Pattern Description:
This project is for a PJ Bag Pillowcase, yielding a finished size of 30 \times 20″ to fit a standard-size bed pillow. Adding a drawstring to the band of the pillowcase, it becomes a pajama bag.
This simple, step-by-step project is perfect to take along to your next sleepover. Fabrics used are from the Boho collection by Urban Chiks for Moda Fabrics.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
The yardages and cutting instructions provided are based on 42″ of usable fabric width.
| Category | Material/Measurement | Detail/Size | |
| Finished Project Size | Finished pillowcase size | 30 \times 20″ (fits a standard-size bed pillow) | |
| Fabric Yardage | Fabric for band | \text{3/8} yard | |
| Fabric Yardage | Fabric for pillowcase body and drawstring | 1 yard | |
| Fabric Cuts | Rectangle (from pillowcase body/drawstring fabric) | 1 26\frac{1}{2} \times 41″$ rectangle | |
| Fabric Cuts | Strip (for drawstring, from pillowcase body/drawstring fabric) | 1 2\frac{1}{2} \times 42″ strip | |
| Fabric Cuts | Strip (for pillowcase band) | 1 10 \times 41″ strip | |
| Notions & Tools | Sewing thread | All-purpose sewing thread | |
| Notions & Tools | Pin | Large safety pin | |
| Notions & Tools | Marking Tools | Marking pen or pencil and ruler | |
| Notions & Tools | Turning Tool | Unsharpened pencil with eraser on top | |
| Seam Details | Standard Seam Allowance | text{1/2}” | |
| Seam Details | Drawstring Seam Allowance | \text{1/4}” (for sewing the long edges of the drawstring) |
Instructions for Making the Kids’ Style PJ Bag Pattern:
1. Preparation and Cutting
The yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42″ of usable fabric width. You will need text{3/8} yard of band fabric and 1 yard of fabric for the pillowcase body and drawstring, along with necessary notions such as all-purpose sewing thread, a large safety pin, a marking pen or pencil, a ruler, and an unsharpened pencil with an eraser on top.
From the pillowcase body/drawstring fabric, cut the following:
- 1 26\frac{1}{2} \times 41″ rectangle.
- 1 2\frac{1}{2} \times 42″ strip.
From the band fabric, cut:
- 1 10 \times 41″ strip.
2. Creating the Drawstring
To create the drawstring, lay the 2\frac{1}{2} \times 42″ strip flat on an ironing board with the printed side facing up.
Fold the strip in half lengthwise so the printed side is inside. Press the strip flat, matching the long edges; teaming up with an adult may help keep the edges aligned during pressing.
Sew the long edges together using a text{1/4}” seam allowance. Also sew across one short end. You can use layers of painter’s tape or masking tape positioned text{1/4}” from the needle as a guide to help keep this text{1/4}” seam straight.
Turn the strip printed side out. Have an adult assist in starting this process. Use the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil to push the short stitched end up into the drawstring tube.
Continue holding the pencil and pushing the short end through the tube, gathering the drawstring onto the pencil until the printed end comes out the opposite end.
Remove the pencil and pull the gathered fabric down while pulling the printed end that poked through until the entire drawstring is turned right side out. Have an adult help you press the finished drawstring flat.
3. Preparing the Pillowcase Band
Fold the 10 \times 41″ strip in half crosswise, matching the short ends, with the printed side inside. Using a ruler, mark a text{1 1/2}” long opening in the seam, placed text{1 1/2}” from the top edge. This opening is for the drawstring.
Sew the short ends together using a text{1/2}” seam allowance. Leave the marked line open and unstitched.
Secure the seam by taking a couple of backstitches on each side of the opening. Press the seam allowances open.
Fold the resulting tube in half with the printed side facing out and the long edges matching. Press the strip flat to form the pillowcase band.
Tip: Looping the band around the end of the ironing board can make pressing easier, as you only deal with two layers of fabric at a time.
4. Sewing the Pillowcase Body
Fold the 26\frac{1}{2} \times 41″ body rectangle in half with the printed side together to create a 26\frac{1}{2} \times 20\frac{1}{2}” rectangle.
Pin the long edges together first, and then pin across one short end at the bottom of the pillowcase. Ensure the heads of the pins stick off the edge.
Mark a dot on the bottom corner text{1/2}” from each edge. Sew along both pinned edges using a straight seam with a text{1/2}” seam allowance.
When reaching the marked dot near the bottom corner, stop with the needle down in the fabric, lift the presser foot, and pivot the fabric.
Continue sewing across the bottom of the pillowcase and backstitch to secure the end of the seam. Remember to remove pins just before they reach the presser foot.
To prevent the seam allowance from fraying, zigzag stitch in the seam allowance across both the pillowcase side and bottom. Turn the pillowcase body printed side out.
5. Assembling the Band and Body
Slide the band over the body, aligning all the raw (cut) edges at the top. The seam opening you created in the band should be positioned inside (next to the pillowcase body).
Match the seams of the band and the body on one side. Pin on either side of these seams to ensure they remain matched when sewing.
Remove the deck around the sewing machine arm. Sew the band and the body together through all layers. Zigzag stitch in the seam allowance, just as you did when finishing the pillowcase body.
6. Inserting the Drawstring and Final Finishing
Turn the pillowcase right side out. Press the side and bottom seam allowances flat, potentially rolling the seams between your fingers to nudge them to the edge before pressing.
Press the band open, pressing the seams toward the body (away from the band). On the printed side of the pillowcase body, topstitch around the entire pillowcase text{1/4}” below the band seam to secure the seam allowances.
Tip: You can use the edge of your presser foot as a guide to keep this stitching line straight.
Before insertion, fold over the unstitched end of the drawstring text{1/4}”, fold it over a second time text{1/4}”, and machine stitch across the fold to secure.
Have an adult help you begin pulling the drawstring through the casing. Use a large safety pin at one end of the drawstring.
Thread the drawstring through the opening you left in the band. Pull the drawstring through the casing, keeping the layers as flat as possible, until it emerges back out through the same opening.
Pull the drawstring so that both ends are sticking out evenly. Use the large safety pin to pin the ends together.
To prevent the drawstring from being accidentally pulled out, machine stitch through the middle of the drawstring (opposite the opening in the casing where the ends come out).
Finally, on the printed side of the pillowcase band, topstitch around the entire pillowcase again, this time text{2 1/2}” above the band seam, to create the casing for the drawstring.
To keep this seam straight, an adult can measure and place a piece of painter’s tape or masking tape on your sewing machine to guide the edge of the band as you sew.
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