Maybe you own a sewing machine that you haven’t used in years. Or maybe you want to introduce someone to sewing. This post has a couple of purposes. One, to encourage you to sew a really simple, but useful item. And two, to showcase an organization that is helping kids with serious illnesses.
PILLOWCASES!!!
Several years ago, I made pillowcases for my niece. Cute… but they fell apart when my sister washed them! This was before I learned the technique for making “MAGIC” pillowcases. There are lots of Pinterest posts with great tutorials. They are also referred to as “BURRITO” pillowcases and “TUBE” pillowcases. They have an enclosed “french” seam. Now that might sound complicated, but honestly they are really easy and quick to make. Follow me on Pinterest; I have a board devoted entirely to pillowcases. You’ll find the ‘FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA’ buttons below.
I have made several as gifts, and quite a few for myself. You can adjust the size from standard to queen to king. With the myriad of cute fabrics these days, it is fun to make these for your kids and grandkids. You can celebrate holidays. And there are so many charities that welcome pillowcases – Children’s Hospitals, Battered Women’s Shelters, Homeless Shelters…
And that is where Flying Horse Farms and Snuggled in Hope Quilts comes in. I listened to a presentation at one of my quilt guild meetings, and learned about a camp (Flying Horse Farms) for children with serious illnesses, and the organization (Snuggled in Hope Quilts) that makes quilts and pillowcases for them. A well-known pattern designer donated many of her quilt patterns for Snuggled in Hope Quilts volunteers. And they have kits made up containing donated fabric already cut to length for pillowcases.
I took home a few kits, and these are the pillowcases I sent them.
If you are an experienced sewist, and perhaps have already made many of these “MAGIC” / “BURRITO” / “TUBE” pillowcases, considering passing this along to someone less experienced in sewing. Or better yet, take someone under your wing, and show them!