Posted on 17 Comments

Pillowcase party

I’ve been thrifting.  Did remarkably well, too.  I usually don’t find much, but my luck has gotten better and better since a new thrift store opened up nearby.  This weekend, I found twelve pillowcases, four sheets, and two duvet covers that needed, yes, needed to belong to my fabric stash.  I’m going to have to find a bigger stash bin, I think…

I’ve already put three of the pillowcases to good use, and if I were skinnier, I guarantee you a fourth one would have become a lightweight summer shirt for me, as it is dang hot here today.

Here’s what I did make out of them:

Before and after

First up, a sundress for our friend who celebrated her 7th birthday yesterday.

Pillowcase dress detail

These are so easy to make. The first time I made one of these, I used store-bought bias tape, but I’ve since gotten pretty good at making my own and decided to make the ties match the rest of the dress.  Very happy with the way it came out, and the birthday girl seemed to like it.

The other two pillowcases went to my boys.

Pillowcase pants

Two pairs of pajama pants.  From a pillowcase, can you believe it? I found three of these particular pillowcases, along with a matching duvet cover that features a contrasting print on the reverse.  It’s a Pottery Barn Kids set, and I’m sure it’s going to see more action around here.  Maybe I’ll make some space-themed pajama pants for me and Neil, too.

Pillowcase pants

These pants are even more simple than the dress to put together.  Just take apart the three closed sides of the pillowcase, and sew it up just as you would for bandana pants.  Piece of cake, and if you align it properly, you can use the original hemmed opening of the pillowcase as the pant cuff.

Nine remaining pillowcases out of 12

Ah, such cheap fun!  Here are a few additional resources, if you’d like to get in on the action:

Happy Sunday, happy weekend, and happy thrifting!

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Posted on 17 Comments

17 thoughts on “Pillowcase party

  1. What a great idea! I love finding things like that at the thrift store. Im thinking about using the shorts pattern for my girl. I am currently taking pictures of my project as we speak. Hopefully I will blog tonight.

    See what Kashoan has been blogging about: My own current issues

    1. I would just add one caution to that, since I just discovered it myself last night: For older kids, you might want to increase that 10-inch cut by an inch or so. My 9-year-old’s new pj’s gave him a wedgie…

  2. So Cute! Where do you find thrift stores? I’m in Union County and am not sure where to go!

    See what MelissaS has been blogging about: Card for 2nd Birthday Girl

    1. I hate to give away my new, fabulous secret source, but I’ll tell you anyway 😀 I’ve been going to Unique Thrift Store on Route 22 in Watchung. Apparently there are a few other locations of that store around, too, but I haven’t checked them out.

  3. New blog post: Pillowcase party http://tinyurl.com/d2l7u2

  4. so. i stumbled on to your blog via an a-line skirt search. love it! and i made used your retro bedsheet skirt tutorial + an a-line skirt pattern that called for a zipper…and made THE cutest elastic a-line skirt–lined–in about 2 hours. (i’m slow)

    thanks.

    See what lauradodson has been blogging about: cyber friend new mommy

    1. Excellent! I have never made a skirt with a lining – I just hope for the best, LOL! Glad you had success adapting the tutorial!

  5. cute! pillowcase thrifting is on my summer activity list. the only problem is narrowing down which project to do with them.

    See what dani@little fists has been blogging about: Retro Housewife or Survivor Contestant?

  6. oh my goodness. i love those sleepy pants. i might have to try that. i always look for the flower ones. good idea to find boy ones 🙂

  7. […] been thinking a lot about pillowcase dresses.  I’ve made two before, and enjoyed the process.  My main problem is not having all that many little girls in my life to […]

  8. […] recently.  It had the white pattern on one side and the dark blue on the other.   (Remember the pillowcase pj’s I made my boys several months ago?  Those pillowcases were from the same set.)  I cut up some of […]

  9. i just had a pillowcase party too, all dresses. i wan tto make the pinafore in the re-purposed pillowcase book, love it!
    p.s. awesome thrift finds, and wonderful blog.
    .-= See jen’s latest blog post: stuffed =-.

    1. I love that book, and I’m looking forward to getting the one about tea towels soon, too!

  10. […] Pillowcase pants Image by lisaclarke A pair of pajama pants made from a thrifted Pottery Barn Kids pillowcase. I adapted this Bandana Pants tutorial from Stefani of Blue Yonder. Blogged here. […]

  11. […] Whip Up a Sun Dress – A pillowcase is just the right size to make a sundress for your little […]

  12. […] at Polka Dot Cottage, you can learn how to make a super adorable pair of kids’ pajama bottoms out of an old […]

  13. […] Pillowcase pants Image by lisaclarke A pair of pajama pants made from a thrifted Pottery Barn Kids pillowcase. I adapted this Bandana Pants tutorial from Stefani of Blue Yonder. Blogged here. […]

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