Silk pillowcases and sleep bonnets have definitely saved both my hair and Ryan’s. He’s a pretty aggressive sleeper—most mornings his hair used to look like a bird’s nest, sticking straight up in all directions. Since we switched to silk pillowcases, he usually wakes up with bedhead that’s way more manageable, often not even needing a shower to fix.
For me, the sleep bonnets were a game-changer in 2024. I lost about 30% of my hair after my blood clots, major weight loss, and months of dehydration. It was brutal. But once things started turning around, the bonnet helped me hang on to what was left, and over the last six months, my hair has actually grown back better than it was before.
I originally made silk pillowcases at the end of 2023 and used the leftover scraps to sew bonnets. After a lot of use, the first set of pillowcases finally wore out. I had finished the seams with a serger before, but it just didn’t feel lux enough for silk. This time, I wanted something more polished—so I went with French seams. The trickiest part was figuring out how to do French seams with an envelope closure. With silk, you really need some kind of closure—either an envelope or a zipper—otherwise your pillow will just slide right out like McDonald’s soft serve!
To make sure I don’t forget the method, I wrote up the full process and sizing below.
Pillows, Pattern, & Fabric
The Pillow
We use The Eden pillow in queen size from Coop, which measures about 17 by 27 inches and it is extra stuffed. These pillows are seriously chonky!
Final Measurement
The finished pillowcase I made measures 20-3/4 inches by 36-3/8 inches. I could probably shave a little off the length, but I definitely need the full 20-3/4 inches in width just to get it over the pillow comfortably.
Fabric
For fabric, I used 22 Momme Silk Charmeuse from YT Fabrics. I first bought it in November 2023 and reordered again to make this set. It’s held up great and is a bit heavier and more substantial than the ready-made silk pillowcases you’ll find online. To make one pillowcase, you’ll need 1.25 yards.
What is Momme
“Momme” (pronounced MOM-ee) is the unit used to measure the weight and density of silk fabric—kind of like thread count for cotton, but more about how thick and luxurious the silk is.
- 8–16 momme – Lightweight silks like chiffon or habotai.
- 19 momme – A standard weight for things like pillowcases and clothing. Soft, but with decent durability.
- 22 momme – A step up. Heavier, more durable, and more opaque. Great for pillowcases, sheets, and robes.
- 25+ momme – Premium, thick silk. Feels super luxurious and holds up better over time.
Tips and Tricks
Sewing this kind of silk hasn’t been a problem for me. I use a sharp (microtex) needle, usually size 70/10, and shorten the stitch length slightly—around 2.0 works well. That gives you clean stitches without puckering the fabric. For more delicate or slippery silk projects, some people like to use the gelatin soak method to temporarily stiffen the fabric and make it easier to handle. I haven’t needed it for pillowcases, but it’s a great trick to have in your back pocket for more fiddly projects.
Instructions
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