One of my favorite (and easy) gifts to make for the kid's friends is pillow cases. Everybody needs one and everybody loves having a fun one. Pillow cases are easy to make and kids love getting one that is either their favorite color or favorite cartoon character. Jackson (my son) has both a Batman and a Superman pillow case. Andrew (my other son) has a Star Wars pillow case. Anne (my daughter) has a pillow case that matches the quilt I made her as well as a pillow case with horses on it. This is really a gift that can be personalized for anyone. Another thought...this would be a great gift for a friend that is sick or a friend that is having a baby...who wouldn't love a cute personalized pillow case while in the hospital? 

For me, I like to use plain white pillow cases on my bed but when I go on vacation I like to put a fun pillow case on my pillow (yes, I take my pillow with me on vacation) so that my awesome pillow doesn't get confused with the other white pillow cases in hotels.  So this could be a great gift or just a fun project for yourself!

Let's get started! Here is what you will need:

3/4 yard (27 inches) of 45" Wide Fabric for the main part of the pillow case

*1/4 yard (9 inches) of 45" Wide Fabric for the edging

*Matching thread

*Ribbon or ric rac for embellishment along the seam

1. The first step of course is to cut your fabric

2. Next take your 1/4 yard piece to the ironing board and open it up. Fold it in half lengthwise with the pretty side out. Press this flat with your iron. 

Now you should have a big long skinny fabric piece about 45" long. set this aside

3. Now take your main fabric and open it up with the pretty side facing up. This too will be about 45" long. 

4. With the pretty side facing up lay the edging fabric you just pressed in step 2 across one of the raw edges of your main piece. This way your pretty sides are together and you are lined up across 1 raw edge.

Stitch from top to bottom.

5. Fold open the part you just stitched and iron the seams open. (sorry no photo)

6. Now, looking at the main fabric, turn it with pretty sides together (like picture above)

7. Stitch down the side then across the bottom to finish. 

The above picture is the pillowcase before I have turned it right side out. 

I like to take my pinking shears and cut around the seam so that when it's washed it won't fray. But this step isn't necessary. 

8. Next turn the pillow case right side out and press. You could stop her but I love adding a ribbon along the seam just to add some visual interest between the two fabrics.  

9. I sew the ribbon right along the seam on both sides of the ribbon. 

Voila! You made a pillow case! Easiest sewing project ever!

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