How to Make a Pillowcase Dress

The conventional method of making a pillow case dress creates a drawstring case around the neck of the child. This is very convenient because as the child grows they still wear it as it is adjustable.

A clean and well pressed pillow case, a bias binding package or 60″ ribbon and a 12″ of ½” wide elastic are some of the materials needed for making a pillow case dress. Safety pins to be used for threading the elastic and ribbon or rick rack for decorating the lower part of the pillow dress are also needed.

• The first step is to take the measure measurements of the child starting from their shoulder to the dress’ required length. The same distance should be measured onto the pillowcase from the end that is open and then cut across straight. The cut edge will be the top side of the dress.

• Armscyes (armholes) should be cut on both of the pillowcase’s sides; at the edges. The resulting shape is letter “J” with its top being at the pillows cut edges. Small children require a depth of 3″ while bigger ones need 4″.

• Next fold the 2 top edges ¼” to go on its inside and press. Fold down and then press the edges a second time and it should be ¾”. This helps to make the end finishing of the edge neat. Stitch on the 1^st fold from end to end forming kind of a tunnel known as casing.

• Cut the elastic into 2 six inches pieces and put a pin to a piece’s end. That will help in threading the elastic in a casing. As the elastic is threaded, the casing goes up and goes on to form a kind of stretchy neckline. The other edge of the dress will have to be pinned as it gets to casing to prevent it from going all the way out. To ensure that the elastic is held in place each casing’s open end should be stitched across. This should be repeated with next casing and elastic.

• Two binding pieces should then be cut and they should measure 28 inches. The binding should be folded in a lopsided manner to ensure that both sides get stitched. The binding’s narrow side should be stitched facing up.

• The final step is to sew a rick rack or ribbon and this should be done approximately 31/2 to 4 inches from the edge at the bottom. This is to ensure that the initial pillowcase’s opening is caught so that it does not catch whenever the child puts on the dress or top.

Pillow cases can be made to match with the sheets or with a design that the child likes for example cartoons, rockets, robots and others.