Personalised Handmade Pillowcase

My boy went off to a birthday party today.  I had a mild panic in the morning because I'd forgotten about a present.  But I fell back on another one of my trusty handmade birthday present ideas - a personalised pillowcase.  This idea is probably best for the young ones among your gift recipients, although a pillowcase with Grandma appliqued on it might be just the ticket for your MIL!

Those are my son's feet - check out the stubbed toes!

Sorry - no process photos but I can explain it easy enough.

For a normal sized pillowcase, cut one rectangle 19 1/2 inches by 29 inches (the back) and one rectangle 19 1/2 inches by 35 inches (the front).  Hem a short end of each rectangle by folding over twice and stitching down.

Draw letters onto the paper backing of some fusible web (remember to reverse them!).  Cut them out then iron them down to the front side (remember to fold the hemmed edge of your rectangle under about six inches to get the placement right).

Now straight stitch around the edges of the letters several times in a contrasting thread.  We're going for a playful, sketchy look so don't line it up perfectly.

Place your back and front sides of your pillowcase right sides together - to figure out where the foldover goes I turn a pillowcase from my linen cupboard inside out every time otherwise I'm bound to get the tuck folded out the wrong way!

Once you've got your foldover sorted, sew around the three unhemmed edged with a 3/8 inch seam.  I finish the seam with a zig-zag as it will be a well-washed item.  Use an overlocker if you've got one.

Then you're done!  Jazz it up however you like.  I've made one side out of strips of novelty fabrics before and appliqued butterflies and done all sorts of things.  They're nice done in flannel too.  Have fun!