I posted about Mr. Chillingsworth last week and promised a tutorial today for really cool pillowcases featuring Mr. Bones.  These cases have flaps that extend over the open end of the pillow.

This is an easy pillowcase to make.  Maybe not easy peasy, but at least easy. The only problem I had was figuring out the sizes to cut.  And I’ve done that for you!  You’ll be using French Seams on some of the seams.  If you have questions about that technique, I have a tutorial here.

To make two matching pillowcases, you’ll need one panel of Mr. Bones in Parchment, 1/2 yard of contrasting fabric for the cuff and flap and 1 yard of a plain quilting cotton in a matching shade for the back. I bought Chillingsworth’s Spooky Ride by Echo Park Paper Co from Hawthorne Threads. They don’t have the skeleton riding the bike that I used for the contrasting fabric listed anymore but there are other cute selections.  I used a solid color fabric from Timeless Treasures that I bought at my local quilt shop, Tomorrow’s Treasures, for the back. (I try to buy local as often as possible.)

Here’s something important that I forgot about until I went to make the second pillowcase.  They’re supposed to be a matched set, make sure you put the contrasting fabric flap on the opposite end for the second pillowcase.

You want them to look like this!

One of our adult sons was here for the weekend with his fiancée.  They liked the pillowcases but Darin was creeped out by the spider.  You never know!

I like to use “French seams” on these pillowcases but a standard pillowcase is 20″ wide and I would need a 21 1/2″ wide piece to make these seams.  The best I could get out of the panel was a 20″ width so I just used regular seams on the sides and run an overcast stitch on them.  That still leaves only 19″ but my pillows fit just fine into the case.  Do I have skinny pillows, maybe?

I’ve listed the yardage above for two pillowcases but the following tutorial is for one pillowcase. I can be so confusing sometimes!

Tutorial for Mr. Chillingsworth Pillowcase

This tutorial makes one pillowcase for a standard size ( 20” by 26”) pillow. Some of the seams are finished as “French seams”.  The contrasting pillow cuff has a flap that covers the end of the pillow, giving a custom look.

The following is for one pillowcase.

You will need 3 pieces of fabric.

I used one Panel of Mr. Bones in parchment.

Fussy cut a 20” x 22 ¾” piece out of the panel. Leave 1½” black on each side and ½” on the top and the bottom.

Cut 20” x 22 ¾” quilting cotton fabric for back of the pillow.

Cut contrasting fabric for front cuff 13” x 20”

Cut contrasting fabric for back cuff and flap 13 ¾” x 20”

Front Cuff:

Take the front cuff piece and fold the 20” wrong sides together. Press.

Put the non-folded side of the front cuff on one of the 20” ends of the Mr. Bones fabric. Make a French seam by putting the wrong sides together and stitching with ¼” seam. Press the seam.

Turn the front cuff and pillowcase right sides together. Press. Stich a ½” seam.

Press the seam allowance towards the front cuff and top stitch on the front cuff fabric.

Top stitch on edge of cuff.

Back Cuff and Flap:

Take the 13 ¾” x 20” back cuff and flap piece. Press under ½” on one 20” side then press under another ½” then stitch 3/8” from edge.

Put the unhemmed side of the back cuff and flap on an unfinished 20” end of the fabric for the back of the pillowcase and make a French seam: wrong sides together, stitch with a ¼” seam, press, rights together, Press. Stitch with a ½” seam.

Press seam allowance towards the back cuff and flap, top stitch.

Putting the Pillow Case Together:

We will be doing a French seam on just the end of the pillowcase.

Put front and back together with right sides out and stitch ¼” then turn wrong sides out and stitch ½”.

Now put the front and back wrong sides together.  Match the cuff seams on the front and back.  The flap will extend beyond the cuffs.

Fold the back flap over the front cuff.

Stitch ¼” seams on both sides.

Do an overcast or zigzag stitch on both sides.

Turn right side out. Poke out the corners. Press.

Put it on the pillow!

Surprise your guests!