Giving Thanks

Greetings from Norcross, Georgia, the Atlanta suburb where my twin sister Diane and her husband Ed live. My husband and I are here for our annual Thanksgiving visit spanning two weeks. We’ve already been here a week. The time is going by way too fast!

Before we left Portland, Diane asked if I would bring fabric to make a pair of what she calls “Dawn pillowcases” as a thank you gift for a friend of hers. These are pillowcases made in such a way that all seams are enclosed. You may know them as burrito or roll-it-up pillowcases (see my tutorial here.) I love to have a sewing project to work on while I am here so of course I said yes.

Diane figured I would have something appropriate in my stash. (How well she knows me!) I texted her photos of possible fabrics and she quickly zeroed in on this lovely sage and cream toile from Timeless Treasures that I’ve had for a few years:

I brought several other fabrics as candidates for contrast strips, flanges, and bottom bands. Diane chose a narrow stripe for the flange and a small leaf print for the band, deciding against a third fabric for a contrast strip between the flange and the body of the pillowcase. This is the result:

The pillowcases are pictured on the bed in the main floor guest room, whose bedspread and quilt (the latter made by moi several years ago) match the cases perfectly.

As it happened, I didn’t have quite enough of the leaf fabric to make two bands without having to piece them. I used strips of the toile to do that. Take a peek inside a pillowcase:

Here’s a close-up of the inside:

I stitched the seam allowances down so they will stay flat when the pillowcases are washed.

Diane arranged the cases in a lovely gift box:

They’ll be in the mail tomorrow.

I had five yards of that toile; perhaps I was thinking of it as a potential quilt backing. There’s enough left to make two more sets of pillowcases — one for Diane’s guest room (since we know how well the pillowcases go with the furnishings) and one for the Portland White House. I’m thankful for that!

 

 

 

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7 Responses to Giving Thanks

  1. Claudia Himmelberg McCarter says:

    Beautiful, Dawn! Happy Thanksgiving!

  2. Vickie Rooks says:

    Happy happy Thanksgiving! So glad Diane was able to provide you with a sewing project so you would stay out of trouble. The pillowcases turned out great and complement the guest room very nicely.

  3. Sandy Pruss says:

    Absolutely perfect! Enjoy your stay here! Happy Thanksgiving

  4. Jo Ann A Janes says:

    What lovely pillowcases. Makes me want to get to work! We are all thankful for such a loving tutor.

  5. Colleen says:

    I recognize that leaf fabric! Your pillowcases are beautiful. Love that toile. I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving my friend :).

  6. anna says:

    Dawn, every time I wash and dry and fold our “Traveler” pillowcases, I see something different. A new detail in the print that had gone unnoticed. I so love them, and the blue cases you left when you stayed in our Gentilly flat. Also, the Kleenex box cover from Georgia. Such fond memories. We hope that you and Charlie can join us in our new home!

  7. Char says:

    I have used your method a few times….It’s great. Will be making pillowcases soon to “wrap” my Christmas quilts.

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