DIY: Nine Step Fleece Bolster Pillowcases

One item parents receive more than a few of are baby blankets. And, those baby blankets are often the most difficult item for kids to part with. So I decided it was about time to upcycle the cuddly soft blankets into something everyone in the family could enjoy: fleece pillowcases.
 

 

What do you do with your old baby blankets?
 

 

I also had another motive as well in repurposing our baby blankets: coordinating our bedding for car camping (or glamping). For our RV road trip, I didn't want the space filled with discordant colors or textures. These materials purchased over the course of a decade offered a budget friendly decorating option that didn't involve a trip to the fabric store.
 

 

Materials (approximately $35 for two pillow inserts with fabric)

To complete this project, you'll need:

• One 30" x 40" Baby Blanket with Satin Trim(*affiliate link)
  NOTE: If you don't have a baby blanket and want to make these pillows, get a yard of White Minky Fabric - by the Yard(*affiliate link) and Wrights 117-794-030 Single Fold Satin Blanket Binding, White, 4.75-Yard(*affiliate link) (fabric plus blanket binding is approximately $10)
• Two neckroll pillows or inserts (ours are duck feather filling purchased from IKEA in 2004) or 12" x 20" Coleman Fold and Go Camp Pillows(*affiliate link) approximately $15.00 each
• Thread that matches the baby blanket
• Fiskars 8 Inch Pinking Shears(*affiliate link)
• Sewing machine (I use a Bernina Bernette 70 which is no longer sold.)

 

 

Instructions

This sewing DIY is pretty straightforward.

1. Prewash all of your fabric.
2. Fold the fabric in half and cut.
3. Fold the cut fabric into thirds--this leaves the bound edge at the bottom of your pillow case.
4. With your fabric folded, sew up the left side of the pocket you've just created (I used the guide on my machine for an inch allowance).
   NOTE: If your thread is shredding as you work, increase the size of your needle--it's too small. (Despite sewing for almost 30 years I didn't know this!)
5. Flip over your fabric and then sew up the right side (I again used the guide on my machine for an inch allowance).
6. Optionally trim each of your sewn corners diagonally leaving about a quarter of an inch. This will give you less of a rounded corner; the thicker your fabric, the more likely your corner will be rounded and not crisp.
7. Press open your seams. Be sure to use a pressing cloth to avoid accidentally scorching or burning the fleece.
8. Reverse your fabric so that the seams are now inside.
9. Insert your pillow, and adjust the fabric until your pillow is fully covered.

 

 

If your baby blanket has an appliqué that you want to cover up, after you cut your fabric (step 2), cut a piece of fabric as wide as the cut baby blanket and at least half an inch taller than your appliqué. Place it front side down so that it's a quarter inch past the blanket hem. Pin. Sew a hem with a quarter inch allowance along the edge of the blanket hem. Optionally insert the raw fabric edge into blanket hem tape or pin half an inch of the raw edge under. Sew a quarter inch seam. Because you'll be sewing this fabric when you sew the rest of your pillowcase you don't need to sew the outside edges.
 

Credits: All layouts designed by and images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains an affiliate link, followed by (*affiliate link). I feature products that I own or that I am considering purchasing. All opinions presented are my own.
 
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