TUTORIAL: ConKerr Cancer PILLOWCASES

Making pillowcases are fun, fast, and very easy to do. It’s a great project for beginners and kids!

Craft Hope is teaming up with ConKerr Caner this month to make pillowcases for terminally ill children. ConKerr has succeeded in delivering 225,000 bright and cheery pillowcases up to this date. But they can still use many many more.

So, get together with your friends, craft group, as a family, or by yourself and let’s make pillowcases! This very easy tutorial will walk you through the steps.

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Here’s the breakdown of fabric measurements and needs. Click on the image to enlarge:
Pillowcases are a great way to clean out your fabric stash. But don’t fret if you have scraps of fabric that are a bit too short for the pattern. You can improvise and adjust the border or pillowcase pieces to fit the amount of fabric scraps you have, as long as the finished measurements are those of a standard-sized pillowcase (appx 20×31 inches). Okay, let’s get started!
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1. Grab two interesting fabrics. Pre-wash, dry, and iron them.
2. Fold both fabrics in half so that it’s easier to cut rectangles.

For the Pillowcase piece: Cut a FOLDED rectangle that’s 20.5 by 26 inches, which means you have two layers of 20.5 by 26 and a fold down one side (this will end up being 41 x 26, as listed in the pattern above when you unfold it)
For the Border piece: Cut a FOLDED rectangle that’s 20.5 x 11 inches, which means you have two layers of 20.5 by 11 and a fold down one side (this will end up being 41 x 11, as listed in the the pattern above when you unfold it)
3. Fold the Border piece in half, lengthwise, and iron down the fold. You now have a long strip that’s 41x 5.5 inches.
4. Match up the raw edges of your Border strip with the right side of the Pillowcase piece, and pin the two pieces together:
5. Sew the Border Piece to the Pillowcase, using a 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch seam allowance:
6. If you have a serger, serge off the seams. If you don’t have a serger, zigzag the edges or leave them raw (serging and zigzagging strengthens your seams and keeps the fabric from fraying over time).
7. Iron the seam. Always iron out your seams. Your work will look more professional and less homemade.
8. Add a top stitch, about 1/8 inch over from your seam edge. This is optional but it adds extra strength to the seam and a decorative look.
9. With right sides of the fabric together, match up the sides and bottom of the pillowcase and pin them together:
10. Sew all the way down the Pillowcase side:
When you get to the end corner, keep your needle in place, lift your presser foot, and rotate your fabric to sew all the way across the bottom:
12. Serge off your seam, zigzag, or leave the edges raw:
12. Turn the pillowcase inside out, making sure to push the corners out all the way:
13. Iron the seams flat:
You’re done! One easy pillowcase; one fun looking pillow.
And now that you’ve made one, hmmm…..make 9 more!
Be as colorful as you’d like.
And when you’ve got a stack ready, contact the Conkerr Cancer rep in your area. You’ll can find a directory HERE.