Love the idea of sleeping on a down filled pillow with a handmade linen pillowcase. Thank you for the instructions. But I have a question. Shouldn't the seams be finished in some way to prevent fraying? French seams, pinked, etc? Just curious. Thanks.

What weight linen fabric should one purchase to make pillowcases?

no point telling us how to make a pillowcase without clarifying the correct weight of linen.

Maybe the 3.5 oz. Seems like I recall an article you posted regarding that wt. for this kind of project.

As far as weight of fabric, the link in the article where it says "about one yard of fabric" goes to the IL019/5.3 oz linen.

I was wondering about seam finishing too; and then a silly question, are you sewing across the fold when you sew the 3 sides together?

About the linen pillowcases, I'd say yes, the seams need finished. the linen I have is very prone to raveling. unless you're using one inch seams, and even if you were, I'd finish them.

now as to weight that is a question I was interested in. I have IL19 and IL20 and both seem to coarse. I've gotten used to fine (many tiny threads per inch rather than a few coarser ones) fabrics for my pillow cases and just wrapping a piece of linen around my pillow to try this idea out it seemed hot and coarse. now I'm not sure which fabric I tried, but they just seem to coarse to me.

I have not heard of "Linen rules" and did not know there was ever amy rules about when to wear linen. I wear it year round…always have. I have several long sleeve linen shirts and a couple of linen jackets. They are definately fall and winter as we never wear long sleeves here in the summer.

Linen is cool in the summer, and definately warm in the winter. I love it.

Joanna

I would recommend using the 3.5 oz for the pillowcases. I think it goes without saying to finish the seams because linen is notorious for fraying. You could use an overlock stitch, or the Hong Kong finish or even seam binding tape. I would refer to a chapter in your sewing book for this.
Remember to wash your fabric before cutting to factor in the initial shrinking amount. Linen gets better with use.
Happy Sewing!!

I use the linen pillow cases I've made for years now. I finished the seams with French seams and hand hemstitched the hem. I have some lightweight, I think IL 20, for some new cases and will hemstitch by machine after French seaming. They also take embroidery really well and am considering making some nice, embroidered pillow cases for gifts. You have to iron them if you want them crisp. When they are new, them wrinkle badly. One trick is to dampen and put in a plastic bag in the refrigerator till they are cold. All the wrinkles come out that way. After using for a while, they are almost smooth if you don't let them dry completely in the dryer, but take them out a little damp. I do the same thing for my heavy weight coverlet, lay it on the bed, smoothe it and it dries now smooth and soft.

I agree Joanna. There is no other fiber that performs like linen. I was amazed once wearing it on a long ride on horse back. We started in the morning on the valley floor where the temperature was around 100 degree and dry. We climbed several thousand feet and I found myself in the snow at approximately 8000feet several hours later, no around noon. The temperature was much, much lower up there, snow all around us. I had worn the same linen shirt without adding layers or take any off. Just one linen shirt on top. It kept me cool below and warm on the mountain top. I was in no discomfort at all. I felt energized, now was that the fresh air? Was it the linen? Was it being on horse back?? I dont know, but I certainly did not feel energy deprived. I know however if I had worn some sort of synthetic fiber or even cotton, it would not have worked out that way.

Hi, What weight linen fabric should one purchase to make pillowcases? What linen do you use for the sheets on the photo?
Thanks Ansie

Hi, I have the same questions that Lori had in 2010. Are you sewing across the fold?
Thanks, Tina