DIY Monogrammed Pillowcase Tutorial

Are you a mom who likes to sew? Me too! I am always looking for fun and easy ideas to create unique and super cute goodies for my friends and family. Recently, the girls got some new travel pillows. It’s sort of a long story, but basically my nine year old has some pretty decent allergies and so we got the chance to try some new allergy reducing travel pillows, perfect for taking to the multiple end of summer sleepovers the girl have been attending recently. Anyway, I wanted to create a cute custom pillowcase to go over the travel pillows, something girly and colorful.

Aren’t they cute? Here’s how you can make one for your little one…

What you need:
One Yard (or more if using a regular sized pillow) of Fabric
Large Scrap or 1/4 Yard of coordinating fabric (this is for the monogram and optional ruffle)
Sewing Machine
Coordinating Thread

Since I didn’t have a pattern, this was sort of an experiment. I laid out my fabric, then laid the pillow on top. I cut two large pieces of fabric to create the pillowcase. I cut the fabric about 2 1/2″ away from either long side of the pillow, and one short side. The opposite short side of the pillow, I cute 8 1/2″ away. This is the end that will be used to create the opening for the pillowcase. If your pillow is super fluffy, you might want to make it even a bit larger.

Next I put the two large pieces right sides together matching the sides, pinned them together, and sewed along both long sides, and the one short side using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Then I clipped the two corners, turned the pillowcase right side out, and pressed it.

Then it was time to create the ruffle. I cut a four inch wide strip of fabric two times the width of the pillowcase plus about ten inches. It doesn’t have to be exact, but you want plenty of extra length so your can have a nice ruffle.

Take the ruffle strip and sew the two short ends together using a thin 1/4′ seam allowance.

Press the seam open and then press the entire ruffle strip wrong sides together in half.

Baste along the raw edge side about 1/4″ in from the raw edge. Pull the thread to create the ruffles and pin the ruffle 3 1/2″ in from the opening of the pillowcase on the right side of the fabric.

Stitch on the ruffle about 1/2″ from the raw edge of the ruffle strip. Then press the end of the pillowcase down over the ruffle (see the picture above).

Stitch again 5/8″ from the pressed edge. Press the ruffle seam underneath towards the pillowcase opening, and make sure that the ruffle is facing opposite the pillowcase opening.

Next, turn the pillowcase inside out and press down 1/2″ along the edge to the wrong side of the fabric. Repeat again to create the edge hem for the pillowcase.

Now it’s time for the monogram. For my “K” template for Kylie’s pillow, I just printed out a large “K” in a font I liked.

I cut out the “K” and used it as a template when cutting out the fabric monogram.

Then I pinned it to the pillowcase where I wanted it. I could have used a much larger “K” and placed it in the center of the pillowcase, but I chose to do a smaller “K” near the opening.

Lastly, just use a small zigzag stitch around the entire monogram to attach it to the pillowcase.

Now you can create your own personalized pillowcases!