I Believe in Pink!

Windham Fabrics has a lovely collection called I Believe in Pink that is for breast cancer patients and survivors. Here's what they say at their web site:

Celebrate the breast cancer warriors in your life with this new collection from Rosemarie Lavin Designs. This inspiring group is perfect for a thoughtful headscarf, warm lap quilt or pretty tablet case. We are proud to support all survivors and warriors with this line. A portion of all sales from this collection will be given to the Maurer Foundation. For more information on the Maurer Foundation, please visit: www.maurerfoundation.org.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I asked for some of the I Believe in Pink fabrics.

They sent me some 2 yard cuts (the first samples they get back from the factory)  and I got to work making one of my "go-to" pillow case patterns. I've shared this many times before and it's always great to show it again!

(I am donating the rest of the fabrics to a local Virginia organization that makes comfort items for breast cancer patients, but I wanted to at least make one thing to showcase the lovely prints)

This quick and easy pattern has been around for a LONG time. I first encountered it in the early 2000s and I've made many pillow cases using this.

Here are the fabrics. You can see them much better at Windham's web site.

I Believe in Pink fabrics

Fabric requirements: 3/4 yard main fabric; 1/3 yard border fabric; 1/8 yard accent fabric.

Cut fabric as follows: main fabric -- 27" x 41" (Floral); border/hem fabric -- 10" x 41" (dark pink dot); accent fabric -- 3" x 41" (my green dot).

Lay the hem fabric right-side-up on a table (pink and white dot: 10" x 41").

Now lay the main fabric (floral) on top of the border fabric, right-side-up with raw edges even at the top.

Press the accent fabric in half the long way and lay it on top of the main fabric and border piece. Once again, make sure all raw edges are even at the top. This accent fabric (green dot) will be a flange.

Layering the 3 fabrics

Pick up the bottom edge of the main fabric and roll it up nearly to the top edge. You should now be able to see the bottom edge of the border/hem fabric (pink dot).

Scrunching the main print so it fits into the "tube"

Take the bottom edge of the hem fabric and fold it up over the rolled-up main fabric, putting right sides together and matching to the other raw edges. Pin all the fabrics together along the top edge.

All rolled up and stitched through all layers with 1/4" seam

Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge, making a tube. NOW THE MAGIC! Reach into the tube and grab the opposite end and turn the tube out. You should have a nicely finished edge where the border and main fabrics meet, with all the raw edges inside. YAY!

Pulling the scrunched up main print out of the tube

I press everything flat. There are no raw edges showing on the inside of that hem!

Pillowcase with hem; no raw edges on the inside!

To finish the pillowcase, put the WRONG sides together and sew a 1/4" seam down the side and across the bottom edges. (This is a French Seam). Trim any loose threads.

French seam, first part

Final seam' stitch bottom and zig zag

Turn the pillow case right side out again. ALL DONE!

Pillowcase done!

Full size pillowcase

I hope you were inspired by this easy and quick pillow case! I've made dozens and I think it's a great way to showcase any sort of fabrics, don't you? Don't forget to wear pink in October (it's my favorite color anyway!)