• Home
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Real Creative Real Organized

Creativity and Organization for Mom Life

  • Crafts
  • DIY
  • Organization
  • Travel
  • Mom Life
  • Holidays & Special Days
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Seasons
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Olympics
    • Birthdays
  • Shop
Home » DIY » How to Shorten a Pillowcase (or Sham) the Quick and Easy Way

How to Shorten a Pillowcase (or Sham) the Quick and Easy Way

January 6, 2020 by KC Coake Leave a Comment

Share away! 😍

  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Facebook

This is one of those posts that feels a little random, and yet I know other people have these same problems. Today, I’m going to show you how to shorten a pillowcase or sham in 10 minutes or less. 

shortened pillow sham on bed with decorative pillows

In my very slow quest to update my room following my ex moving out, I changed my bed from a King to a Queen size. I still really like the IKEA duvet I have and find that it still fits the bed just fine. To fit the bed better, I changed the decorative pillows from King size to standard size pillows. That left me with the issue of the pillow shams that match my duvet being too long. 

I lived with them like that for about 7 months. Then while I was making the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmaspillows, which I did all together all in one sitting, I figured out how to shorten a pillowcase (or sham in my case). I did it like how I hem curtains in 10 minutes. It was so easy.

I thought I’d share it with you in case you have pillowcases or shams that are too long as well.

How to Shorten a Pillowcase (or Sham)

Supplies:

  • King Sham or Pillowcase
  • Sewing machine(affiliate link)
  • Thread
  • Disappearing ink pen(affiliate link)
  • Measuring tape
  • Cutting mat and wheel(affiliate link) or scissors

Step 1: Measure and mark

TIME: 4 minutes

measuring how much to shorten pillow sham

First, determine how much you need to remove from your pillowcase or sham. 

I did this the very simple way of stuffing the pillow in the sham and getting it all to the end with the opening. Then I pinched off the end that had no pillow and measured the amount of pillowcase that I needed to remove. I added a little back to this measurement to make sure I left room for the fattness of the pillow. 

marks to make pattern for how to shorten pillowcase

Now turn your pillowcase or sham right side out and measure and mark the amount you need to shorten your pillowcase.
 
Make marks across the entire pillowcase with the dissappearing ink pen. 

In my case, I was taking a King pillow sham and changing it to a standard size pillow sham. I marked at 6 1/4″ along the entire end of the pillow sham.

Step 2: Draw line

TIME: 1 minute

making line to sew to shorten pillowcase

Now you’ll want to connect all those lines you marked along your pillowcase. 

It’s easiest to use the ruler part of a cutting mat set, but if you don’t have that, you can use a yardstick or the side of a box or book. Use what you’ve got. 

Step 3: Sew

TIME: 3 minutes

sewing on disappearing ink line

Sew along the line of disappearing ink. 

Step 4: Cut excess

TIME: 1 minute

Fiskars cutting wheel with end cut off pillow sham

Cut the excess fabric from your pillowcase or sham. 

Once again, it’ll be easiest and fastest if you use the cutting wheel and mat, but if you don’t have one, use your sewing scissors. 

And there you have it…turn your pillowcase or sham right side out and stuff that pillow back inside. 

shortened pillow sham on bed with 2 decorative pillows

It’ss so easy to do when you know how to shorten a pillowcase or sham. 

You can’t even tell that I didn’t buy them this way. And the little buttons that I love so much at the end of my pillow sham are still intact and look great. 

This goes down as one of the easiest DIY projects I’ve done in a long time. 

If you want to know how to make a pillowcase, I’ve done that as well. It’s actually pretty easy. That link is to an old post that you shouldn’t judge the pictures too much and just read the directions. It’s not as easy as how to shorten a pillowcase, but do-able. 

I’d love to see your successful project! Share on Instagram and tag me @realcoake and use the hashtag #RealDIY so everyone can cheer your success!

More to Enjoy! 😍

Storage Solutions: $24 Shelving and Storage for Kid's Toys
IKEA Expedit Turned into a Great Shelving Unit with Desk

Share away! 😍

  • WhatsApp
  • Email
  • Facebook

Hi! I'm KC. I'm a single mom of 2 girls who loves all things creative. Whether it's making something crafty or tackling that DIY project, I'm gonna have some fun and stay organized in the process. 😊 Read More…

Follow Me:

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Previous Post: « How to Make a DIY Hidden Litter Box from an IKEA Cabinet
Next Post: Laundry Schedule – How to Easily Get the Family Involved »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Popular Posts

  • OM to the Cuteness! This M&M Cookie Recipe in a Mason Jar is so cute and the cookies are so delicious. These are fun, unexpected Easter gifts for friends or family or my family. Easter Mason Jar Cookie Recipe
  • Genius shelving unit and desk using an IKEA Expedit. Perfect storage solution for a child's room, entertainment center, or home office. IKEA Expedit Turned into a Great Shelving Unit with Desk

Meet KC

Hi! I'm KC, Welcome to my blog!
Click here to Learn More About Me…

Free Member Program:

Let’s Be Social

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

My Latest Insta Posts:

Happy Valentine's Day! I've been meaning to post t Happy Valentine's Day! I've been meaning to post the pic of my winter/valentine's day mantel since...well a while now. That's life sometimes, right? Hope you have a good weekend with some relaxation and that someone in your life shows you how much you mean to them, even if that means you show yourself the love. It still counts!⁣
PS. The tutorial on making the wreath is in the link in my bio.⁣
💖
Merry Christmas! 2020 sure has been a wild ride fo Merry Christmas! 2020 sure has been a wild ride for so many reasons. I'm sure you have your story just like I do and then there is the collective world story. I won't be sad to see it go, but for now, I'm just gonna sit in my living room enjoying my cute Christmas decorations and a glass of wine. Here's hoping you have a great holiday week. Stay Safe and Healthy. If you want a craft to get you through the long Covid winter, the link to the cute gingham canvas is in my bio. ⁣
🎄 ⁣
#RCRO #RealCoake #RealMoms #RealCrafts #Christmas #ChristmasCrafts #Christmas2020 #ChristmasMantle #ChristmasMantel ⁣
#christmasdecor #HomeDecor #ThatsDarling #PursuePretty #ABMAtHome #BHGhome #MyHouseBeautiful #HappyHouseDreams #ElleDecor #ApartmentTherapy #CraftyMom #CreativeLifeHappyLife #becreative #colorfullycrafted #abmcrafty #bhgcelebrate #diyblogger
If you decorate for Christmas, are your decoration If you decorate for Christmas, are your decorations traditional colors or other colors? I love walking into my living room and seeing all the cute Christmas decorations! I ❤ my non-traditional colors and pom poms!! 😍 You can make that cute little gingerbread house out of a birdhouse. All the details are at the link in my bio.⁣
🎄
2020 being what it is, I set up a sanitizing stat 2020 being what it is, I set up a  sanitizing station by our back door. It involved an easy DIY and some cute printables. Do you have an organized sanitizing station at your house? 😍 You can see it all on my blog via the link in my bio. ⁣
😷 ⁣
#RCRO #Organizing ⁣
#organized #organize #organizer #organization #covid-19
Do you decorate for the seasons? My pom pom wreath Do you decorate for the seasons? My pom pom wreath is my favorite thing to add when there isn't another season or holiday to decorate for. This was my mantel last spring. ⁣
Learn how to make a pom pom wreath at the link in my bio. ⁣
#RCRO #RealCrafts⁣
🧶
Who else is struggling to stay organized right now Who else is struggling to stay organized right now? It feels like there is so much less going on and it 'should' be easy, but I'm struggling to stay focused and organized. Thank goodness for my mom to do list to help keep me sort of on track and actually getting some stuff done. Snag yours at the link in my bio. #RCRO #RealOrganized #RealOrganizedMom⁣
📋
Who could use some fun about now? It's been a roug Who could use some fun about now? It's been a rough year for literally the world. As moms, I think we have taken a huge hit as well. The demands placed on us this year seem to have tripled. I think it's time to have a sucker - maybe made out of wine 😂 and plan something fun or maybe even just 5 minutes alone or without a kid needing us. 🤣 #5minutesformom #realmoms⁣
🍷 ⁣
#honestmotherhood #uniteinmotherhood ⁣
#motherhoodunplugged #momLife #StayHome #weareallinthistogether #ohheymama #our_everyday_moments
The thought of celebrating the 4th of July seems s The thought of celebrating the 4th of July seems so weird to me this year, not only with social distancing but also seeing all the failures of our country, it makes me feel a little less like celebrating. I love these simple stars I made last year. 🤩 They feel kinda perfect for this year....just a nod to 4th of July and a bigger nod to cuteness. 😉  You can learn how to make them at the link in my bio @realcreativerealorganized ⁣
⭐ ⁣
#RCRO #RealCrafts #diyhomedecor #Crafts #4thofJuly #4thofjulydecor ⁣
#crafty #crafting #redwhiteandblue #crafter #CreativeLifeHappyLife #RealMoms

Copyright © 2021 · Sprinkle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in