Pattern Description:
This pattern creates an 18×13″ travel pillowcase designed to fit a 16×12″ travel pillow. The construction involves cutting fabric for the body, band, and piping.
First, the piping is basted to the body print, and the band is assembled into a loop. Then, the pillowcase body is sewn closed, turned right side out, and the band is attached and finished with a topstitch.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
| Material | Yardage Needed | Cut Piece(s) | Role in Project |
| Band Print (from the Dream Weaver collection by Amy Butler for FreeSpirit) | 1/4 yard | 1 – 6×27″ strip | Pillowcase band |
| Solid | 1/8 yard | 1 – 2×27″ strip | Piping |
| Body Print (from the Dream Weaver collection by Amy Butler for FreeSpirit) | 1/2 yard | 1 – 16 1⁄2×27″ rectangle | Pillowcase body |
- The finished size of the pillowcase is 18×13″, designed to fit a 16×12″ travel pillow.
Instructions for Making the Travel-Size Pillowcase Pattern:
Cutting the Fabrics
To construct one travel pillowcase, three materials and corresponding yardages are required.
- 1. Band Print: The band print fabric is used to create the pillowcase band.
- You will need 1⁄4 yard of this fabric.
- Cut 1 – 6×27″ strip from the band print.
- 2. Solid Fabric: The solid fabric is designated for creating the piping detail.
- You will need 1⁄8 yard of this fabric.
- Cut 1 – 2×27″ strip from the solid material.
- 3. Body Print: The body print fabric forms the main pillowcase body.
- You will need 1⁄2 yard of this fabric.
- Cut 1 – 16 1⁄2×27″ rectangle from the body print.
Assembling the Band
The first assembly step involves constructing the pillowcase band using the 6×27″ band print strip.
- To start, you must join the short edges of the band print strip. This action creates a continuous loop of fabric.
- Once the short edges are sewn together, press the seam open.
- The loop is then prepared by folding it in half. When folding, ensure that the wrong side of the fabric is inside. After folding the loop, press it to set the crease, thereby completing the construction of the pillowcase band.
Creating and Attaching the Piping
The piping strip is prepared using the solid 2×27″ strip.
- Take the solid fabric strip and fold it in half. Make sure to fold it with the wrong side inside; this will yield a 1×27″ piping strip.
- Next, the piping must be attached to the main body fabric. Take the piping strip and align its raw edges with one long edge of the body print 16 1⁄2×27″ rectangle.
- Once aligned, the piping strip should be secured to the body print by applying a basting stitch. This step is illustrated as Diagram 1 in the project guide.
Final Pillowcase Assembly
The body and band are combined in the final assembly steps to complete the pillowcase.
- Begin by taking the body print 16 1⁄2×27″ rectangle. Fold it in half lengthwise to create a 16 1⁄2×13 1⁄2″ rectangle.
- Next, sew the folded piece to form the pillowcase body. Sew together the long edges and the short edges that are without piping.
- Once sewn, the resulting pillowcase body must be turned right side out and pressed flat.
- Now, the previously assembled pillowcase band must be joined to the body. Slide the band over the pillowcase body. While sliding it on, ensure that the piping side of the pillowcase body is facing the band.
- Pin the band and body layers together and sew through all layers to securely join them. This step is referenced in the project guide as Diagram 2.
- To finish the seam, press the pillowcase band open. The seam allowances should be pressed toward the pillowcase body.
- The final step to complete the travel pillowcase is to topstitch. Topstitch 1⁄4″ from the band edge to secure the seam allowances. This finishing process is shown in Diagram 3.
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