Pattern Description:
The Cute-as-a-Button Pillowcase is a charming sewing project that transforms a standard-size bed pillowcase into a delightful decorative piece.
It features a band of pieced fabric blocks designed to resemble buttons, adding a playful and handmade touch.
The finished pillowcase measures approximately 30¾ by 20 inches, and each block within the design finishes at 6 inches square.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
Materials Needed
Fabric Amount Use Gray print ¼ yard Blocks Medium blue print ⅛ yard each Blocks Light blue print ⅛ yard each Blocks Dark blue print 10-inch square Blocks Tan print 1⅛ yards Blocks, pillowcase band, and pillowcase body
Measurements and Allowances
- Finished pillowcase size: 30¾ × 20 inches (fits a standard-size bed pillow)
- Finished block size: 6-inch square
- Seam allowances:
- ¼-inch for piecing blocks
- ½-inch for pillowcase construction
Instructions for Making the Cute as a Button Pillowcase Pattern:
1. Cut Fabrics
Cut pieces in the following order (based on 42 inches of usable fabric width):
From gray print, cut:
- 12 pieces – 1¼ × 4 inches
- 12 pieces – 1¼ × 2½ inches
- 48 pieces – 1-inch squares
From dark blue print, cut: 24 pieces – 1½-inch squares
From medium blue print, cut:
- 6 pieces – 1¾ × 6½ inches
- 6 pieces – 1¾ × 4 inches
From light blue print, cut:
- 6 pieces – 1¾ × 6½ inches
- 6 pieces – 1¾ × 4 inches
From tan print, cut:
- 1 piece – 26 × 41 inches
- 1 piece – 6½ × 40½ inches
- 2 pieces – 1½ × 6½ inches
- 4 pieces – 1 × 6½ inches
- 24 pieces – 1¼-inch squares
2. Assemble Blocks
- Prepare Corner Squares: Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each gray 1-inch square using a pencil. To prevent stretching, place 220-grit sandpaper underneath the fabric while marking.
- Create Center Subunits:
- Align one marked gray square with a corner of a dark blue 1½-inch square (see Diagram 1a for direction).
- Sew along the drawn line and trim excess fabric, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance.
- Repeat for the opposite corner (Diagram 1b).
- The finished subunit should measure 1½ inches square (including seam allowances).
- Make 24 subunits total.
- Construct Center Units:
- Following Diagram 2, sew four center subunits together in pairs, then join the pairs to create one center unit.
- Each unit should measure 2½ inches square (including seam allowances).
- Make six center units.
- Frame the Center Unit:
- Sew gray 1¼ × 2½-inch rectangles to opposite sides of a center unit (Diagram 3).
- Add gray 1¼ × 4-inch rectangles to the remaining sides.
- Finished size: 4 inches square (including seam allowances).
- Make six framed center units.
- Create Medium Blue Block Units:
- Sew medium blue 1¾ × 4-inch rectangles to opposite edges of a framed center unit (Diagram 4).
- Add medium blue 1¾ × 6½-inch rectangles to the remaining sides.
- Finished size: 6½ inches square (including seam allowances).
- Make three medium blue block units.
- Create Light Blue Block Units:
- Repeat the previous step using light blue rectangles.
- Make three light blue block units.
- Add Final Corners:
- Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each tan 1¼-inch square.
- Align one square on each corner of a medium blue block (see Diagram 5).
- Sew along the drawn lines, trim excess fabric, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance.
- Repeat for all corners.
- Make three medium blue blocks.
- Complete Light Blue Blocks:
- Repeat the corner-adding process for the light blue block units.
- Make three light blue blocks.
3. Assemble the Band
- Form the Pieced Row:
- Arrange all blocks, tan 1 × 6½-inch rectangles, and tan 1½ × 6½-inch rectangles as shown in Diagram 6.
- Sew using ¼-inch seam allowances.
- Press seams toward the tan rectangles.
- Finished size: 6½ × 40½ inches (including seam allowances).
- Join Band Pieces:
- Attach the pieced row to the tan 6½ × 40½-inch rectangle (see Band Assembly Diagram).
- Create the Loop:
- Join the short ends of the unit to form a loop and press the seam open.
- Fold the loop in half with wrong sides together and press flat to create the pillowcase band.
4. Assemble the Pillowcase
- Construct the Pillowcase Body:
- Fold the tan 26 × 41-inch rectangle in half to create a 26 × 20½-inch rectangle.
- Sew the long edges and one short edge to form the main pillowcase body.
- Turn right side out and press flat.
- Attach the Band:
- With right sides together, slide the band over the pillowcase body, matching raw edges and seams (see Diagram 7).
- Sew around the opening to attach the band.
- Finish the Pillowcase:
- Press the band open, directing seam allowances toward the pillowcase body.
- Topstitch ⅛ inch from the seam to secure it (see Diagram 8).
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