Activity
Begin with a trip to the fabric store and choose four different colors and prints of cotton broadcloth or calico fabrics that look good together. The fabrics should be 44” – 45” wide. Choose the fabric you would like for the main body of the pillowcase. This will be fabric #1. The remaining fabrics will form stripes for the pillowcase.

Materials:
Fabric #1 - 3/4 yard
Fabric #2 - 1/8 yard
Fabric #3 - 1/8 yard
Fabric #4 - 1/4 yard
sewing thread to match each color fabric
sewing tools such as measuring tape, seam gauge, sewing machine, straight pins, fabric marking chalk or pen, seam gauge, shears, iron

Instructions:
1. Pre-wash and dry all fabrics and press flat with iron.

2. Place fabric #1 on cutting table, fold in half with selvage edges together. Using a straight edge, mark the cut edges of the fabric so it is straight. Cut with shears. Measure 25” from this cut edge with a tape measure and mark with a fabric marking chalk or pen. Cut on mark.

3. Repeat for fabrics #2, #3, and #4, EXCEPT measure and cut #2 and #3 (2½”) long and #4 ( 8”) long.

4. Wind a bobbin and thread the sewing machine with thread to match fabric #2.

5. Place the cut edges of fabric #1 and fabric #2 right sides together. You may need to trim part of the selvage edge on one to make them fit. Stitch with your machine on the 1/2“ seam line.

6. Press seam allowance towards fabric #2.

7. Topstitch the seam allowance in place from the right side of the fabric. You will be stitching on top of fabric #2 with a 1/4” seam line.

8. Change the thread on the machine to the color matching fabric #3. Repeat steps #5, #6 and #7, using the fabric strip #3 and pressing the strip toward fabric #3.

9. Change the thread on the machine to the color matching fabric #4. Repeat steps #5 and #6 again, pressing the seam allowance toward fabric #4.

10. Change the thread on the sewing machine to the thread matching fabric #1. Fold the pillowcase in half, right sides together, so the two selvage edges meet. The seam lines of each of the sewn together sections should match. Pin the edges in place. Stitch on the1/2“ seam line. Press the seam allowance open and flat. Pin the top of the pillowcase together (the cut edges of fabric #1). Stitch in place with a 1/2” seam line.

11. Zigzag over the raw edges of the seam allowance on the top of the pillowcase.

12. On the lower edge of the pillowcase, measure 1/2“ and press this edge to the wrong side of the fabric. Pin or baste in place. Bring this folded edge up to meet the stitching line of fabrics #3 and #4. You will now be covering the seam allowance. Pin and baste in place.

13. Change the thread on the machine to the color matching fabric #4. From the right side of the fabric, topstitch the hem in place, stitching 1/4” from the seam line.

14. Press the completed pillowcase.