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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Matters
Ingredients
Recipe
Nutritional Information
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Recipes for Action
How to Upcycle a Pillowcase Into a Dress
it's all meonly free recipesshort term

How to Upcycle a Pillowcase Into a Dress

A photograph of pillowcases upcycled into a dress.
Image Credit: Jan S., Worcester, MA

Pattern and step-by-step guidance for transforming a pillowcase into a child’s dress.

Why this recipe matters

Every year, landfills receive around 11 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) textiles; diverting some of this material from landfills can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ingredients

  • Pillowcase, clean and in good condition
  • Fabric scissors
  • Pins
  • 3/8" or 1/2" grosgrain ribbon
  • Needle and thread or sewing machine
  • Other decorations, such as embroidery thread, ribbons, buttons, and other appliqués.
  • Pocket template from Sew Daily

Recipe

Step 1: Iron and fold the pillowcase.

An image showing a pillowcase laid out flat with the closed end at the top, possibly with some creases. The pillowcase is folded in half lengthwise.

Lay your pillowcase flat with the closed end at the top—you may need to iron any creases out before you begin. Then, fold the pillowcase in half, lengthwise.

Step 2: Cut and hem the armholes.

An image demonstrating the process of cutting armholes in a dress using a pillowcase. The armholes are J-shaped cuts, approximately 2 ¼" wide and 6" long, made on both sides of the pillowcase. Extra material is pinned back before sewing a rolled hem around each armhole.

To cut the armholes for your dress, make a J-shaped cut that is approximately 2 ¼" wide by 6" long through the two sides of the pillowcase. Carefully pin back any extra material before sewing a rolled hem for each armhole.

Step 3: Hem a collar for the dress.

An image showing a pillowcase with a straight cut made across the closed end. 1/4" of the material is pinned back, and a neat line is sewn along both the front and back sides of the dress, leaving both ends of the hems open.

Cut a straight line across the closed end of the pillowcase. Then, pin back 1/4" of the material and sew a neat line on both the front and the back sides of the dress without closing either end of the two hems.

Step 4: Loop a ribbon through the collar.

An image showing a one-yard length of 3/8" or 1/2" grosgrain ribbon threaded through each hem of a dress to form a collar on the front and back. The ribbons are secured with a few stitches in the center of each hem to prevent them from falling out, with the ends of each ribbon tied together to form two neat bows.

Thread a one-yard length of 3/8" or 1/2" grosgrain ribbon through each hem to form a collar on the front and back of the dress. Make a few stitches in the center of each hem to prevent the ribbons from falling out, then tie the ends of each ribbon together to form two neat

Step 5: Decorate the dress.

An image showing a pillowcase dress with additional embroidery or appliqués sewn on for decoration. A pocket is being added to the dress using a template from Sew Daily.

Sew on any additional embroidery or appliqués to decorate. You can also add a pocket to your pillowcase dress using this template from Sew Daily.

Nutritional Information

How this recipe has nurtured a community

“Five years ago, my mom and I went to a quilt show. One of the ladies did her ‘show and tell’ about a dress made from a pillowcase—we both said ‘Wow!’ and brought the idea to a family gathering.

We made 36 dresses and had a blast! Our husbands provided us with tea and lunch, we listened to oldies, and we eventually came up with a streamlined process for cutting and sewing.”

— Jan S., Worcester, MA

Finishing Touch

Interested in sharing your sewing skills with others? Explore volunteer opportunities on Idealist to sew homemade dresses, purses, and other items for communities in need.