How to Sew a Simple Pillowcase (and Add Custom Text with Your Sewing Machine)

Step-by-step tutorial for sewing a simple pillowcase and adding custom words using the lettering built into your sewing machine.

Pillowcases are one of those easy to sew (and quick!) gifts that are fun to give. I especially love to use a sweet flannel on the body of the pillowcase so I know the one I'm gifting it to will be laying their head on softness. Pillowcases aren't just great gifts, they are a great way to build your sewing skills, something I want to help you do, and they are a great way to try out the features on your sewing machine you may not have tried yet.

In today's Snippets with Patterns By Jen tutorial I'm not only walking you through how to sew a simple pillowcase, but how to add custom text using the lettering built into your machine. Side note: I do not go over specific settings, you will need your sewing machine's manual for that.

Scroll down to get the 5 ideas for personalizing your pillowcase.

Watch the full tutorial here:

Save this tutorial for later.

What you'll need to make the pillowcase

• 3/4" scrap of SF101 to stabilize your fabric for adding the text

Find it here: 👉 https://tidd.ly/4l8pdqg   

(This is an affiliate link, you can read my full disclosure here.)

• 2" x WOF Accent fabric

• 11" x WOF Cuff fabric

• 27" x WOF Body fabric

Note: In the How To Video the width I used was 41" for each piece because that was the width of the flannel I used.

Fabric Tips for a Beautiful Finish

As I mentioned I love to use flannel for the body of the pillowcase, but regular quilting cotton works just fine. The cuff is a great place to use fun fabrics, like glow in the dark ghosties for a halloween pillow. My children loved that, way back when they were little. 

If you are going to add text to the accent piece then I recommend using a solid color fabric and choosing thread that will stand out on it. If your fabric is light pink for instance, pull out a dark, dusty mauve. If it's navy, use a pretty baby blue. This little touch we're adding is going to make this pillowcase just a little more special.

Why this project is perfect for beginners

A pillowcase is a simple project that not only gives you a quick finish for that "Look what I made" feeling that keeps the crafting going, but it let's you practice basic sewing skills in a forgiving project. Straight seams, matching and pinning seams, pressing correctly and diving into using those fancy text stitches on your machine. So often we let those sit, and we should use them. Finishing a pillowcase will give you the confidence you need to keep growing in your sewing skills.

5 Ideas for Personalizing Your Pillowcase

One of the fun parts of this project is deciding what to stitch on the pillowcase. The lettering built into your sewing machine makes it easy to add a name, a phrase, or something playful that matches the fabric you’re using.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1) Names: Easy, simple, no thinking involved 😂 great for gift giving. 

2) Sweet Dreams/Blessings: A little touch to let the person know they are loved

3) Holidays: Holiday fabric is so fun to use in these pillowcases and now you can add another touch

4) Birthdays/Anniversaries: A birthday pillowcase with their current favorite animal/food/sport. Did you know 2nd anniversary is cotton? Hello cotton pillowcase. 

5) National Days: Maybe you know someone who just needs a pick me up. Do a quick online search for what the days national day is, I'm pretty sure there is one for every day at this point, and make a quick gift with a fun little saying on the accent piece to pick up their spirits. 

For instance March 5th (the day of this post) is National Cheese Doodle Day. A quick saying like "Sweet cheesy dreams" or "Dreaming of snacks" or maybe something funnier than I can come up with. Ha!

Bonus: More Beginner Friendly Projects

If you’re looking for a couple more small projects to help build your foundational sewing skills, here are a few tutorials you might enjoy next. Both have YouTube videos to walk you through the steps.

Minky Blanket with Doll Blanket: This cozy blanket tutorial has been a favorite. It walks through sewing with minky fabric and includes instructions for making a matching doll blanket, which makes it a sweet gift set.

Hot Pad: Another quick project that’s great for practicing straight seams is this simple hot pad. It’s beginner friendly, useful around the kitchen, and makes a thoughtful handmade gift.

If you make a pillowcase using this tutorial I'd love to see it. Share it in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook Group or tag me on Instagram.

Go make something you love,

New to Patterns By Jen?

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March 2026 Monthly Color Challenge - Free Quilt Block of the Month

 

We are heading into the third month in the Monthly Color Challenge, and whether you are just joining us, or you've been a MCC quilter for years, I'm excited to have you with me on this quilting journey.

2026 Monthly Color Challenge: A Free Block of the Month Program

For 2026, we’re taking our color cues from frogs. When the idea first hopped into my head (sorry, I had to 😂), I wasn’t completely sure it would stretch far enough to inspire an entire year. But once I started looking closer, I realized just how brilliantly designed they are. From soft, earthy blends to vibrant, eye-catching bursts of color, frogs bring more variety than you might expect. We are in for a year filled with beautiful, nature-inspired palettes.

Photo credit: JamJam Exotic

Our color this month is Aqua and is inspired by the Teal Pacman Frog. Confession, I get teal and aqua mixed up all of the time. Throw in turquoise and I throw in my hat and call it a day. 😂 So if your fabrics are a bluey greeny color, they are good to me. Onto the Teal Pacman Frog. According to JamJam Exotic the Teal Pacman Frog, known really as the Blue Pacman Frog, is the result of selective breeding. and is very rare. They grow between 4 - 7 inches, with the female usually larger than the male. They are carnivorous frogs and can live up to 15 years.

The fabrics I am using this year are Whisper Weave and Whisper Weave Too. They are basics from Benartex and have a wonderful texture to give these blocks some movement. March's colors are Aqua and Blue Grass.

Each month, I share a How To video that walks you through the whole block from start to finish: cutting, stitching, and trimming included. My goal is for you to feel confident at every step, no matter where you are in your quilting journey. The link to the video is always waiting for you at the bottom of your PDF instructions.

This month we are making a variation of the Churn Dash block, another one of my favorites to change up a bit. Whether you change up the center, or the side units, or both like we do this month, this is a great block to play with and may yours.

If questions pop up at any point during the year, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at jen@patternsbyjen.com  I truly love hearing from you.

You’re also invited to join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns by Jen Facebook group, where you can share your blocks, cheer each other on, and ask questions along the way. And when you post on Instagram, be sure to tag me and use #monthlycolorchallenge so I can see your fabric pulls and finished blocks!

Here’s a look at the full March block. You can download the pattern HERE and jump right in. I can’t wait to see what you create!

If you’d like each Monthly Color Challenge block delivered straight to your inbox, be sure to subscribe using the sign-up link below.

The March block is free through the end of the month and available in my Payhip shop. If you’re finding this later, don’t worry, it will still be there for just $1.

While the January – March emails have already gone out, you can still sign up to receive the April – December blocks (plus the final layout!) delivered directly to your inbox. Join us HERE.

I’m so grateful to be continuing the Monthly Color Challenge this year, and even more grateful you’re sewing along with me.

Go make something you LOVE.

New to Patterns By Jen?

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Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for sneak peeks and updates.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Snippets with PBJ and 2 Minute Tips.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

Inspire, By PBJ is my monthly digital subscription that delivers a wall hanging sized design, color inspiration and more right in your inbox.

Join the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge.

Find paper and digital patterns, gifts and more in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring.

How to Rip Nested Seams | 2 Minute Tips with PBJ

 2 Minute Tips with PBJ is a short video series sharing quick, beginner-friendly quilting tips to help build confidence in essential quilting skills.

This week's video is a quick how to on ripping seams cleanly when they are nested together. There is nothing sadder than ripping a seam out than ripping the fabric as well. There is also the chance of stretching the fabric out of whack, making it even harder to get the seams to line up correctly. So let's skip that all together and rip these nested seams out intentionally.

Watch the full YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/8dLr3BDR8gE

Here is the affiliate link to my favorite seam ripper mentioned in the video: 

👉https://tidd.ly/4rJQQI3

(This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Patterns By Jen 💜 Read the full disclosure HERE.)

A new 2 Minute Tips with PBJ drops in two weeks!

Make something you LOVE, 

New to Patterns By Jen?

Newsletter sign up

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for sneak peeks and updates.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Snippets with PBJ and 2 Minute Tips.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

Inspire, By PBJ is my monthly digital subscription that delivers a wall hanging sized design, color inspiration and more right in your inbox.

Join the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge.

Find paper and digital patterns, gifts and more in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring.

Easy Baby Tag Blanket Tutorial (Beginner & Scrap-Friendly Project)

 

Why this Baby Tag Blanket is Perfect for Beginners

As a beginner what I needed was a quick finish. Something that I could look at, feel good about making and would excite me for the next project. I still need that when I try something new. For me, starting with a big project for a new skill is overwhelming, and this little Baby Tag Blanket is anything but big, except in cuteness. Just a front and a back, no seams to match, nothing to line up except the raw edges as you sew a straight stitch around the outside.

What You'll Need to Make a Baby Tag Blanket

The supplies needed for this project are also fairly simple. Other than a sewing machine and thread you will need:

• Two 16" squares of fabric 

• Fifteen 5" pieces of ribbon. Any color, any width. In fact the more different they are the better. 

Fabric and Ribbon Tips for a Beautiful Finish

My only real recommendation is to have a few ribbons that are black and white and add some red, too, if you can. But if you don't have those on hand that is ok, use what you have. It's a sweet finish we are after, nothing else.

Softer fabrics like minky and flannel will give the Baby Tag Blanket a wonderfully soft texture for baby to enjoy. Cotton will work, and it will soften over time, but honestly that soft fabric mixed with the texture of the ribbons is so good for their sensory development.

How Big Should A Baby Tag Blanket Be?

Baby Tag Blankets can be as big or as small as you like, and they can have as many or as few ribbons, too. I like this 16" square size, because as baby grows it can become a little doll blanket for their favorite doll or stuffy, but I probably wouldn't go bigger. A small 4" Baby Tag Blanket would be nice for in the car seat while out shopping, or anything in between. All you need to do is cut both the front and the back the same size and you are golden. P.S. It doesn't even have to be square!

Watch the Full Baby Tag Blanket Tutorial Here

Bonus: More Beginner-friendly Scrap Projects

The year is just getting started, but if you are looking for a couple of projects to build your foundational skills on, I have some to share.

This has been the favorite tutorial by far with an added, helpful twist. Gift this pincushion or keep it for yourself, either way, it's a great little project and perfect for scraps.

A great gift to go along with your new Tag Blanket, a Minky blanket with matching doll blanket.

Go make something you love,

New to Patterns By Jen?

Newsletter sign up

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for sneak peeks and updates.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Snippets with PBJ and 2 Minute Tips.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

Inspire, By PBJ is my monthly digital subscription that delivers a wall hanging sized design, color inspiration and more right in your inbox.

Join the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge.

Find paper and digital patterns, gifts and more in my Etsy shop.

How to Spin Seams for Flatter Quilt Blocks | 2 Minute Tips with PBJ

 

2 Minute Tips with PBJ is a short video series sharing quick, beginner-friendly quilting tips to help build confidence in essential quilting skills.

This week's video is a quick how to for getting nice flat seams in the middle of your blocks and quilting units. Spinning seams was something that really frustrated me and I stayed far away from it for a long time, until I discovered the issue was my stitching.

Watch the full YouTube Video:

Here is the affiliate link to my favorite seam ripper mentioned in the video:

Clover White Seam Ripper → https://tidd.ly/4rJQQI3 (This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Patterns By Jen 💜 Read the full disclosure HERE.)

This little step is worth taking the time to learn, she says with her head down in acknowledged shame for waiting, and makes such a difference in your finished block.

A new 2 Minute Tips with PBJ drops in two weeks!

Make something you LOVE, 

New to Patterns By Jen?

Newsletter sign up

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for sneak peeks and updates.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Snippets with PBJ and 2 Minute Tips.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

Inspire, By PBJ is my monthly digital subscription that delivers a wall hanging sized design, color inspiration and more right in your inbox.

Join the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge.

Find paper and digital patterns, gifts and more in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring.

Simple Fabric Hot Pad | Snippets with Patterns By Jen

 

Simple Fabric Hot Pad: An Easy Beginner Sewing Project

Looking for a low-stress sewing project? In this week’s Snippets with Patterns By Jen, I’m sharing a simple fabric hot pad that focuses on basic construction and clean finishing, without quilting or binding.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you click and decide you really do need that fabric, ruler, or notion, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps support Patterns By Jen and keeps my sewing room stocked with thread and rotary blades. 😉 You can read my full disclosure HERE.

Sometimes we just want to sew a little "something," not a quilt, or even a table runner, just a quick finish. While the hot pad may take a little extra fiddling, it's still a quick (and instantly usable) make. I share tips for creating less bulk and how to get a nice a finish. 

This project is:

    • Beginner friendly

    • Scrap friendly

    • Giftable

Supplies I used in the video:

    That Purple Thang: 👉 https://tidd.ly/3ZTN4Qs (affiliate link)

    Insul-Bright®: 👉 https://tidd.ly/3M7ikIM (affiliate link)

Watch the full tutorial:

 

Remember to use all 100% cotton supplies for this project. From fabric to thread, 100% cotton should be used when making something that will be used for hot things 

This project is made easier with a walking foot. If you’re a new quilter, that’s one of my top recommendations for an early investment. It isn’t required, but it does make stitching layers like these much easier, and you’ll use it a lot in your quilting.

Snippets by Patterns By Jen are short, sweet tutorials designed to spark creativity, encourage new ideas, and bring joy to your quilting journey.

Share your finished hot pads with me in the Facebook group:

👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/259684534541789

I can't wait to see the unique fabrics and color fill my feed. 

Go make something you love,

New to Patterns By Jen?

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Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for sneak peeks and updates.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Snippets with PBJ and 2 Minute Tips.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

Inspire, By PBJ is my monthly digital subscription that delivers a wall hanging sized design, color inspiration and more right in your inbox.

Join the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge.

Find paper and digital patterns, gifts and more in my Etsy shop.

February 2026 Monthly Color Challenge - Free Quilt Block of the Month

 

We’re kicking off the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge, and I’m so glad you’re here. This block of the month has become a favorite for so many quilters, and it’s always exciting to see a new year begin.

2026 Monthly Color Challenge: A Free Quilt Block of the Month

For 2026, our color inspiration is coming from frogs. When I first decided on that idea, I’ll admit I hesitated, would there really be enough variety to carry us through an entire year? But, as usual, Mother Nature knew exactly what she was doing. From subtle neutrals to bold, unexpected pops of color, our frog friends have plenty to offer. We have a year of beautiful color ahead of us.

Photo by Trevor Persons, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Our color this month is green and inspired by the Northern Leopard Frog, a frog I remember trying to catch often as a child. According to Wikipedia the Northern Leopard Frog is a larger species of frog and can reach 4.3 inches in length. These frogs tend to be mostly green or brown, with black spots, but there are some that do not have spots and there are even some blue ones. It's amazing what you learn when you go looking for frog inspired color.

The fabrics I am using this year are Whisper Weave and Whisper Weave Too. They are basics from Benartex and have a wonderful texture to give these blocks some movement. February's colors are peppermint and evergreen.

Each month comes with its own How To video. I walk you through how to cut, stitch, and trim every part of the block, so no matter your skill level, you can make each block with us. You can find the link to the How To video each month at the bottom of the PDF instructions.

This month we are making the Ohio Star block with a slight variation to the center. This is one of my favorite blocks to make and by adding a little something to the center we can really make it our own.

Should you ever have questions throughout the year, you are more than welcome (and encouraged) to email me at jen@patternsbjen.com. You can also join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns by Jen Facebook group, where you can share your finished blocks and ask questions. Follow me on Instagram and use #monthlycolorchallenge when you post your fabric choices and finished blocks.

Here’s a look at the full block for February. You can download the pattern HERE and start sewing, I can’t wait to see your blocks when they’re finished!

If you’d like the Monthly Color Challenge blocks sent straight to your inbox, be sure to subscribe using the sign-up link below.

The February block is free through the end of the month and is available in my Payhip shop. If you’re finding us after February, the block will still be available there for just $1.

While it’s too late to receive the January and February instructions by email, you can still subscribe to have the March – December Monthly Color Challenge blocks (plus the final layout!) delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up HERE.

I’m so happy to be back with the Monthly Color Challenge and to have you here with me.

Go make something you LOVE.

New to Patterns By Jen?

Newsletter sign up

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for sneak peeks and updates.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Snippets with PBJ and 2 Minute Tips.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

Inspire, By PBJ is my monthly digital subscription that delivers a wall hanging sized design, color inspiration and more right in your inbox.

Join the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge.

Find paper and digital patterns, gifts and more in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring.