How to Make Pillow Cases that Don't Fall Off

Projects

Here's how I make pillow cases that do not come off. This is an excellent project when learning how to use a rotary cutter.

Recommended fabric is all cotton or mostly cotton in a firm weave. I sometimes use pin-wale corduroy because it feels good and I like to think that it allows my skin to breathe.

Zigzag the ends of the fabric and throw in the washer and dryer. If the fabric comes out wrinkled, steam press the fabric to smooth it.

If the fabric is more than the desired width, cut to the desired width by trimming both selvedge edges.

Cut off the ends of the fabric so they are at perfect right angles to the sides.

Fold wrong sides together lengthwise so that the selvedges (or side edges) meet.

Carefully cut along the fold. Hold the fabric firmly to prevent shifting as you cut.

Roll the top piece back from one end towards the other end. Cut the lower piece of fabric to the length shown in the chart.

Unroll the top piece of fabric, and let it fold over itself in the middle as you align the cut edges at both ends.

Stitch each end with a half-inch seam. Finish off the raw edges. Steam press these seams in the same position used to stitch them, rather than trying to fold the seam to either side.

Pick up this assembly so the longer piece is drooping below the shorter piece. Picture a smile, if you will:
Bring the seamed ends together:
Lay this assembly down so that there are two folds opposite the matched seamed ends. In this picture, the seamed ends are matched up at the left, and the inner fold appears as a bump just to the right of center:
Cut through the fold that is farthest from the matched seamed ends. Hold the fabric firmly to prevent shifting as you cut:
To finish these freshly-cut raw edges, turn under to the wrong side about 3/8", and stitch about a quarter-inch from the fold. Steam press these little hems before and after topstitching because it wants to stretch out of shape.
For this step, the first seams become the natural fold lines. Lay out the assembly with the right side up and the ends extended. If the fabric is cordurloy, the end piece that has the nap going towards the little hem should be picked up first and placed towards the middle. If it's not corduroy fabric, select the end with the prettier hem to lay down first.
Play with it until it is fairly flat. Pin the edges and stitch a half-inch seam only on the overlapped section. Then overlap and stitch the other side in the same way:

Edge finish these seams, and steam them, too. The double stitching in the middle is worth it.

To turn it right side out, place both hands into it through the top overlapped layer, reaching for two corners at one end, and pull out the corners. If the pillowcase will be stored rather than used immediately, pull the other corners out the same way.

If the pillowcase will be used immediately, leave one end inside out and the other end right side out.

A regular pillowcase may be put on the pillow to serve as a liner.

Lay the pillowcase on the bed with the right-side-out end away from you and its overlap on top.

Hold the pillow corners and pull the pillow away from you and into the right-side-out end of the corduroy pillowcase. Yes, a little tugging and pulling is in order, but it's an easy task.

Then grab those two farther corners, pick them up, and throw that end down towards you, thus turning the pillow end-to-end. Now the inside-out end of the pillowcase is on top of the pillow, away from you.

Reach into the hole, grab the far pillow corners through the pillowcase, and pull them out towards you. This action will turn the pillow end-to-end again.

You may have to push the corners out and throw the pillow down to adjust the fluff. Lay the pillow on the bed with the overlap under the pillow.

To take off the pillowcase, just reach into the overlap and pull out the corners of both the pillow and the pillowcase. Then pull the liner apart from the pillowcase and remove the pillow from the liner.

We change all pillowcases and liners every week. All my liners are really regular (but inexpensive) pillowcases, although sometimes I make my own.