Contoured Memory Foam Pillowcase

  The rooster and I both love our contoured memory foam pillows but I was tired of using ill-fitting standard pillowcases if I wanted to match my decor.  I couldn't find any tutorials for a contoured pillowcase, and this won't be much of one, but it will be an outline of an approach you can take, should you wish to make one for yourself.


There were really only two things I wanted from my pillow case: It had to be asymmetric so that there was more material on the curvy side than on the flat side (so that the case would actually fit!) and it had to have an envelope opening because I am sick of pillowcases sliding off.  If I didn't have the envelope opening, it would have been a lot easier to make.

Forgiving Sew Projects: Ruffled Round Throw Pillow

I have seen a few similar tutorials online about ruffling but not much dealing with the "knife-edge" type pillow (as opposed to one that is more disk shaped).  Here, using leftover fabric from my duvet cover, I make a simple, round, ruffled, throw pillow.  The ruffling is what makes it so forgiving of messed up measurements, crooked sewing, and other gaffs.

We start with two strips of fabric of equal length and width (I am going to rip off the hemmed edge on the piece shown here).  The dimensions of the strips depend on the dimensions of the pillow. I would recommend doubling the circumference for the length and having the radius plus 2 inches for the width.  Making the strip shorter means you will have fewer/shallower ruffles.  Making the strips narrower means you will have to have a larger center piece.

Forgiving Sewing Projects: Duvet Cover

I've been meaning to make a new cover for my feather comforter for some time now.  Since the cover is fairly large, and since it will be filled with something fluffy, this is a project that is very forgiving of stitching (and even cutting) that isn't straight.

We have a queen sized bed and I wanted to make some matching pillowcases and throw pillows, so I bought a king flat sheet and a coordinating king sheet set to use for fabric (bought after the new year, when linens are on sale, this cost me less than $25).  I think this was plenty for us but if you have a king bed you might need to buy another flat sheet or some fabric.
Before you ever get started, make sure to pre-wash and dry your fabric so that it has already shrunk as much as it is going to.  Iron the fabric so that you make accurate measurements and cuts.

To make the duvet cover, you are really just sewing large rectangle that has an opening in one end.  Measure your comforter width and length and measure, mark, and cut your two flat sheets so that you allow for a seam allowance and, if you choose to do this part, the french seam/sham flange edge.  I generally do a 1/2" seam allowance and I did about a 1" flange so I added 3" to my comforter dimensions.  I would not recommend making the duvet cover oversized for the comforter because I think you tend to get more lumping that way.