Oui, Oui! Make a Silk Pillowcase Project with a French Finish

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Katrina Walker, contributor

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When you are finished you'll have a silk pillowcase such as this one with a fancier cuff and dyeing pattern of your own design.

Zach Desart and Burcu Avsar

The open end should be folded under 9 inches.

Katrina Walker

Press the stitches.

Katrina Walker

When you are finished you'll have a silk pillowcase such as this one with a fancier cuff and dyeing pattern of your own design.

Photo: Zach Desart and Burcu Avsar

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This method of making a silk pillowcase use French seams which offer smooth strong seams and faux cuff that looks super professional.

What You'll Need:
2 yards of 44-inch-wide silk, preferably satin or charmeuse, will create 2 pillowcases, cut it at to produce two pieces that measure 22"x72".
Thread, preferably silk
Sewing Machine Needle: 60/8, 65/9, or 70/10 Microtex or universal, depending on weight of fabric
Seam gauge
Rotary cutter and mat or dressmakers’ shears
Fusible web tape (optional) such as Steam-a-Seam or Design Plus Ultra-Soft

1. Start with a fresh needle in your sewing machine. It’s always a good idea to use the finest, sharpest needle that will stitch through your fabric. If using 100 weight silk thread, you may need to tighten the thread tension in your machine slightly. Practice a bit on silk scraps to make sure that your stitches are balanced. Regardless of thread used, sew with taut fabric to avoid puckering.

2. Fold the fabric lengthwise, wrong sides together. Then, stitch a 1/4-inch wide seam up each long side using a straight stitch and a standard stitch length. A 1/4-inch presser foot is also handy to use.

A 1/4-inch presser foot is also handy to use.

3. Press the stitching flat to set the stitches and then trim the seam width to 1/8 inch.

Trim the seam width to 1/8 inch.

4. Press the seams to one side. This is easiest if you press over a sleeve board or ham.

5. With right sides together, press the seamline into a fold, making sure that the actual stitching is right on the fold. This makes sure the seam allowance is encased in the next seam.

6. Stitch a 1/4-inch wide seam down each long edge, encasing the raw edges of the previous seam.

7. Press the seam to set the stitches then press the seam to one side.

8. Turn back the remaining raw edge at the hem edge 1/2-inch and press.

The raw edge should be folded over onto the wrong side.

9. Turn the case right side out. Fold under the open end 9 inches from the pressed edge.

The open end should be folded under 9 inches.

10. Press a fold at the opening to create a cuff. Stitch the cuff on the inside fold line and press to set the stitches.

Stitch a cuff on the inside fold line.

Press the stitches.

11. Turn the case wrong side out. Press the newly created folded seam toward the case opening (toward cuff).

12. Fold the cuff over the previous line of stitching so that the folded and pressed edge aligns just over the stitching line and press.

The cuff should be folded over so that the pressed edge aligns just over the stitching line.

13. Use pins or hand basting to hold the folded edge in place. Alternatively, use lightweight fusible tape to fuse baste the folded edge in place.

Pins, hand basting, or lightweight fusible tape can be used to hold folded edge in place.

14. Turn the case right side out and edgestitch along the cuff edge to hold it in place.

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Comments (2)

bestsilk writes: Once you've tried silk you'll never go back to cotton. No more bed head, no more face creases. Read all the benefits,
hairtape.net

Luxurious
Posted: 11:26 pm on November 3rd

SimpleGirl writes: Sets of fancy pillowcases make nice gifts. Although not as luxurious at those pictured, we make "sports" themed pillowcases for boys, "princess" themed for girls. I started making them out of necessity - when sheets were sold individually, instead of sets. I made fancy flannel pillowcases to match plain flannel sheets (many years ago).
Posted: 6:42 pm on June 3rd

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