Tag: Pillowcases

Every time I make pillowcases, I feel like I am doing it wrong, then the pillowcase comes out fine and I feel mystified that the process worked, but vindicated that the process worked. All I can do is guess that the burrito method is not linear and that is part of the issue for me.

After finishing a big project, I wanted something quick. I also had making a pillowcase for one of the YM’s friends stuck in my head. I spent a lot of time pressing fabric on Friday night and came across a blue that would be perfect. I also found a perfect cuff fabric. Everything came together et Voilà! It was meant to be.

I used my guide to remind me of the pillowcase making details and the project only took me a little bit of time. It was very satisfying to finish something.

This is for someone whose favorite color is royal blue. I haven’t heard of Royal Blue as a favorite in a really long time, if ever. People love turquoise (ahem) or periwinkle or navy, but Royal Blue is new one on me. Good thing I had some fabric that was close.

Once finished I thought of the YM’s other good friend. All of the Musketeers would know if one got a pillowcase and the other didn’t, so I made a second pillowcase from some relatively subtle music themed fabric.

I thought I might have enough of that music fabric to make the YM one with a different cuff, so the two friends could coordinate their beds. I can dream, can’t I?

No such luck. The piece was larger than a yard, but not by much, so the leftovers are not large enough to make the body of another pillowcase. I might use the leftovers and a solid to make a cuff. The YM has plenty of pillowcases, though, so we will see.

I know I have some Star Wars fabric and a piece of Angry Birds yardage. I am tempted to make a few more pillowcases. Two of my nephews were using their Christmas pillowcases on Mother’s Day, so they might be the happy recipients of new pillowcases.

Well, my big plans for pillowcases almost fell apart, but not quite. I sent one last care package and snuck in the last pillowcase. What I didn’t do well was report on my progress. My last update was in January.

September

• Theme: soft
• Fabric: Minkee and flannel
• Theme: Back to School
• Fabric: Timeless Treasures Fun #2306

As I said in a previous post, I was tempted by a “School Daze” theme and he was ok with the fabric.

October

• Theme: Halloween
• Fabric: skeleton fabric by Timeless Treasures for the body. The cuff is an old P&B Fabric.

This is a gimme. Very easy fabric to choose and I am pretty sure the YM will like it.

I also made 3 matching Hallowe’en pillowcases for the YM and his roommates.

November – Done

• Theme: Thanksgiving
• Fabric: Timeless Treasures Golden Harvest

As I said, I was disappointed I couldn’t find a cornucopia fabric. I’ll keep looking and perhaps will find one next year.

December

• Theme: Christmas
• Fabric: California Christmas (not the real name, but it is something like that)

January

I did send him a January care package.

•  Theme: Pokemon
• Fabric: Robert Kaufman licensed from Nintendo

February

• Theme: Valentine’s Day
• Fabric: Moda

I really wanted to send him a Valentine’s themed package, so I made a Valentine’s pillowcase and will send it off towards the end of the month. I think the grey (Julie’s suggestion) makes it not too sweet. The color is heading towards pinky red. The original theme below will have to carry over to another month or end up as a gift for one of the nephews.

March

• Theme: St. Patrick’s Day?
• Fabric: ?

I was lazy and too cheap to buy St. Patrick’s Day fabric, so he didn’t get a pillowcase in March. It’s an opportunity for next year.

April

I ended up sending him a Viewmaster pillowcase that I had made from Cotton and Steel fabrics with his Easter box. The Easter fabrics were all too sweet, pastel and cutesy.

I still have the Angry Birds fabric. I’ll have to see what I do with that. It could end up as a donation quilt. The YM didn’t seem very excited about the motif, so that might be the best use.

While I may not do an official pillowcase tally again, since I have no plans for making more pillowcases, I have some ideas for pillowcases as gifts and will show you those. I am particularly interested in making pillowcases for a couple of the YM’s friends and for two of my nephews. I went and visited the nephews and they have their Christmas pillowcases on their bed. That is a sure sign they could use more.

We are well into the school year and, as you know, the YM is back at school after the Christmas break. He is finishing up week 1 of the semester. He talked about taking an extra pillow back to school with him. That was the only thing he felt he was missing.

I just had to go with the Valentine’s Day theme for February. I know I made a Pokemon pillowcase*, but I saw the Valentine’s Day fabric at The Granary and couldn’t resist.

I know the fabric is probably a little embarrassing for a boy, but he can give it to one of his girl friends, if he doesn’t like it. I have an idea to buy some of those heart shaped candies and some grammar school cartoon themed Valentine’s as well as a heart shaped box of candy for his February care package. It is kind of fun to create and send off care packages. I wonder how many bags of pretzels has hoarded under his bed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Nota bene: From the previous college Pillowcase Tally Post, you will see that I intended the Pokemon pillowcase for January and had Angry Birds fabric in mind for February. In my mind, I switched Pokemon to February. I decided not to send him a care package in January since he would still be home for the beginning of it. I might change my mind.

My dad is getting ready to retire soon. He plans on driving around the country pulling a trailer to visit his friends and fish. He loves to fish. He doesn’t want to acquire stuff, so pillowcases are something he can use on his travels and will be theme appropriate.  I have been, since he told me of his plans, trying to get him gifts that are either use-up-able, useful for a trip or he can use to pack.

I had forgotten about my well laid plans. When I washed some fabric last weekend, I found the fish fabric I had bought a few months ago to make my dad pillowcases for Christmas. Deadlines were getting short and I knew I would have to be quick, so, after finishing the Sew Together Bag, I got down to pillowcase business.

By now I have made so many pillowcases that they went together quickly. the biggest problem is picking out cuff fabric and I was able to find and use the last bit of yellow Reflections fabric for the cuffs. I think it adds a bit of cheerfulness to otherwise drab fabric.