Up Late: Completely Ignoring Sewing Rules

Let me say this first. If you are an experienced or generally rule-abiding seamstress, this may not be the post for you. However, if you are a beginner, or even intimidated by the idea of sewing, this will be perfect.

I have had a project hanging over my head for a while. I got a body pillow several years ago, and shortly after, I got a puppy. While that puppy never chewed much, she did manage to add her own creative edge to a nearly brand-new pillowcase. Awesome. Being a selectively lazy person, I ignored it. And here we are literally years later and my husband keeps reminding me I could sew a new cover for this pillow “really fast”. Turns out, he was right. I managed to make the whole thing, start to finish in one hour flat.

The reason I was able to finish it so fast was a broke easily half a dozen sewing rules. But before I get into that, can I talk about how much I love this fabric? I love paisley, and this one has enough paisley elements and fun bright colors that it’s perfect. Plus, it’s a 100% cotton, so it will just get softer. In the final bit of stash-busting serendipity, it is also knit, something I really need to practice sewing. So if I screw up and the seams are wonky, no one will care because it’s a giant pillowcase that will never be seen by the public again.

Oh, also, here is my highly technical pattern. It includes measures of the original pillowcase and how big the new pieces need to be. I skipped the zipper closure and instead made an overlap on one end. Eaaaasier! I was also armed with a giant bag of freebie thread.

On to the rules I broke. Well, with a disclaimer. When I am making something for me where perfection doesn’t matter, I really, really wing it. If I were to make anything that would be seen by people in the real world or given to someone else, I would absolutely follow the rules. So don’t think if you ever get something from me, know I gave it my absolute best effort. That being said, I did not wash this fabric. I am going to wash it before using it, and I rounded my measurements up enough to account for some shrinking. Plus, if it is a little tight, pillows are pretty forgiving. The second rule I broke? I used a ball point pen to mark my cutting lines. To all the quilters I just made cry, I really appreciate you having visited, and I will miss you.

I also cut my very inexact lines with pinking shears. Although that clearly isn’t that bad in this case. I sewed without matching thread. I didn’t trim my corners or even really turn them.  But you know what? I sooo don’t care. This was completely an instant gratification project and entirely for me. I feel great that it’s done, I am in love with the print, and I did something crafty for the first time in days. Best of all? The super soft, mildly chewed old pillowcase is headed for a wash and then down to the salvage bin. I’m sure it will be turned into something. Years from now.