Let’s look at how to make these three seam pillowcases.

Three Seam Pillowcases Deconstructed…

For each pillowcase, you will need two pieces of fabric. One piece is the cuff and the other will become the body of the pillowcase. The cuff fabric needs to measure 10 inches by 41 inches and the body material needs to be 26 1/2 inches by 41 inches. For two matching pillowcases, have the fabric store cut a 3/4 yard piece for the cuff and 2 yards for the body. (You could probably get by with 1 3/4 yard, but I always like to be on the safe side.) Here’s how to make three seam pillowcases:

1. As with any sewing project, be sure to prewash and dry the fabric prior to cutting. Nobody likes to deal with fabric shrinkage after putting in the time to make a project.
2. Next, cut each piece of fabric to the proper dimensions.
3. This next part is where the magic begins. Place the cuff material, right side up, on a work surface. (If your fabric has a one-way pattern, make sure the pattern is upside down. See picture below). Place right side of body fabric on top of cuff, matching long edges and pin.
4. Roll up body material, as shown, to middle of cuff material. Wrap cuff material over roll and pin to upper edge, therefore lining up and pinning all three layers of material. This is the exciting beginning to your three seam pillowcase! 
5. Serge the pinned edge, being careful to only sew/cut the three layers of fabric. DO NOT sew over rolled fabric. Seam #1 is complete!
6. Pull center out of roll to create pillowcase body. (See below)
7. Press material well along seam, pulling up on cuff while ironing to get a clean, crisp seam. This step lets you see what you finished three seam pillowcase will look like. 🙂
8. Place right sides together, be sure to line up the seams that connect the body and cuff, and sew long edge of pillowcase body. This is seam #2!
9. Sew bottom edge of pillowcase. Seam #3 and your three seam pillowcase is almost done!
10. Using a large yarn needle, tuck all loose ends of thread into seams to finish. (see photo)
11. Turn pillowcases right sides out, gently press closed scissors into corners for crisp corners.

Give the gift that lasts much longer than chocolates or gift cards! Homemade three seam pillowcases made with a serger are thoughtful, fun, and quick. My students make pillowcases as part of my Clothing class, and their fun fabrics inspired the idea behind this post. Thanks guys! I hope you get many years of use from your hard work! 🙂

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! Be happy and do whatever good you can in your little area of the world!