Pillowcase Upcycle - Junk Modelling Sack

I thought it was about time I set another upcycling challenge.

We've done jeans and we've done jumpers.  This time it's all about pillow cases...

What ingenious new uses can you find for them?

I've taken one of the many pillowcases I pick up second-hand, and made a solution to a major problem in our house.

Yes, it's great that Ruby loves to craft, but it seems I've created a monster.  She's forever in the recycling bin pulling things out, refusing to let me throw them away because she could make something from it, or do junk modelling with it.  And so, we are forever stepping over random cereal boxes, loo roll tubes and shampoo bottles that are stuck in a kind of refuse limbo...

So, the junk modelling sack was born.


You will need:

1 old pillowcase
Wide ribbon 2 x the width of the pillowcase
Cord 2.5 x the width of the pillowcase
Bondaweb
Fabric scraps
Sewing machine or needle and thread

Begin by pinning your ribbon near the top edge of your case (open end).  Start by folding the end and tucking it under for a neat edge.

Continue in one length around both the front and the back, again tucking the end under.

Straight stitch along both top and bottom edge of the ribbon to create a channel with two open ends.

Thread your cord through.  Pin one end to a safety pin if it helps to feed it through.  Tie the ends together to make your drawstring.

Then design your motif and lettering.  It's nice to do a simple image of something you'd make while junk modelling, like a castle, a rocket or a robot.  Draw your images onto the bondaweb (smooth side) and remember if you're adding letters or numbers you'll need to reverse them.  It would be nice to make personalised ones with names on.

Roughly cut out the images from the bondaweb and place rough side down onto the wrong side of your fabric. Hold a hot iron on for 10-20 seconds.  When cool, cut neatly round your outline.

Play about with the positioning until you're happy, then peel off the paper layer and iron down to secure.

Brilliant!  It saves mess around the kitchen, Ruby takes ownership of what she wants to keep to craft with, and when it's full, we know it's time to make a model!

I think if you added some crafting materials like glue, scissors, pipe cleaners and googly eyes, these would make a great gift for a crafty child.

Now for your challenge...

I'd like you to link up a blog post featuring something you've made with a pillowcase, or a pillowcase you've decorated or improved some how.  You can add as many posts as you like, but please link back here so others can find out about the challenge.

Closing date is Sunday 14th October at 5pm.  After that time I'll pick one entry at random to win the queen of craft's book - Kirstie Allsopp Craft.  This hardback book retails at £20 and is crammed with crafty goodness.

UK entries only I'm afraid as I'm covering postage.