What fabric is best for sewing cottage-style pillowcase covers?

Linen is definitely what you need for cottagecore. It's perfect aesthetically: it looks natural, a bit crinkled, with a subtle texture that really captures that rustic coziness. Plus the fabric breathes well, washes great, and just gets softer over time. Natural, unbleached linen looks especially authentic - a cream or milk-colored tone is super atmospheric.

If linen seems expensive or tricky to work with, you can go for a linen-cotton blend - it's a semi-natural mix that holds its shape better but keeps all the charm. Cotton fabrics like calico or sturdy poplin work too, especially if you pick something with a small floral print or a solid pastel color. The main thing is to avoid synthetics and glossy finishes - they kill all that Victorian coziness.

When sewing, keep in mind that linen shrinks, so before cutting it's better to soak the fabric in warm water and let it dry. For pillows I'd recommend a weight of at least 180 g/m² - so the filling doesn't show through. And yeah, go generous with the decor: lace, embroidery, ruffles, buttons - cottagecore totally embraces all of that.