Making Pillow covers in interior designing and decoration – Tips and guidance

A PLAIN PILLOWCASE

 Cut out a strip of fabric, twice the length of the pillow plus a total of 30 cm (12 in) for turnings and tuck in. Allow 2 cm (l in) seam allowance down each long edge. At the tuck-in end, turn under and press 15 mm and then 10cm to make a broad border. Stitch in place and add cording or any other trim if required. At the tuck-in end, turn under and press a 15 mm double hem.

PILLOWCASE WITH BORDER For a crisp, flat edging to a pillowcase, the front should be cut from one panel of fabric and the back cut from two panels, one to cover the main part of the pillow and the other to form a tuck-in. Cut out the front panel, allowing 6cm – or whatever width you want- all around for the border and seam allowance. Cut out the main back panel, omitting the border allowance down one short edge. Cut the tuck-in panel the same width as the main panel and 23 cm deep. Turn under a 2cm double hem down the short edge of the main back panel and on the smaller back panel.

If you want a more traditional fastening, make buttonholes along the hemmed edge of the main back panel. Position the main panel over the tuck-in, with the wrong side of the main panel facing the right side of the back panel so that they make up a panel the same size as the front panel of fabric. Tack together within the seam allowance where the panels overlap. Position the back on the front, right sides facing, and pin together all around the outer edge.

Stitch, taking a 1 cm seam allowance

 Stitch in place by machine and press a 15cm wide n 2 Fold the fabric in half so 1 edge of the border match: tuck-in, wrong sides together down each long edge, taking seam. Trim seams, press and Complete the French seam, t seam allowance as before.

Turn right side out and I all around the pillowcase, stitching 5 cm (2 in) inside the line to make a flat border. P trimming along the seam line sews on buttons or other fastening