So, here's the gist of it: this pillowcase is folded over down one side, and then stitched down the other side and the bottom, leaving the top open to slide the pillow in. So we're going to sew the trim material on first, then fold the whole thing in half and sew it up.
In measuring the amount of material you need, you'll need to measure the pillow (or, if you buy a new one like I did, the measurements are on the packaging, OR you can find standard sizes online). Take two corners of the pillowcase and pull them tight and measure the seam once it's been pulled straight. That's the actual measurements of the pillow. Measuring across the middle will give you a longer measurement because of the puffiness of the pillow. Once you have those measurements, add just a little to each so the pillow can slide in comfortably, and then add a little after that for a seam allowance. Remember that you'll need to fold it in half, so cut a piece twice as wide, rather than two separate pieces. As for the trim, add however much trim you want to the pillowcase, BUT make sure it has that same double width the main fabric does, AND double the length as well, remembering to leave room for a seam allowance. You should end up with one piece of main fabric that's twice the width, and one piece of trim fabric that twice the width and length. That's all you need.
On my pillowcase, I used a pair of bandanas for the main material. Because of that, I started by cutting them to size and then sewing the two together to make one long piece. So for the sake of these instructions, pretend they're one piece of fabric.
Assembly Time!
-Lay your trim fabric down, face up.
-Lay the main fabric down, face up, on top of the trim fabric, so that the widths line up along one edge. Roll up the rest of the main fabric, because you'll need it out of the way. It should look like this. (I turned the corner down so you can see how it's lined up with the edge of the other fabric. You'll want it all to lie flat. I probably didn't need to tell you that, though.)
-Take the bottom edge of the trim fabric and fold it up to line it up with the top edges. This will give you a taco, with the trim fabric on the outside, the rolled up main fabric on the inside, and three lined up edges at the top.
-Stitch along the top of the taco. This will give you a tube. Take the tube and turn it inside out. Now, you should have the main fabric, with the trim fabric in a tube (with right sides out now) along one edge.
-Iron the tube flat. If you like, you can add a stitch along the outer edge to ensure it stays flattened.
-Now fold the whole thing in half, with right sides together. Stitch along the bottom and down the side.
-Turn it inside out. Insert pillow.
So there you go! A pillowcase from two pieces of fabric and three lines of stitching. I found this method online, and the person explaining it said she can pump out a pillowcase per hour this way. (It took me longer than that, but, hey, it was my first time.) It was suggested that pillowcases can make great gifts for kids (just pick out fabric with their favorite cartoon character/animal/whatever they're into). There's also charities that will take pillowcases for, say, children dealing with cancer, or flood victims, or women's shelters, or whatever. Here's a list I found. Apparently they've got some kind of challenge issued to sewers to donate a combined one million pillowcases this year. http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/wheretodonate/index.html
Well, that's it! Happy sewing! (And when you're done sewing, happy sleeping!)
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