Free Ruffle Pillowcase Pattern

Pattern Description:

Create a charming farmhouse-style ruffled envelope pillowcase with this beginner-friendly sewing pattern. 

Designed for a shabby chic yet modern look, it features enclosed top and bottom seams with intentionally frayed side edges. 

The project takes about one hour and includes beautifully gathered ruffles that add texture and elegance to your pillow decor.

Materials Needed & Measurements:

• Fabric: Linen or cotton (natural fabrics recommended)
• Thread: Matching color
• Tools: Measuring tape, scissors, pins, sewing machine, fabric marker, pressing iron (optional: yardstick, serger)
• Measurements:
  • Front Panel: Pillow size +1″ width, +4″ length
  • Long Back Panel: ½ pillow length +1″
  • Short Back Panel: ½ pillow length +6″
  • Ruffles (2): Twice the pillow’s total width each

Instructions for Making the Ruffle Pillowcase Pattern:

Preparing the Fabric

Cut the panels as follows:

• Front Panel (1 required): This panel matches your pillow measurements, but you must add an extra 1 inch to the width and an extra 4 inches to the length. The 1 inch added to the width is the seam allowance for the top and bottom seams (using a 1/2 inch allowance on each). The extra 4 inches added to the length (2 inches on each side) is needed to accommodate the ruffles and the exposed seam allowance.
• Back Panels (2 required): Both panels must be as wide as the front panel. These panels overlap in the back to create a pocket for inserting the pillow.
  • Long Back Panel (1 required): Cut this panel to be half the length of the front panel plus a 1 inch allowance.
  • Short Back Panel (1 required): Cut this panel to be half the length of the front panel plus a 1 inch allowance plus 5 inches for overlapping the first back panel.

For the ruffles, you need two strips. Each ruffle strip must be twice as long as the width of the pillow (accounting for both the front and back sections combined). 

For example, if your pillow is 10 inches wide, you need a 40-inch strip for the first ruffle and another 40-inch strip for the second ruffle.

Preparing the Back Panels

The back panels overlap to form an envelope-style “pocket” for the pillow. The raw overlapping edges must be finished. Work with one panel at a time on its overlapping edge:

• Fold the overlapping edge 1/2 inch and press it using your iron.
• Fold the edge another 1/2 inch and press again.
• Using a sewing machine, run a regular stitch along the pressed edge, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
• Repeat these steps for the second back panel.

To prevent excessive fraying in the future, run a small stitch along the sides of each panel (front and back), positioned about 1/2 inch away from the existing frays. Finally, remove 3 to 4 threads on both sides of each panel.

Attaching the Main Panels

The next step is attaching the panels together to form the case:

• Place the front panel down, ensuring the right side is facing out.
• Place the long back panel over the front panel on the left side. This panel should be wrong side out, with the previously sewn edge facing toward the middle of the pillowcase. The raw sides, top, and bottom of the front and long back panels should match.
• Add the short back panel on the right side. This panel should also be wrong side out, with its sewn edge facing toward the middle. The front and short back panels must match at the raw sides, top, and bottom.
• Pin the top and the bottom seams.
• Sew down each seam using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
• Finish the seam using a serger or a zig-zag stitch. The top and bottom seams of this pillowcase are enclosed.
• Turn the assembled pillowcase right side out.

Making and Attaching the Ruffles

• Making the Ruffles: Remove 3 to 4 threads along both sides of each ruffle strip. Run a small stitch along only one side of each strip. Ruffle the strips using your preferred method until they match the width of the pillows. You have absolute freedom to choose how long or short you want the ruffles to be.
• Attaching the Ruffles:
  • Measure 2 inches away from each side of the pillowcase. Mark this measurement and trace a line using a fabric marker and a yardstick.
  • Using a substantial number of pins, attach the ruffles, aligning them with the lines you traced. The edge of the ruffle that does not have the small stitch should match the traced line on the pillowcase.
  • Each ruffled strip must go all along one side, from the front section to the back section, creating a continuous circle.
  • Sew down the ruffles from the front to the back using a regular stitch.
  • Repeat this process for the second ruffled strip on the other end of the pillowcase.

Finishing the Pillowcase Ends

The last step is closing the pillowcase ends:

• Fold the ruffles toward the inside of the pillowcase and pin them to the pillowcase to keep them clear of the sewing path.
• With the ruffles pinned out of the way, the side edges of the back and front panels will be exposed.
• Sew down the back and front panels together using a regular stitch, utilizing a 1 inch allowance.
• Remove the pins.
• Insert your pillow into the completed ruffled pillow case through the pocket created in the back.

Note: This final seam is exposed to the outside, and the edges are intentionally left frayed to match the ruffles. 

To prevent the pillowcase from over-fraying as it is washed repeatedly, you can run a straight stitch about 1/4 inch away from the frayed edge.

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