Charity Pillow Cases with Directions

I know lots of guilds and individuals have been involved in making pillow cases for the "1 Million Pillow Case Challenge". Our guild coordinator for charity work found out that they are just overwhelmed with donations.
A LQS was a collection point, but no one had contacted them in a while about getting the pillow cases.
It appears local groups are now being encouraged to donate to shelters as well as hospital. Our Charity coordinator is fabulous. She made calls and between her church connections and a list of the local shelters - particularly for displaced women and children, and a local Birthday Wishes chapter - we now have an outlet for all the pillow cases and they are going to help people in our immediate communities.

This whole endeavor is a wonderful activity - and quilter's are the best! Ask for a million and you will get a billion!

Saturday was a half day sit & sew for this charity for our guild. We have been collecting fabrics, making kits and then sewing.

I had not made any pillow cases yet and was determined to make some. BUT--- I came down with a terrible cold - I could function, but did NOT want to share with my quilting friends. So I used some of my stash, and one kit I had and did my own "quarantined" sit & sew!!
We had posted 3 - 4 of the free pillowcase patterns on our guild's Yahoo group site. I tried the French Seam/Top Band Tube Method - What a GREAT- FAST Pattern! This was a free word of mouth pattern so I have no issue posting it here.
I took some pictures and provided the directions below

In the end I took 3 pillow cases over to the group while they were still working ( I needed a short visit) AND then brought home 4 more kits the coordinator had and finished those up before 6 pm!! 7 Pillow cases in all.
Here are the 4 pillow cases I did after my visit!

French Seam Pillow Case
This pattern makes a standard size pillow case with French seams to hide the raw edges.
The pattern calls for 44" cuts, but many of the fabrics are less than 44"
In all cases just replace 44" with full width cut
I had several novelty prints that were about 40-41 inches - they finish a little smaller, but still within the standard pillow size.
Materials

• Top Band Fabric -         9" X 44"
• Accent Piece -               2.5" X 44"  - Iron in half WRONG sides together, 
•                                                           raw edges aligned for a 1.25" X 44" piece
• Pillow Case Body  -       27"  X 44"

1. Press all fabrics, and press the accent piece as directed above - in half wrong sides together and raw edges aligned
2. Place the Top Band Fabric FACE UP on your work surface
3. Align the Accent Piece raw edges to the top 44 inch raw edge of the Top Band Fabric
4. Pillow Case Body - Rolling up along the LONG 44 inch edge - roll up the pillow case body from one edge to within about 2- 3 inches of the  other raw 44" edge.
5. Place the "unrolled" 44 inch edge of the Pillow Case Body FACE DOWN - aligning the edges, on top of the  Accent piece.

6. You now have the following layers
1. Top Band FACE UP
2. Accent Piece raw edge aligned (this is TWO LAYERS) to top edge of layer 1.
3. Pillow Case Body - FACE DOWN -1 Raw edge aligned  to top edge -rest of piece rolled up
7. Bring the BOTTOM edge of the Top Band (Layer 1) up to meet the top edge ( where all the other layers are aligned)
1. This encases the rolled up pillow case body  and
2. Makes a long tube (The top band fabric will be wrong side out at this point)

3. You now have 5 LAYERS Top Band - top edge(1), Accent Piece (2), pillow case body edge (1) and Top band bottom edge (1).
8. PIN , PIN, PIN - through the 5 layers aligning the edges and being sure not to catch any of the extra Pillow Case Body rolled up inside

9. Stitch a 1/4 inch seam through the 5 layers.
10. Pull the Pillow Case out through the top band tube.I just started gently pulling on the  pillow case body, and it comes right out.

11. Even up the edges
12. FRENCH SEAMS
1. Fold Pillow Case WRONG SIDES together
2. Stitch a scant 1/4 inch seam on the long side and the bottom 
3. YES- you are STITCHING A SEAM ON THE RIGHT SIDE SO IT SHOWS
1. Turn the pillow case INSIDE OUT
2. Poke out the corners and press the seams out flat
3. Stitch a GENEROUS 1/4 inch seam along the long seam side and the bottom - encasing the raw edge
4. Turn the pillow case right side out - Press seams well
5. Trim any small edges or threads not caught in the French seam

With the pre-cut kits from my guild this took about 30 minutes and I am a slower sewer.

I would add only about 10 minutes if you have to cut your own fabric 


I will be making more for charity as well as for gifts - I am already thinking Christmas gifts (oh dear)
Peace and Happy Quilting
Mary