How To Make A Travel Pillow Case. Best 3-Step Guide

If you’re curious about how to make a travel pillow case, you should easily produce it after three steps. This article is the easiest method and guarantees the perfect fit for your travel pillow. However, it’s worth noting that this is best for traditional travel-friendly square and rectangular pillows.

If you have a U-shaped pillow, you’ll need a different pattern to get the ideal fit. You can also opt to use washable materials for your travel pillow if you can’t remove the cover separately. Back to this guide, you’ll use a regular pillowcase and transform it into a travel version.

How To Make A Travel Pillow Case

 

How To Sew A Travel Pillow Case

 

Step #1. Design

Before you start, it’s worth noting that this guide upcycles an existing traditional bed pillowcase to turn it into a travel pillowcase. Therefore, you’ll use a different pattern if you’re making the cover for a neck pillow. Remember that pillowcases come in different sizes, so adjust the dimensions and cuts accordingly. 

What’s great with this project is that you can use the covers left to collect dust in your drawers. And since you’ll be cutting it according to your travel pillow, you’ll get the best fit. Start by flipping your regular-sized pillowcase and place your travel pillow over it. 

Gauge what part of the material you like for the pillow, especially if it has a design. A useful tip is to utilize one side of the pillowcase to finish this pillowcase quicker. Mark the placement with pins and remove your pillow for trimming. 

 

Step #2. Cut

Now that you have an idea of what your pillowcase will look like, trim around the pins. Make sure that you’re allocating half an inch of allowance for the seam, just like when you’re sewing other pillow covers. You might also like to check the sides for hangover materials to ensure that all sides will be uniform when you sew in the next step. 

Your cut should be clean and won’t cause the fabric to fray. Choose a sharp scissor for trimming or a rotary cutter if you’re more comfortable. Some might even prefer to mark the pillow with chalk instead of pins.

 

Step #3. Sew

The final step is to sew your pillowcase together, and you can start at the bottom edge. You can sew by hand or with a machine and then turn your pillow cover to finish the stitches up the side. Now that you’ve finished both sides, you can cut the corner to get a neater look. 

You also need to trim both sides around half an inch if you ended up with extra material. Flip your pillow right side out and insert your travel pillow. And voila, you just created a custom travel pillowcase. 

Do note that this project didn’t add a closure to the cover. It’s more convenient for a travel pillow if you can quickly remove and wash the pillowcase for hygienic purposes. However, you can always modify this pillow cover to your liking. 

 

Types Of Travel Pillows

It’s useful to familiarize yourself with the different types of travel pillows to help you make the right pillow cover for the one you have. You might immediately think of the U-shaped neck pillow when travel pillows come to mind, but other styles are not limited to supporting those who need to sleep upright. 

 

Rectangular

The pillowcase you just learned earlier is for rectangular or square travel pillows. These pillows look like bed pillows, but they are lighter and smaller for convenience when traveling. These styles are useful for travelers who tend to sleep while lying down than those on long plane and car rides. 

Making a travel pillowcase is also useful for additional protection when using pillows in hotels and hostels. If you’re camping or backpacking, you may also like to bring these rectangular pillows for maximum support compared to those offered by U and J-shaped pillows. Afterward, your toddler can also use this pillow as an introductory pillow for sleeping. 

 

U-shaped and J-shaped

Perhaps the most common travel pillows are the ones that can support you when you tilt to your side on long car and plane rides. These pillows include U-shaped ones that will wrap around the neck to keep your posture. On the other hand, the J-shaped pillow can be considered a variation of the U-shaped pillow that you’ll loop over your shoulder to prop your head.

The materials for these styles will vary from memory foam to even inflatable ones. Their unique shape can be bulky for some travelers, so selecting the inflatable types might be better for storage and portability. However, memory foam is always a commendable material because of its unique conformability to the user. 

 

Hourglass

If you want a more versatile travel pillow, you can opt for the hourglass style. Compared to the previous J-shaped and U-shaped styles, you can also use it to prop your knees for improved circulation. The shape is also useful for relieving lower back pain. 

 

Conclusion

Do you have a travel pillow that needs a cover? You don’t need to buy one because you can learn how to make a travel pillow case using old covers immediately. With the guide above, you can upcycle a regular-sized pillowcase so that it will fit perfectly into your travel pillow.

Of course, this project is best for smaller square or rectangular travel pillows. If you’re using other shapes, you’ll need to cut out a different pattern. Nonetheless, traveling doesn’t mean neglecting a comfortable sleep, so opt for a travel-friendly bed pillow.