I like to do a homemade gift for my family at Christmas time.  One year, I did pillowcases.  It was super easy!  At first, I had thought to try to find out what each person’s bedroom colors were and try to match those, but that turned out to be too difficult.  Matching colors was a problem, and I didn’t want my family to feel guilty for not using them all the time.  By doing the Christmas theme, family members could just bring it out once a year if they like.  I had also thought to use up some pretty fabrics that I had, but I really didn’t have enough in my stash.   Besides that, I wanted everyone to really like what they got and want to use them at Christmas time.  So in addition to using some of my material on-hand, I hunted for good deals on fabric and used my Joann’s coupons.  The BEST deals I found were at Walmart of all places.  It wasn’t the greatest quality out there, but it was good.  I should have gone earlier in the season because almost all of the Christmas material was gone by the time I got there.

I also found that if I bought 2 yards of a material, it would give me enough for 2 main body panels and 2 cuff panels.  That’s why you see in the pictures, some pillowcases have a material in the body, and the rest of that material is used for the cuff of another pillowcase.   And that was perfect, because for the couples in the family, they each needed 2 pillowcases that were the same.  Most of the trim pieces were from my fabric stash.  I used a method called a “Tube Pillowcase”.  Click here for the tutorial.  And I must say, I love Jenny Doan.  Her shop, Missouri Star Quilt Company, is wonderful and she is just as sweet and helpful in person as she is on her tutorials!

Also, I didn’t want to just put a pillowcase in a gift wrapping and be done with it.  So I looked for a Christmas poem about a pillowcase.  I googled for it.  After all, you can find anything online, right?  Well, I really only found two poems having to do with pillowcases.  One was for a handprint pillowcase idea.  And the other one wasn’t really about the true meaning of Christmas.  It had more to do with Christmas wishes and magic and how we should try not to wash off the magic in the wash.  Not exactly what I had in mind.  So instead, I thought I might change a few words or lines from that poem to fit the sentiment that I was looking for.  Well…I ended up pretty much re-writing the whole poem.   Here it is… 

 

The Pillowcase Poem

December the first starts a most blessed time,

With all sorts of presents and songs sung in rhyme.

We also remember the Lord Jesus’ birth,

And that He was born in a manger on earth.

Three wise men had come with gifts and with treasures,

Will you find in Jesus all your greatest pleasures?

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,

And sleep you will also upon your own bed.

As a pillowcase covers your fluffy headrest,

He covered your sins with His blood, pure and best.

Enjoy all your gifts and the tall Christmas tree,

And sleep sound in Jesus in heavenly peace.

~ Rebekah Schrepfer

 

 

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