Uses for pillowcases

[Gabe]

Pillowcases are durable pouches that can be used for creative and practical projects around your home. They come in a variety of patterns, and chances are you have one or more without a mate. You can find them dirt-cheap at thrift stores and garage sales, too.
Here are a few ideas for putting pillowcases to new use:

Story bag:

Make a cute pillow case drawstring bag, then fill it with a few secondhand books, stuffed or small toys, puzzles, workbook pages, craft activities and supplies or flashcards, etc., that follow the theme of the stories. For a tutorial, visit sewddelicious.blogspot.com/2012/02/pillowcase-to-drawstring-bag-tutorial.html. You can also use the drawstring bag as a sleepover bag, to hold laundry, unmated socks or beach gear, or as a reusable gift bag.
Organizer:

Use a pillowcase for sheet storage. One reader, M.F. from Canada, shares: “I fold fitted sheets as best I can, then store them inside the matching pillowcase, along with the top sheet and the other pillowcase. It looks tidy on the shelf, and it’s all in one place when it’s time to change the bedding.”
Fun floor cushion:

Sew five or six pillowcases together. Insert pillows into each case to make a cushioned “mattress” kids can use on the floor to lounge, watch TV or take a nap.
Pajama keeper:

Cut an opening in a large stuffed animal and remove some stuffing from the body, keeping the head, arms and legs stuffed. Insert a pillowcase that’s been cut to fit inside the body. Sew the pillowcase to the opening you cut, or remove the stuffing and sew in a zipper. Kids can then store pajamas inside.
Draft stopper:

Stuff one end of a pillowcase with unmated socks and roll it into a tube. Then put rubber bands (or ribbon or strips of fabric if you want it to look more stylish) around the tube in a few places to keep it from unrolling. Use self-sticking Velcro, placing half on the door and half on the draft stopper, to hold it in place; or, if the door is metal, glue magnets to the draft stopper. You can make a draft stopper like this out of the legs of old jeans, too.
Wash stuffed animals:

To prevent a stuffed animal from coming in contact with your washing machine agitator, place it in a pillowcase and wash it in cold water on the delicate cycle.
Pillowcase snowman:

Get started on your holiday crafts early. Stuff a white pillowcase with polyfill. Sew the opening closed, or use self-sticking Velcro so it can be washed easily. Tie a scarf around the pillowcase one-third of the way down to form the body. Add a winter hat; glue on wiggle, button, pompom or fabric-paint eyes and a felt nose; then glue buttons vertically down the front.
Garment bag:

Protect tops from getting dusty in the closet. This works more nicely than flimsy dry-cleaning bags. Simply cut a hole in the seam of a pillowcase and slip it over the hanger.
Classroom and party craft:

A pillowcase is like a mini canvas to draw or paint on. For a cute preschool classroom memento, have each child bring a pillowcase and apply fabric paint to each child’s hand so they can press their handprint on each pillowcase. They can write their names with fabric markers, too. For a tutorial, visit kinderteacher.com/Pillowcases.htm. This website sells pre-printed pillowcases with a clever little poem for this project.
Another reader, Neeley, shares: “When my daughter turned 8 we had a slumber party for her. I bought a white pillowcase for each girl instead of traditional goodie bags. Before the party, I used a fabric marker and decoratively wrote their name in the center of their pillow. At the party, all of the girls used fabric markers to sign each other’s pillowcase and write a short message. I put a piece of cardboard in the pillowcase so the marker wouldn’t bleed through.”
Pillowcase dress:

A pillowcase can become a toddler dress. Visit sewlikemymom.com/easiest-pillowcase-dress-ever for a free pillowcase dress pattern.
photo by lisa clark http://www.flickr.com/photos/polkado...n/photostream/





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[homemaker66]

At our church we have someone who makes a no sew dress out of the pillow cases. You can do so much with them. Thanks for sharing.

[frugalfranny]

And when you make a quilt, make a pillow case to store it in with the same fabric. You will know what quilt is in it, by the fabric, and it will give the receiver of the quilt some extra fabric in case something needs to be done on the quilt years down the road.

Use a pillow case to hold things that are put in the washing machine for felting. Put sweater, coat, or whatever wool item you are washing in the pillow case, tie it, and wash in hot water. Saves your washing machine from having all the lint in it which could damage the machine.

[zakity]

I use our old pillowcases to store things like the food processor or large pans that aren't used often. The pillowcase keeps the dust and bugs/spiders off.

[shoiji]

I put a small pet bed in the pillowcase. Just throw the pillowcase in the washer and dryer to clean.

[pinecone]

here is a link to a pattern/guideline Pillow Case Dress Directions » Little Dresses for Africa

I want to try this for DGD next year.

piney

[bent]

they can be used for strainer bags when making jelly etc. just cut to size and use twine to attach to hook over pan (best done over sink), pour fruit into bag and let hang over night.... nothing but juice gets through. i use one for making nut mylks.
and my bro use to swing cats in pillow cases- he tried once with the dog but it puked on him... lol cats weren't hurt just dizzy