Special Occasion Pillowcases
Get Your Kids To Go To Bed The Night Before Christmas!
Kids of all ages will enjoy these easy, fun pillowcases that celebrate a holiday, birthday, or vacation away from home. They also double as unique gift wrapping!
I still believe in Santa Claus, a little bit. I find that no matter how old I get I still wake up several times on Christmas Eve just with the excitement of it all, before the big day. So I can sympathize with kids -- AND adults -- who find it hard to hit the sack on that most magical of nights.
You might have some good luck getting the little ones, at least, to go to bed when you've made them very special pillowcases. Choose cotton fabrics that celebrate the season, or occassion. I've made several of these for my own children in different colours and prints, from ballet dancers and sparkles to Dora and rainbow stripes to 1930s repros. You can make "First Day of Camp" pillowcases, "Going To Nanny and Papa's House" pillowcase, travel pillowcases, and "Great Report Card" pillowcases. These are fast, easy, and thoughtful gifts... or you can make some for your own bed in colours that match your bedroom.
The pillowcases are also great gift bags: Pack in some folded clothes, toys, or small bulky items and tie with ribbon.
Fabric Required For One Pillowcase:
Using the Noah's Ark pillowcase as an example, choose your fabrics accordingly. Select 100% cotton if you can, 42" width. Each pillowcase finishes at about 20" by 31" and fit most standard pillows.
- Green plaid print
- Dark green star print
- Zoo print
1) Cut the green plaid print into a 26 1/2" piece. Cut the dark green star print into a 1 1/2" piece. Cut the zoo print into a 9 1/2" piece.
2) Using a 1/4" seam, stitch together plaid print to star print, and zoo print to star print.
3) Fold in half, keeping right sides together.
4) Stitch along short side of green plaid print, and long side opposite fold.
5) Fold 1/4" of zoo print to outside (wrong side); press.
6) Fold half of remaining zoo print, which covers band (sewn star and plaid print). Press. Pin to hold in place and carefully turn right side out.
7) Stitch along edge of band, on the right side of the pillowcase, "in the ditch" along the seam. Make sure that you are catching the folded fabric inside the pillowcase.
These pillowcases are easy to make, and with practice take only about an hour. You can stitch up as many as you'd like for any occassion you can think of, or to match bedsheets and comforters. I've sewn up one for my new nephew, that matches his quilt, and because you can use left over fabric (or another one from the same fabric line) these pillowcases are a great fast gift to add to your quilts.
