Sewing Sunsets

I still can’t believe that it is the holiday season.  During this time of year, we are even busier and more rushed than we normally are, and our nerves are frayed and our tempers tend to flare.  I find that I feel much more peaceful if I can spend time in my sewing room creating gifts for those on my holiday list. 

Besides blankets, pillows, and neck pillows, another item that is really easy to sew is a pillowcase.  Pillowcases really need no pattern at all and there are so many great fabrics to choose.  I like to use 100% cotton or cotton flannel, which can be nice and cozy in the winter months, and there are some great fabric prints in many themes.  Pillowcases are appropriate for children and adults, plus they can also be embellished.  Usually, I choose not to embellish pillowcases because I think the fabric prints are sew nice.  However, if you used a solid color, you could do some decorative stitching in the pillowcase hem area or you could even choose to monogram the pillowcase.

Pillowcases take about one yard of fabric and are sew easy to sew.  The easiest way to sew a pillowcase is to fold the fabric lengthwise and serge down one side and then serge the bottom seam.

When I serge the long seam of the pillowcase, I serge off of the the end and then serge the bottom.  You can also sew the seams on a conventional sewing machine, using about a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  If you are a beginner or don’t have a serger, I would suggest trimming the seams with pinking shears in order to prevent fraying.  Also, the corners need to be clipped diagonally.

When the two main seams of the pillowcase have been sewn, the hem needs to be measured.  I use a seam gauge and measure down about 4 inches, pin and press.  When I sew the hem, I place my sewing machine needle all the way to the left and let the presser foot ride on the finished edge of the hem. ( I serge finish the raw edges before turning the hem down.)

When the hem has been sewn, press the pillowcase well and you have a wonderful gift.  Because this takes sew little fabric to make, you could use up some fabric from your stash or buy fabric when it’s on sale at the fabric store.  Pillowcases could even be used as a gift bag of sorts, which would definitely be one way of “going green” this Christmas.  Depending on the size of the blanket, you could fill a pillowcase with a blanket (if it’s small enough), a small pillow, and perhaps a neck pillow.  Once again, you could give these items as a gift set or you could give them separately to several people. 

Complete instructions (tutorial and pictures) for sewing pillowcases (using a serger and sewing on a conventional sewing machine): www.sewseamless.com/Page41.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page42.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page43.html , and  www.sewseamless.com/Page44.html

Complete directions (tutorial) and pictures for sewing flannel blankets (reversible flannel blankets): www.sewseamless.com/Page46.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page47.html, www.sewseamless.com/Page48.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page49.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page50.html and www.sewseamless.com/Page51.html

Complete directions (tutorial and pictures) for sewing pillows: www.sewseamless.com/Page22.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page23.html , and www.sewseamless.com/Page24.html

Complete directions (tutorial and pictures) for sewing neck pillows: www.sewseamless.com/Page52.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page53.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page54.html , www.sewseamless.com/Page55.html , and www.sewseamless.com/Page56.html

Happy Sewing!

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