Pillowcase competition—North v South—benefits charities

Pillowcases turned in at Lana's Quilts, Cleveland, TN.

Quilters, quilt guild members and customers are sewing in full force to get behind their local quilt shops in the Chattanooga area, Knoxville area, and Johnson City, Tennessee for The Great Pillowcase Challenge.

This is a friendly competition between "The North" (Bernina in Stitches,  Stitches 'N' Stuff and Atomic Fibers) and "The South" (Chattanooga Quilts and Lana's Quilts and Sew Much More) to see which "quilt shop team" can collect the most pillowcases that will be donated to local charities and hospitals for distribution to children.

I was at Lana's Quilts and Sew Much More this week to drop off one. During my visit, about every hour, someone walked into the shop to drop off stacks—yes, big bags and piles—of pillowcases... 46... 20... 37... It was astounding! Below the cutting table several plastic storage bins were full with colorful, fabric pillowcases, sewn with love by generous, big-hearted sewers and quilters. At today's guild meeting, one of the guild members showed 6 or 7 more that will be added to the collection.

The competition goes through September 16 and each shop owner has graciously offered some kind of incentive—special pricing, discounts, etc.—to customers, quilters and sewers that participate in the Challenge.

The 3 Seam Method for Sewing Pillowcases 
My favorite method for making pillowcases these days is the magical burrito pillowcase method. There are only three seams: 1) attaching the band/cuff to the pillowcase body, 2) the French seam on the bottom and side, and 3) part 2 of the French seam that encloses all the raw edges. Clean, neat and fast!

Using the Burrito construction method and French seams leaves no raw edges.

While at Lana's shop, I had a few minutes to help fold and insert cases into clear plastic sandwich bags for distribution. The novelty fabric prints made me smile and I'm sure the recipients will love them!

I believe both Lana's Quilts and Chattanooga Quilts are having sew-ins before the competition ends on September 16. Contact these or any of the participating shops and see what they are doing. For a pillowcase, it only takes 3/4 yard for the body, 1/3 yard for the cuff, and 1/8 yard (optional) for an accent trim.

The latest update on the score? The South Team is winning with over 700 pillowcases. But with a week to go... it's still anybody's game. Be a winner and join the competition! Any contribution is appreciated.

The magical burrito pillowcase

Need a gift for that favorite neighbor, the girl scout troupe leader, a special teacher or a sports-minded brother-in-law? Here's my answer to the "what-to-give-them?" conundrum: Pillowcases.

A menagerie of pillowcases for holiday gift-giving.

With all the colorful, fun and fanciful novelty fabrics available at your local quilt shop, pillowcases can be personalized with just about any motif or theme you can think of. Or pick a pretty floral, a wild geometric or a funky stripe… any of the quilt shop quality 100% cotton fabrics will wash up nicely and be soft to sleep on.

Novelty fabrics for pillowcases—choose a theme.

My original pillowcase tutorial is posted here. But recently, I discovered the "magical burrito pillowcase" method on Twiddletails blog that uses French seams and is a pretty cool technique. (I think we even had a guild program on this once upon a time.) You might give this method a try.

A note on directional fabric prints

Each pillowcase in the set has its opening and band on an opposing side.

Note: If you're working with a directional print, however, you'll want to pay attention to which side of the body you attach the pillowcase band. I like a set of cases in which each case has the band opening are on the opposite side. When the pillows are placed side by side, the bands fall to the outside of the bed and the motifs on the pillowcases are in the correct orientation (no upside-down kitties). 

My two new kitty pillowcases.
An antique pinwheel quilt hangs in the background.

However you decide to sew them, custom designed pillowcases are thoughtful gifts. They can't help but make you smile and the recipient will think of you every night as they drift off to dreamland.

And don't forget to make a set for yourself! I had to test drive the burrito pillowcase method on these kitty cases… which are now on my bed.

Pets give Christmas gifts, too

China (left) and Lucy, the extra kitty.

For those of you who have pets, you know they are part of the family. Being so, they give and receive Christmas gifts, too. (Yeah, you mommies and daddies with furry, 4-legged kids know what I mean.) Our kitty, China, always gives great gifts, and they are often very partical.

This year, China and Lucy (our part-time kitty whom we co-parent with our neighbors) asked me to help them make kitty pillowcases for their people parents. Lucy (he is a boy kitty) wanted to make pillow cases for his other mommy, Betty. So, here is how the three of us (China, Lucy and I) made their Christmas gifts.

Pillowcases by China and Lucy

Choose two coordinating fabrics. If the fabrics have pictures of kitties, kitty paw prints or kitty toys, so much the better! You need 1.5 yds. of the main fabric and 3/4 yard of the contrast fabric to get a set of two regular size pillow cases. China and Lucy prefer 100% cotton quilters fabric. They recommend to pre-wash and iron the fabrics before you start to cut and sew.

For each case, cut a 10" x WOF (width of fabric) strip of the contrast fabric. This will be the band. Also cut a 25" x WOF of the main fabric (25" or 26" inches long depending on how much fabric you have after pre-washing). Trim off the selvedges so both fabrics are the same width.

10" pillow case band. Press open seam. Turn up hem.

With right sides together, sew the short sides of the band together to create a wide tube. We used a quilter's quarter inch sewing machine foot to sew a 1/4" seam (you could use 3/8" or 1/2" if you want). Press the seam open. Then, press up about a 1/4" hem on one long side of the band.

The body and band with side and bottom seams sewn.
(The red fabric is the body fabric.)

With right sides together and starting at the folded edge, sew the body of the pillow case along one short side and down the open long side. (The center fold of the fabric is the other long side of the pillowcase, so you only have to sew two sides.)

Trim and bevel the corners of the body to reduce bulk.

 

Press the seam allowances open.

With the right side of the band facing the wrong side of the body, and raw edges and seams aligned, pin the band to the body. (The side of the band with the turned up hem will be free.) Sew the band to the body.

Press the seam allowance toward the band. Turn pillow case right side out.

Fold over the band toward outside of case. Enclose and cover the raw edges of the seam with the folded-up hem. Pin and top stitch the band in place, close to the hem edge. You can use a matching or decorative thread and a straight or decorative stitch.

China's red pillowcases (above) and Lucy's pillowcases for Mommy Betty.

Here are the finished pillowcases. Lucy thought the grey kitties on the black fabric looked like him.

The work is done. Now, go have a snack.
Merry Christmas!