Today I will be posting my first sewing how-to. I’m a little nervous as I’ve only been sewing for a little over a year now, and I’m not really sure if I can even explain all this correctly. So if you have any advice or if you need clarification in the steps please let me know.
For my first tutorial I decided to go with something super easy, a simple pillow case. I made these lovely pillows as a baby shower gift for my sister.
I had come across the ABC fabric at an antique store and there was just enough there that I thought I’d make some lovely pillows that the baby could lay on.
![ABC fabric just prefect for a little girl.](https://i1.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_01.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
Okay so on with the tutorial.
First I started by buying a regular size pillow. I got mine at Walmart for about $6.00. The next step is I cut the pillow in half through the stuffing. I then pin each half up with pins the best I can and then sew up the open side.
Why do I do this? We’ll accent pillows are expensive and stuffing a hand-made pillow is time-consuming. This way I get a cheap pillow that’s already stuffed. Also I get a nice small rectangle shaped pillow, that makes for a cute accent pillow. I also thought that they were a prefect size for a toddler, so hopefully my niece to be will be able to use them later on as well.
![Standard pillow cut in half and sewed closed](https://i1.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_02.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
Now that I had the actual pillows ready, start on the pillow case.
The fabric I was using was 48″ wide, which I folded in half, length wise. I then cut out about 13-1/2″ tall rectangle.
Next I folded over 9″ from the top . Then I fold about 5-1/4″ back over.
![Here I've folded over the fabric 9" on one side](https://i1.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_03.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
![Here I take 5-1/4" from the 9" and fold back over](https://i0.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_04.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
Next fold about 1-1/2″ to 2″ back over the edge of the fabric. This will all be sewed in place and help to create the pocket to allow the pillow to be stuffed inside the case.
![1-1/2" to 2", from the 5-1/4" fold, is folded back on to the other side](https://i2.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_05.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
On the other side of the fabric I fold over 18″ .
![I fold over 18" from the other side](https://i1.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_06.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
Once the fold are in place I pin the fabric and get ready to sew.
![Here I've pinned the seams](https://i2.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_07.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
I sewed 3/8′ seam all the way around , and clipped the corners.
![I sewed a 3/8" seam around the case](https://i0.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_08.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
![Tturn the fabric at the corners](https://i2.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_10.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
![Once you've sewed all the way around, trim your corners](https://i2.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_11.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
When trimming corners cut as close to the seam without cutting the seam. This will create nice square corners on the flip side.
Once I was through sewing I turned the pillow case inside out and shoved the pillow inside.
![Here I've turned the case right side out, you can see the pocket overlap](https://i0.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_12.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
The pillows came out really nicely and I really like their size. I hope this tutorial makes sense and that you find it helpful.
![Here are the final pillows](https://i1.wp.com/akramsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pillow_13.jpg?resize=732%2C488)
Nicely done! Thank you!
Glad you like them.