What You'll Make and What You Need

A standard pillowcase is a rectangular fabric tube with one open end that slides over a pillow. You'll sew two pieces of fabric together on three sides, turn it right-side out, and close the opening with a straightforward hand stitch. The finished pillowcase will measure roughly 20 by 30 inches—the standard size for a bed pillow.

Gather these materials before you start: two pieces of fabric cut to 21 by 31 inches (the extra half-inch on each dimension is the seam allowance), thread that matches your fabric, a sewing machine, scissors, pins, and an iron. If you don't have fabric yet, quilting cotton or broadcloth from a fabric store works well for pillowcases—it's durable and straightforward to sew. You'll also want a measuring tape and a needle for hand-sewing the final opening closed.

Key Takeaways

  • Cut two fabric pieces to 21 by 31 inches, which includes a half-inch seam allowance on all sides.
  • Pin the two pieces with right sides facing each other, then sew three sides on a machine using a straight stitch and a half-inch seam allowance.
  • Turn the pillowcase right-side out through the unsewn opening, then press all seams flat with an iron.
  • Fold the raw edges of the opening inward by half an inch and hand-stitch the opening closed using a ladder stitch or whip stitch.

Cutting and Preparing Your Fabric

Start by cutting two pieces of fabric to exactly 21 by 31 inches. Use a measuring tape and a ruler or straightedge to mark the lines, then cut with sharp fabric scissors in one smooth motion rather than sawing back and forth—this keeps the edges clean. If your fabric is wrinkled, press it flat with an iron on medium heat before you cut, so your measurements are accurate.

Once both pieces are cut, lay them on a flat surface and check that the corners are square and the edges are even. If one piece is slightly smaller than the other, trim the larger one to match. This step takes two minutes but prevents frustration later when you're trying to align the edges while sewing.

Pinning and Machine Sewing Three Sides

Place the two fabric pieces on top of each other with the right sides facing each other—this means the pretty, finished side of the fabric is on the inside, and the back sides are facing out. This is the most common mistake: beginners sometimes sew with wrong sides together and end up with seams on the outside of the finished pillowcase.

Pin along all four edges, placing pins about 3 inches apart and perpendicular to the edge so the presser foot can run over them without catching. Leave one short end (21-inch side) completely unpinned—this is your opening for turning the pillowcase right-side out later.

Thread your sewing machine and set it to a straight stitch with a stitch length of 2.5 to 3 millimeters. Sew along the three pinned sides, starting at one corner and sewing a half-inch from the edge. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam to lock the thread. Remove pins as you approach them. When you reach a corner, stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot, turn the fabric 90 degrees, lower the presser foot, and continue sewing. This creates a neat corner instead of a rounded one.

Turning and Pressing the Pillowcase

Once all three sides are sewn, trim the corners diagonally about a quarter-inch from the stitching line. This removes bulk so the corners lie flat when you turn the pillowcase right-side out. Be careful not to cut into the seam itself.

Reach through the unsewn opening and grab the fabric on the inside. Pull gently and steadily until the entire pillowcase turns right-side out. The seams are now on the inside where they belong. Use a blunt tool like a chopstick or the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the corners out from the inside so they form sharp points.

Lay the pillowcase flat and press all the seams with an iron on medium heat. Pay special attention to the three sewn edges and the opening—press the raw edges of the opening inward by half an inch and crease them with the iron. This makes the final hand-sewing step much neater because the edges are already folded and creased where you need them.

Hand-Sewing the Opening Closed

Thread a needle with thread that matches your fabric and tie a knot at the end. The ladder stitch (also called an invisible stitch) closes the opening so neatly that the seam is almost invisible from the outside. Bring the needle up through the fold of fabric on one side of the opening, so the knot stays hidden inside the fold.

Insert the needle directly across into the fold on the opposite side of the opening, and slide it along inside the fold for about half an inch, then bring it back out. Return to the first side and repeat: go in where you came out, slide along inside the fold, and come back out. The thread runs inside the fold on both sides, so it's hidden. Continue this back-and-forth motion along the entire opening.

Every inch or so, gently pull the thread snug—not tight enough to pucker the fabric, but tight enough that the opening closes. When you reach the end, take two small stitches in the same spot to find the thread, then slide the needle along inside the fold for an inch and bring it back out. Trim the thread close to the fabric, and the end will disappear inside the fold.

Checking Your Work and Finishing Touches

Turn the pillowcase inside out and inspect all four seams. They should be straight, even, and about half an inch from the edge. If you see loose threads, trim them with scissors. Check the hand-sewn opening—it should be closed completely with no gaps, and the stitches should be nearly invisible from the outside.

Turn the pillowcase right-side out and give it a final press with the iron, paying attention to the edges and the seam you just hand-stitched. Slide a pillow inside to see how it fits. The pillowcase should slide on smoothly with a little resistance—not so tight that it's hard to insert the pillow, and not so loose that it slides around.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most frequent error is sewing with wrong sides together instead of right sides together. The fabric will look correct at first, but when you turn it right-side out, the seams will be on the outside. Double-check before you start sewing: the pretty side of the fabric should be facing inward, toward the other piece.

Another common problem is sewing all four sides closed. You need one side completely unsewn so you can turn the pillowcase right-side out. Mark or remember which side to leave open before you pin. If you accidentally sew it closed, you can carefully cut open one seam with a seam ripper or small scissors, turn the pillowcase, and then hand-stitch that seam closed—it takes extra time but is fixable.

Uneven seams happen when you don't keep the fabric edge aligned with the presser foot guide. Most machines have a line marked on the foot or bed that shows where a half-inch seam allowance is. Use that line as your guide and keep the fabric edge along it as you sew. Practice on scrap fabric first if you're new to machine sewing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a serger instead of a regular sewing machine?

Yes. A serger creates a finished edge that won't fray, which is nice for pillowcases. Sew three sides with the serger using a standard stitch, turn right-side out, and hand-stitch the opening closed the same way. The serger seam is slightly thicker than a machine seam, so your pillowcase will have a slightly different feel, but it will work perfectly.

What if I don't want to hand-stitch the opening closed?

You can machine-stitch it instead. After turning the pillowcase right-side out and pressing the opening edges inward, pin the opening closed and sew it on the machine using a straight stitch very close to the edge—about an eighth of an inch. This is faster but more visible than a ladder stitch. Some people prefer the look; others find it too obvious.

How much fabric do I need to buy?

You need enough to cut two pieces of 21 by 31 inches. Most fabric comes 42 to 60 inches wide, so you can cut both pieces from a single piece of fabric that is at least 32 inches long. Check the width of the fabric you're buying to make sure you can fit both pieces. If the fabric is narrower than 21 inches, you'll need to piece it together or buy more yardage.

Can I make a pillowcase with a decorative edge or trim?

Yes. Before you sew the three sides, pin trim or lace along the three sides you're about to sew, with the trim facing inward (between the two fabric pieces). Sew through the trim as you sew the seam. When you turn the pillowcase right-side out, the trim will be on the outside edge. Hand-stitch the opening closed without trim for a clean finish.

What's the difference between a standard pillowcase and a king-size one?

A king pillowcase is wider. Cut two pieces to 21 by 37 inches instead of 21 by 31 inches, then follow the same steps. The sewing process is identical—only the dimensions change.