Pattern Description:
This pocket pillow pattern creates a soft, functional cushion with a handy front pocket and a concealed back opening.
Perfect for reading, travel, or gifting, it holds books, tablets, or small accessories while adding a touch of handmade charm.
Easy to sew and customizable, it’s a quick weekend project suitable for beginners and seasoned sewists alike.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Main fabric: ½ yard of quilting cotton for front and back.
- Lining/back fabric: ½ yard of coordinating cotton.
- Pillow form: 24″ × 24″ (61 cm × 61 cm) size.
- Pocket fabric: cut one rectangle 12″ × 24″ (30.5 cm × 61 cm).
- Strap/handle: 4″ wide × 22″ long (10 cm × 56 cm).
- Coordinating thread, interfacing if desired, standard ¼” seam allowance throughout.
Instructions for Making the Pocket Pillowcase Pattern:
1. Prepare Your Materials
Begin by gathering your fabrics, pillow insert, and tools. You’ll need fabric for the front panel of the pillowcase, fabric for the back (which may include two overlapping back panels for the opening), and an extra piece for the front pocket.
Make sure you’ve measured your pillow form (for example 24″ × 24″) and cut your pieces with a seam allowance (¼″ – ½″) around each. Press your fabrics to remove any creases and ensure accurate cutting and stitching.
2. Cut the Pieces
Lay out your fabrics and cut:
- Front panel: the full size of your pillow form plus seam allowance.
- Back panels: two rectangles that will overlap in the center, together equal the width of the pillow plus allowance and each the height of the pillow.
- Pocket piece: a rectangle sized to allow the width of the front plus seam allowance and a height suitable for the pocket depth (for example roughly half the height of the pillow).
Label your pieces and arrange them so the right sides (the “good” side) of fabrics are ready to be joined.
3. Construct the Front Pocket
Take the pocket rectangle and fold under (or press) the top edge and stitch it close to the fold to create a neat finished top.
Place the pocket piece on the right side of the front panel, positioned where you’d like it to sit (typically centered, a few inches from the top edge).
Pin or clip in place. Sew around the side and bottom edges of the pocket, leaving the top open for access.
If you’d like to divide the pocket (for phone, book, reading glasses, etc.), draw a straight line down the centre of the pocket and stitch along that line to create two compartments.
4. Assemble the Back Opening
Take your two back panels. Press under one long edge of each panel (this will become the opening overlap) and top-stitch close to the folded edge to hold the hem in place.
On the right side of the front panel, place one back panel right-side down, aligning edges; then place the second back panel on top of that, right-side down, overlapping the first and again aligning edges.
Pin all around the outer edges so that the back panels will form an opening when turned. The overlap in the centre ensures that the pillow form can be inserted and removed easily while the cover remains closed.
5. Sew All Around the Pillowcase
With the wrong sides (fabrics inside) facing out, sew around all four edges of the assembled pillowcase (front + back stacked).
Use your seam allowance consistently (¼″ or ½″ depending on your preference). When you reach the corners, stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot, pivot the fabric, then continue stitching to get clean turned corners.
Once sewn, trim the corners diagonally (cut close to the stitching without cutting the stitches) to reduce bulk in the corners when flipped.
After trimming, turn the cover right side out through the back opening. Press all edges carefully, especially the corners and the back overlap.
6. Finish and Insert Pillow Form
Once the cover is turned right‐side out and pressed, smooth the front pocket and ensure the top of the pocket lies flat and the back opening overlaps evenly.
If desired, you can top-stitch around the outer edge of the pillowcase or around the pocket opening for a refined finish and added stability.
Finally, insert your pillow form into the cover through the back opening. Adjust so it sits neatly inside, and ensure the pocket remains front-facing and functional.
7. Final Touches & Tips
- For cleaner seams inside, consider finishing raw edges with a zig-zag stitch or serger.
- If the pocket fabric is lightweight, you may wish to fuse a lightweight interfacing to the wrong side before stitching to give it more structure.
- Choose a contrasting fabric for the pocket to add a decorative accent, or use coordinating prints for a subtle look.
- To adapt to a different pillow size (for example 18″ x 18″), simply scale your cut dimensions accordingly while retaining the pocket proportion (about half the height is a good rule of thumb).
By following these sub-headings and detailed steps, you’ll have a beautiful, custom pocket pillowcase that hides its opening neatly in the back, features a functional front pocket, and looks professionally finished.
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