Fall is here, and it’s peak crafting season and the perfect time for easy fall projects. One of my favorite crafts is sewing. I started sewing a little over seven years ago, when I was pregnant with my firstborn. Sewing is therapy for me; it keeps me grounded when I’m stressed. We all know how stressful the holiday season can be, so I wanted to share with you all a beginner-friendly fall sewing project.
Easy fall project: Pillowcase/trick-or-treating sewing tutorial
This tutorial will take you step by step on how to make your own pillowcase that doubles as a trick or treating bag. And guess what?! This pillowcase will not fray because we will use a French seam, perfect for items that will be washed frequently. It’s a great project to involve your kids; let them choose the fabric. Another neat thing about this pillowcase is that you can reuse it year after year!
Supplies needed
- Fall/Halloween themed fabric: 1.25 yards (for this project I am using 100% cotton fabric)
- Coordinating thread (I match my thread with the color of the fabric)
- Fabric scissors (Get a pair of these if you don’t have one already; they really make cutting fabric easier.)
- Measuring tape
- Thread snips (these aren’t really necessary but it just makes your sewing experience easier)
- Pins (not pictured)
- Queen Standard sized pillow (I got mine from Target)
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Materials needed for this easy all project. Photo by contributor, Frances Mendez.
Step 1: Make sure that you have 1.25 yards of fabric. The measurement in inches should be 45” long. The width of the fabric is standard, but it varies between 42-45” wide. Once you have your fabric ready, cut the selvage.
Step 2: We’re going to sew the French seam; for this, we will have the fabric folded in half, right sides facing up. Using a ⅜” seam allowance, you will only sew the raw edges because we don’t need to sew the side that is folded. You can use pins to hold the fabric together.
Step 3: Flip the pillowcase wrong side out. You should have the right sides facing inside and the wrong sides up. Using a ½” seam allowance, sew the side and bottom seams.
Step 4: Turn the pillowcase right side out and snip any threads that might be showing (it happens sometimes when the fabric frays while sewing).
At this point, your pillowcase should look like the picture below.
Step 5: Go to the remaining raw edge of the fabric and fold the fabric toward the inside 5 inches, and then fold again. Use pins to hold fabric.
Step 6: Using a ⅜” seam allowance, stitch across the edge of the folded part. All done!!! You now have a handmade pillowcase for fall and your kids will have a HUGE trick-or-treating bag!!
