Pattern Description:
The Show the Love Pillowcase pattern uses two simple blocks constructed with red and pink fabrics to form a pillowcase band that appears more complex than it is.
The fabrics used are from the Prim collection by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs.
The finished size of the pillowcase is 30¾ × 21 inches, fitting a standard-size bed pillow. Each finished block measures 6 inches square.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42 inches of usable fabric width.
| Material | Yardage / Initial Piece | Cuts |
| Red print (for Hourglass blocks) | 9 × 21 piece (fat eighth) | 2 – 7¼” squares |
| Solid red (for Hourglass and Economy blocks) | ¼ yard | 2 – 7¼” squares; 6 – 4½” squares (each cut in half diagonally for 12 large triangles total) |
| Solid white (for Economy blocks) | 10″ square | 6 – 3¼” squares (each cut in half diagonally to make 12 small triangles total) |
| Pink print (for pillowcase band) | ⅜ yard | 1 – 6½ × 42½” rectangle; 3 – 3½” squares |
| Red polka dot print (for pillowcase body) | 1¼ yards | 1 – 26 × 43″ rectangle |
Instructions for Making the Show the Love Pillowcase Pattern:
Fabric Preparation and Cutting
All yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42 inches of usable fabric width.
- From the red print (9 × 21 fat eighth), cut two 7¼” squares.
- From the solid red (¼ yard), cut two 7¼” squares and six 4½” squares. Cut each 4½” square diagonally to make 12 large triangles total.
- From the solid white (10″ square), cut six 3¼” squares. Cut each diagonally to make 12 small triangles total.
- From the pink print (⅜ yard), cut one 6½ × 42½” rectangle and three 3½” squares.
- From the red polka dot print (1¼ yards), cut one 26 × 43″ rectangle.
Assemble Hourglass Blocks
- Measurements include ¼” seam allowances. Sew with right sides together. Press seams as indicated or toward the darker fabric.
- Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each red print 7¼” square. Place 220-grit sandpaper beneath the fabric while marking to prevent stretching.
- Layer a marked red print square atop a solid red 7¼” square. Sew ¼” on each side of the drawn line. Cut apart on the line and press open to create two triangle-squares, each measuring 6⅞” square, including seam allowances. Repeat to make four triangle-squares.
- Mark a new diagonal line on two of the triangle-squares, perpendicular to the first seam line.
- Layer one marked triangle-square atop an unmarked one so that each red print triangle faces a solid red triangle. Sew ¼” on each side of the line. Cut apart and press open to create two hourglass blocks.
- Each finished hourglass block measures 6½” square, including seam allowances.
- Repeat to make four hourglass blocks total.
Assemble Economy Blocks
- The pattern requires three Economy blocks.
- Center two solid white small triangles on opposite edges of a pink print 3½” square and sew. Add the remaining white triangles to the other two edges to form the block center.
- Trim the block center ¼” from each pink corner, resulting in a 4¾” square, including seam allowances.
- Add two solid red large triangles to opposite sides, then the remaining two to complete the block.
- Trim each finished Economy block to 6½” square, including seam allowances.
- Repeat to make three Economy blocks total.
Assemble Band
- Arrange the Hourglass and Economy blocks alternately in a row and sew together. Press seams open.
- The pieced row should measure 6½ × 42½”, including seam allowances.
- Sew the pink print 6½ × 42½” rectangle to the row.
- Join the short ends of this unit to form a loop. Press the seam open.
- Fold the loop in half with wrong sides together and press to form the pillowcase band.
Assemble Pillowcase
- Fold the red polka dot print 26 × 43″ rectangle in half to make a 26 × 21½” rectangle.
- Using a ½” seam allowance, sew together the long edges and one short edge to form the pillowcase body.
- Turn right side out and press flat.
- Slide the pillowcase band over the body, matching raw edges and seams, with right sides together. Pin in place.
- Sew the band and body together with a ½” seam allowance.
- Press the band open, pressing the seam allowances toward the body.
To finish, topstitch ⅛” from the band edge to secure.
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