Mummy Block Pillowcase Tutorial

Welcome friends! I am so glad you are here. To celebrate, I have a little gift for you - a Free Mummy Quilt Block PDF Pattern, perfect for a Halloween pillowcase or trick-or-treat bag. When you download it, you'll also join my email community, where I share monthly quilting inspiration, gentle stories of hope, and new patterns as they're released. Click this link for your free Mummy Block PDF pattern: https://ajourneysewreal.myflodesk.com/mummyblock

Ready to turn your Mummy quilt block into something you can use long after Halloween? This beginner-friendly tutorial shows you how to transform that spooky-cute block into a sturdy pillowcase or trick-or-treat bag. French seams keep the inside neat and durable—no raw edges, just a project that’s as practical as it is fun.

Finished Mummy Pillowcase

Finished Size

Your pillowcase will match your finished block size. Add one 24½″ × 2½″ strip of fabric to the right side of the Mummy block so the mask corners aren’t cut off when sewing the French seams. If your block is a different size, simply cut all coordinating pieces to match the same width and height.

Materials

• 1 finished Mummy quilt block (trimmed and pressed)

• 1 base/liner piece (same size as block) — used to quilt behind the block

• 1 back piece (same size as block)

• Cuff piece: cut 8–10″ tall × block width (folded in half later)

• Matching thread

• Clips or pins

• Iron & pressing tools

• Rotary cutter, mat, ruler

• Optional: walking foot (helpful with the quilted front), strap/handle (see optional add-on)

• Optional: spray baste or pins for quilting the block to its base

A Note on Seam Allowances

We’ll use French seams for a clean, durable inside finish.

• First seam: ¼″ with wrong sides together

• Second seam: ⅜–½″ with right sides together to encase raw edges

Step 1: Prepare the Front

1. Square the block. Make sure your Mummy block is trimmed to its final size.

2. Layer for quilting. Place the block on top of the base/liner piece (both right sides facing out).

3. Quilt the layers. Simple straight lines or echo stitching works great. This hides all internal piecing seams and adds structure. (No batting—too bulky for a pillowcase.)

4. 

   Baste Quilt Block to liner piece.

   
   

Step 2: Prepare the Back

Cut the back piece to the same size as the finished front. Press.

Step 3: Sew the Body with French Seams

1. Wrong sides together. Place front and back WRONG sides together (pretty sides facing out). Align edges and clip.

2. First seam. Sew sides and bottom with a ¼″ seam. Leave the top open.

3. Trim the seam allowance slightly (to ~⅛″) and clip corners carefully.

4. Turn & press. Turn inside out so right sides are together and press seams flat.

5. Second seam. Sew again around sides and bottom with a ⅜–½″ seam to encase the raw edges.

You now have a clean, enclosed pillowcase/bag body with the top open.

Step 4: Make the Cuff

1. Cut cuff to 8–10″ tall × bag width.

2. Fold in half wrong sides together so the cuff is now double-layered (4–5″ tall). Press the fold crisp.

   [Photo: cuff folded in half, pressed]

Step 5: Attach the Cuff with French Seams

1. Keep the bag right side out.

2. Slide cuff over the opening, aligning raw edges of cuff and bag. Align cuff seam with a side seam. Clip all around.

3. First pass: Sew around the top with a ¼″ seam (first French seam pass—yes, with wrong sides together at the join).

4. Turn the bag inside out, roll the seam between your fingers to flatten, and press.

5. Second pass: Sew around the top again with a ⅜–½″ seam to fully enclose the raw edges.

6. Turn right side out and press the cuff up. Optional: Topstitch near the cuff seam for a tailored look.

   

Press & Finish

Give everything a good press—especially the cuff seam. Admire your clean French seams—no threads to snag little hands or candy wrappers.

Make It Your Own

• Add a name on the cuff (appliqué or embroidery).

• Use glow-in-the-dark thread for topstitching.

• Tuck glow sticks inside for a magical nighttime shimmer.

You Did It!

You now have a sturdy, cuffed French-seam pillowcase—perfect for trick-or-treating and cozy pillow duty after Halloween.I’d love to see your version—tag @ajourneysewreal so we can cheer you on!