Just to prove I am a slow adopter, or terribly behind the times, I tackled sewing some “magic” or 15 minute pillowcases yesterday for the first time.
I wandered into my LQS with my daughter, and while she was busy finding art supplies, I laid eyes on some gorgeous fabric. It had been languishing on the bottom shelf, unloved and out of sight, and had now made it into the sale bin (only $15/m). I needed this fabric!
Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so when I showed the Hubbie, he thought it was hideous.
I like Art and Crafts, Art Nouveau and English primroses, so the fabric ticked a lot of boxes for me. I collect china with primroses, and grow yellow primroses in the front garden among native ferns and species lilies. The Hubbie likes coding data, as a hobby, so the finer things in life like primroses tend to pass him by.
Never mind, it was bought and paid for.
It turns out I didn’t buy enough for normal pillowcases, but the magic pillowcase pattern uses a contrasting cuff, so I only needed 27 inches of the main fabric. Do-able! I used some fabric I had bought for the Midnight at the Oasis quilt for the remainder, since I wanted to make the pillowcases straight away.
I watched the Shabby Fabric Youtube video, then ventured out to create.
It actually worked, and I only had to unpin everything once per pillowcase, since I kept putting right sides down, instead of up. So, I am now the owner of two gorgeous (or horrific) pillowcases, which will adorn the bed as soon as I have washed them.
Unfortunately the plaid fabric I used was printed quite a lot off grain. I cut according to the grain without thinking too much about it, and then ended up with wonky plaid on the cuffs. Next time I will cut to keep the pattern straight.
I have been informed that it is quite normal to sew a matching pair of these, at the completion of a quilt project. In future I shall buy more fabric (yippee) to make sure I have enough to do so. Today I shall rummage in the Gypsy Wife #1 pile to see if I have enough fabric left over for binding and pillowcases. If not, Berry Patch Cottage still has some in stock.
I am still awaiting Brunhild’s return from the dealer, but she should be back any day now. Fingers crossed for today, to be followed by a weekend of sewing up a storm.
Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts, TGIFF, and Link a Finish Friday.
quilts across the aisle 
Well, I like the fabric and I like the pillow cases, and a sale is a sale, right?
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And at least I used the fabric, so no more added to stash! Thanks for dropping by.
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Great fabrics for pillowcases! Nicely done! Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!
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I recognise that first fabric – showing my age here! You’ve made a very pretty pillowcase with it! I had some in my stash years ago and I couldn’t think how to use it so I added to a bundle that I sold on Trade Me.
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I haven’t bought fabric off trademe, but it did lead me to Thumpacat fabrics. I quite like their $1 grab bags. Have a good weekend, try and keep dry.
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The Art Nouveau mosquitoes crack me up. Good find!
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Thanks. I took the pillowcases back to the shop I bought the fabric from, and the owner informed me they were a traditional Art Nouveau element. Who would have guessed.
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