DIY Halloween Pillowcase • Heather Handmade

Learn how to make a DIY Halloween pillowcase with a free sewing pattern. This beginner sewing project is great for sleeping and carrying candy.

As a child I remember going trick or treating and using a pillowcase as a bag so that I could get as much candy as possible. My kids have used tote bags and pumpkin buckets for gathering candy, but having a Halloween pillowcase for candy makes me so nostalgic.

I thought it would be fun to make a DIY Halloween pillowcase for my kids that they can use for sleeping or that they can use for trick or treating and candy. It makes me so excited for Halloween!

Do you love to sew? Try one of these fun sewing projects:

How much fabric is needed to make a pillowcase?

If you are using a non-directional print you will need 1 yard of fabric for the main section and 1/4 yard of fabric for the contrast edge. You can also use a fat quarter for the constrast edge.

If you are using a directional print you will need 1.25 yard of fabric for the main section and 1/4 yard of fabric for the contrast edge. You can also use a fat quarter for the constrast edge.

All three fabrics I used were directional so I used that amount. I used a fat quarter for the edges as I will explain in the tutorial.

What fabrics work well for a pillowcase?

If you are a beginner sewist, then quilting cotton is a great fabric to start with. If you love pretty and bold prints, then quilting cotton is a great fabric to choose. If you need a soft fabric for your hair or skin, then satin or silk is a great fabric to choose.

Make a pillowcase with the burrito method

Supplies

1-1.5 yard of Quilting cotton (check above for exact amount) for main section
.25 yard or fat quarter of quilting cotton for contrast edge
Sewing tools
Sewing machine

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Start by cutting your large yardage fabric to the right size. I will call this the large rectangle.

You need a large rectangle that is 27 inches wide by 40 inches tall. The small rectangle needs to be 9 inches wide by 40 inches tall (you can use a fat quarter which you can read about below).

Cut your contrast fabric to the right size. I will call this the small rectangle.

If you are using a fat quarter you can cut it in half lengthwise and sew the short edges together.

When you sew the short edges together press open the seam. This might be a little longer than needed so be prepared to trim a little bit off if needed.

Lay the large rectangle down flat with the right side up. Place the small rectangle with the right side down. The long edge of each rectangle should match up on one side. Pin these two long edges together.

Flip the whole thing over so that the small rectangle is on the bottom. Start on the opposite long edge and start rolling it in a tight tube.

Keep rolling the fabric into a tube until you start to see the contrast fabric underneath.

Grab the long edge of the small rectangle and bring it up over the tube of fabric. Match it to the pinned edge.

Remove the pins and pin all three layers of the long edges together: two sides of the small rectangle and one side of the large rectangle. This is your “burrito”.

Sew the three layers together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Backstitch when you start and stop.

Start pulling the tube out from inside the contrast fabric “burrito”.

Keep pulling until the whole thing is turned right side out.

Unroll the fabric. Press the contrast edge on both sides to make it nice and crisp.

Fold the pillowcase in half with WRONG sides together matching the short edges. The contrast should match up at the same side. Pin the bottom of the pillowcase and the side of the pillowcase.

Sew the two seams with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Trim the seam allowance down to 1/8 inch.

Turn the pillowcase right side in and poke out the corners. Sew along the previous seam at 3/8 inch seam allowance. Backstitch when you start and stop.