Featured Discussions - Navy For Moms2024-03-28T16:15:23Zhttps://navyformoms.ning.com/group/heads/forum/topic/list?feed=yes&xn_auth=no&featured=1UPDATED Pillowcase Instructionstag:navyformoms.ning.com,2009-12-04:1971797:Topic:31921902009-12-04T13:50:20.036ZSue-Pillowcase ladyhttps://navyformoms.ning.com/profile/Sue_PillowcaseLady
Pillowcase Instructions<br />
Selecting Fabric:<br />
There are so many wonderful choices out there for fabrics but care does need to be<br />
used when selecting it. Remember these pillowcases are intended to be slept upon.<br />
This means that they need to be soft. Also they will be washed many times, so they<br />
need to be durable. In addition, you will probably be piecing some to make your<br />
fabrics go farther; this means that you will want to have similar weights of fabrics.<br />
A good rule of thumb is the Symphony…
Pillowcase Instructions<br />
Selecting Fabric:<br />
There are so many wonderful choices out there for fabrics but care does need to be<br />
used when selecting it. Remember these pillowcases are intended to be slept upon.<br />
This means that they need to be soft. Also they will be washed many times, so they<br />
need to be durable. In addition, you will probably be piecing some to make your<br />
fabrics go farther; this means that you will want to have similar weights of fabrics.<br />
A good rule of thumb is the Symphony Broadcloth offered by JoAnns. It is probably<br />
the minimum weight and the appropriate softness for any pillowcase. It comes in<br />
solids and is a full 44‐inch width so a collection of colors of this fabric is nice to have<br />
on hand. It is also quite reasonable. It can be purchased for as little as $1.79/yard.<br />
Use this fabric as a guideline when evaluating other fabrics.<br />
Pay attention to the width of fabrics when you purchase it. You will want to get<br />
either 44‐inch fabric or 60‐inch fabric in width. Sometimes fabrics are advertised as<br />
44‐inch wide but in actuality they are less. Some have wide selvages and this can<br />
cause difficulties. Sue incorporates wide selvages into the pillowcase, making an<br />
extra stripe. She does not mind having JoAnn’s on it, especially since they have been<br />
so generous to all of the Heads at Ease crew. If you are not going to incorporate the<br />
selvage, remember you will lose anything you cut off.<br />
Some fabrics have a wonderful pattern but the dyes are heavy. If this is the case,<br />
you will probably put a softer fabric on the back for sleeping, e.g., the Symphony<br />
Broadcloth.<br />
Patriotic fabrics, e.g., stars, flags, etc., are wonderful but regional and seasonal<br />
fabrics are nice as well. Remember anything that will remind the person of home<br />
will be appreciated. Look for colors that will mix and match. This will allow you to<br />
create more different pillowcases.<br />
Cotton is always a great fabric but a blend will work well too. You probably do not<br />
want all polyester or some other similar types of fabric. They tend to be stiffer or<br />
more scratchy.<br />
One thing to pay attention to is how the fabric was cut before and the pattern of the<br />
fabric. Recently I purchased fabric and noticed that it had not been cut straight.<br />
This means that you can lose several inches of usable fabric. If you notice this, make<br />
sure the cutting person, straightens the fabric before cutting. Even doing this, I<br />
frequently buy an additional inch or two to allow for shrinkage and adjustment in<br />
cutting. Sometimes the pattern is not printed on the straight of the fabric. If this is<br />
going to bother you, you better pass on the fabric. Otherwise you have to just ignore<br />
it.<br />
Deciding upon the amount to purchase depends upon your sewing style. If you are<br />
going to make pillowcases out of one piece of fabric, then you will not want to<br />
purchase more than 31 inches of fabric that is 44 inches in width (allows for<br />
shrinkage and loss for not being straight). Otherwise, if you are willing to piece,<br />
purchase several yards of a fabric, e.g., three to four yards.<br />
Pre‐treatment of Fabric prior to Sewing:<br />
Before you cut, wash your fabric in cool to warm water with some vinegar. This will<br />
accomplish several things. First if the dyes have a tendency to bleed, they should<br />
“set” with the vinegar and cool water. Second, if there is going to be shrinkage, it<br />
should happen during this washing. Third, it should remove the sizing, making the<br />
fabric softer and showing up problems with fabric being straight.<br />
Please do not use heavy fabric softeners. Many people have problems with those scents.<br />
Once the fabric has been washed and ironed, you can check the actual measurement<br />
of the fabric in terms of width and length. You can also check to see if the fabric is<br />
straight when you match selvage edges. If you put the selvages together and run<br />
your hand towards the fold, the fabric should be smooth. If it is not, then probably<br />
you have a problem with the fabric being straight. In this case, you will want to pull<br />
the fabric from opposite corners. If you have several yards, you will need to get<br />
someone to help you. Even a yard is difficult to manage alone. When I was taught<br />
to do it, I pulled a thread and matched the threads together. Then I pulled to make<br />
them match. I don’t do this with my pillowcases but I do check for obvious<br />
problems.<br />
After you have washed, ironed and straightened the fabric, cut one end to make a<br />
straight, even edge from which to work. Now you are ready to begin cutting.<br />
Cutting the Pillowcases:<br />
If you are going to create a pillowcase from a single piece of fabric, you will want to<br />
cut a piece that is 44” x 30”. When you fold it in half, you will have a piece that is 22”<br />
x 30”.<br />
If you are going to put a band on your pillowcase, the width of the band plus the<br />
width of your seams will determine the length of the body. Remember, you will<br />
want to end up with a piece that is 22” x 30 inches or 44” x 30” to complete the<br />
pillowcase.<br />
When you attach a band, press the seam toward the open end (top) and top stitch<br />
for a finished look.<br />
So let’s assume that you are going to have a ¼” seam and you are using a six‐inch<br />
band, left over from a yard of fabric that was used to make a pillowcase. You will<br />
lose ¼ inches of the band and ¼ inches of the body, so you will need a piece that is<br />
24‐1/2 inches long (allows ¼ inches for the body and ¼ inches for the band).<br />
Constructing the Pillowcase,<br />
There are several ways that you can make a pillowcase. The simplest is to have a<br />
1/4” seam that has a zig‐zag seam to protect from raveling. If you have cut a piece of<br />
fabric that is 44” x 30” inches, then you will fold it in half so that the selvage edges<br />
are together. Sew along the bottom and side, turning the corner at a 90‐degree<br />
angle. The bottom will need to have a zig‐zag to protect from raveling but the<br />
selvage edge will protect the side. The top (open end) will be turned down ¼” and<br />
then one inch for finishing. If you wish to turn down more for the hem at the top,<br />
you will need to allow for this when cutting. You do not want to leave the top<br />
unfinished or not hemmed. Your finished pillowcase will be 21‐1/2 x 28‐1/2”. This<br />
is the “ideal.”<br />
If you have a serger or overcast machine, you will have a seam that is a little larger<br />
than ¼”. Another option is to use French seams, in which case you will probably<br />
have seams that are ½”. All are acceptable but they will affect the dimensions of<br />
some of your cuts.<br />
If you are doing a lot of piecing, be sure to only piece one side of the pillowcase. It<br />
looks great on a rack but will it be comfortable for sleeping. With pillowcases that<br />
have piecing, place a piece on the back that is plain, i.e., only piece one side. A band<br />
may go around but do not make it more than 8 inches wide. And it is best to not<br />
make the band several thicknesses of fabric. When packing the boxes, it really does<br />
make a difference.<br />
When finished, you want a pillowcase that will fit most standard pillows. You do not<br />
want one that is huge nor do you want want that is just too small. A good rule of<br />
thumb is 20 inches minimum for width and 32 inches for maximum length Guam is football themetag:navyformoms.ning.com,2009-09-10:1971797:Topic:28919042009-09-10T16:13:56.195ZSue-Pillowcase ladyhttps://navyformoms.ning.com/profile/Sue_PillowcaseLady
Our contact in Guam posted this information today. I had asked for it and she really came thru. I currently have on hand fabric for: packers, university of Michigan, cowboys. I did have bears, but gave it to a friend. I'll see if I can get some back.<br />
another member is in Ohio right now and I emailed her to see if she can get Buckeye and Bengal fabric. Lyn has the Steelers covered and a sailor's mom is getting U of Georgia..<br />
<br />
SO, if any of you live in a state that I haven't named, and would like…
Our contact in Guam posted this information today. I had asked for it and she really came thru. I currently have on hand fabric for: packers, university of Michigan, cowboys. I did have bears, but gave it to a friend. I'll see if I can get some back.<br />
another member is in Ohio right now and I emailed her to see if she can get Buckeye and Bengal fabric. Lyn has the Steelers covered and a sailor's mom is getting U of Georgia..<br />
<br />
SO, if any of you live in a state that I haven't named, and would like to mail me some fabric, I will make a pillowcase for them. And the sooner the better, as I have a craft fair at the end of the month I need to work on. I need anywhere from 1/4 to 1 yard. your choice. If you just get 1/4 yard, I will make a banded one.<br />
<br />
This is exciting! I do have other football fabric and Lyn has some too, but if we can make it specific, that would be better. <b>My son said "mom, anything personal is awesome, but I know that is hard to</b> <b>do."</b> And here, Sarah drops that opportunity into our laps.<br />
<br />
HTC LYKINS – OHIO – BENGELS<br />
HT1 MANSKE – WISCONSIN - PACKERS<br />
HT1 HENDRICKS – MISSOURI - RAMS<br />
HT2 MATHIS –FLORIDA – FLORIDA GATORS<br />
HT2 PALM – ILLINOIS - BEARS<br />
HT2 STANFORD – TEXAS - COWBOYS<br />
HT2 HALLOWELL – CALIFORNIA – MIAMI DOLPHINS *DAN MORINO<br />
HT2 RICHARDSON – WISCONSIN – WORLD OF WARCRAFT<br />
HT2 REGAN – CALIFORNIA - RIADORS<br />
HT2 KEELIN – WASHINGTON – SEATLE SEA HAWKS<br />
HT2 OSULLIVAN – ILLINOIS – PATRIOTS * tedy bruschi<br />
HT2 ROBINETTE – PENNSYLVANIA – STEALERS<br />
HT2 WILSON – OHIO – BUCKEYES OHIO STATE<br />
HT2 TENNANT – WASHINGTON – 49ERS<br />
HT3 KABISCH – CALIFORNIA - RAIDERS<br />
HT3 GANDY – MISSOURI - PACKERS<br />
HT3 OOMS - CALIFORNIA - RAIDERS<br />
HT3 MOOK – CALIFORNIA - RAIDERS<br />
HT3 MEYER – NEW YORK - BILLS<br />
HT3 MURPHY – MICHIGAN – UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN<br />
HT3 SHEPPARD – PENNSYLVANIA - STEALERS<br />
HT3 QUEVEDO - *FEMALE – NEVENDA - RAIDERS<br />
HTFN LARKIN - *FEMALE – MICHIGAN – DETROIT LIONS<br />
HTFN SWITLIK – MISSOURI - CHIEFS<br />
HTFN GUTIERREZ – CALIFORNIA – FREZNO STATE UNIVERSITY<br />
HTFN MORENO – TEXAS - COWBOYS<br />
HTFR BERLEY – WASHINGTON - RAIDERS<br />
HTFR PATTON – GEORGIA – UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA<br />
Gacke family: Texas Longhorns, Wisconsin Badgers and baby Hunter.<br />
<br />
<b>WE have all the fabric and teams covered now! Thank you</b>.