Riley Blake Designs came out with the cutest woodsy kids fabric line this summer called Camp Woodland. I had to snag a few prints to use for my little boy's room. I debated what to do with it, but ended up deciding to make pillowcases!

 

My small son is very enamored of the bears, and loves to pick out the animal kinds on the blue toile print (my personal favorite). And pillowcases like this are so easy to make, you can sew them with very little sewing experience. Everything is worked flat, so it is super simple!

 

There is minimal cutting too, since the fabric width is the right width for a pillowcase.

You will need 3/4 yard main fabric, 1/4 yard contrast for the band, and if you choose an extra top stitched band, a few inches of fabric for that as well.

 

1. Cut the main fabric piece to 27 inches long x fabric width, and trim off the selvedge.

2. Cut the band fabric 9 inches long x the fabric width. (If you get a half yard of this print, you have enough to cut it in half and do 2 pillowcases.)

3. Cut the contrast narrow band 2 inches long x the fabric width. Here are all 3 pieces ready to sew.

 

You can also line them up ahead of time to get a feel for what the finished product will look like.

 

Lay out your main piece of fabric, and place the wide band fabric at one end, right sides together. If you are using a direction print, make sure the direction will go the way you want it to when this seam is sewn. (My son is talking to the bears on this picture.)

 

4. Sew the wide band to the main piece (1/2 or 5/8" seam is fine), then press it with the seam toward the band.

 

You could totally leave it with just a simple contrast band like this, but adding a narrow extra band is a fun trim and a good way to tie in a different color or print.

 

5. Take your narrow band. Fold the sides toward the center and press them.

 

6. Center over the band seam, and top stitch close to each edge.

 

Here is your finished piece.

 

7. Now fold it in half lengthwise, and sew the L shaped seam at the top and side, leaving the band edge open.

 

I serged this seam to finish it. You can leave it unfinished or finish it with your favorite method instead.

 

I also serged the band edge, but you could also use seam binding to finish it or just fold it over a half inch and press.

 

Last step – fold the band in half and pin the finished edge to the inside just under your seam.

 

8. Prop up your feet and do a quick hand stitch to keep the band in place. This will create a lovely finish on the inside.

 

Give it a good press and you're done! 

I didn't time myself, but I think you could make this start to finish in a half hour.

 

It's the perfect way to incorporate some fun fabrics into a child's or adult room. Think how fun it would be to have coordinating pillowcases to a quilt you made!

 

So there's a quick sewing fix to use some cute prints and freshen up a bedroom. Let me know if you try making one!