So I’ve taken on the mission to use up scraps! But I am not one to just use up to make non useful things. So my first mission is to use up some fabrics I created using my Gelli Plate long ago. They are 8×10 pieces of muslin. Hmmm Well, I do have this cluttered area of thread next to my sewing machine. I do have a thread rack, but when I’m working on a project that take many different colors I will pull them all and have them sitting next to me for switching out quickly. This was actually a cleaner day I took this pic! But you get the idea.
Now it looks like this! I made a little fabric box to hold all those threads and a few of my marking tools and brush I use to clean out my bobbin each time I change it out. Nice a tidy. 🙂
I have seen these made many ways but usually too flimsy for my liking.
So how did I make in about 20 minutes!?
I cut out a pice of fabric for the lining inside the same size as my 8×11 fabric. Then I cut out a piece of fusible batting 1/2″ smaller width and height so it is 7.5″ x 10.5 ” and fused to the outside fabric. This makes for less bulk at the seams. It’s a little stiffer than regular batting so thought it would do the trick. HIND SITE:Next time I will also use a piece of medium to heavy fusible stabilizer on the lining fabric also. This needs a little more stiffness.
Fuse the batting to the outside fabric and quilt as I liked. I just did a concentric rectangle.
For lining and outside: Fold in half lengthwise right sides together. Sew a 1/4″ seam on both of the short sides.
Then make a boxed corner by bringing in the seam centered and mark and measure about 2-1/2″ across at a 45 degree angle. Sew on this line across. I chose not to cut my corners off but you can if you like. I thought they would add a little stiffness to the sides if I left in.
Place the lining inside the outer quilted box, right sides together and align the edges and pin. Sew the top with a scant 1/4″ seam leaving about a 1-1/2″ to 2″ area open to turn right side out.
Turn entire box right side out through your hole. Make sure you put the boxed corners, if you left in, up the sides when you turn as it will give the side a little more stiffness. If you have them on the bottom it won’t be as flat. Press the seam folding the raw edges to the inside and sew a nice top stitch seam all the way around the top of your box to close off your hole you had for turning.
Then sew about 1/8″ seam top stitching up all four corners on the outside to help stiffen them up to stand nice. I used my blind stitch foot with the needle all the way to the left as shown below.
And that’s it! Easy peasy! Fill with whatever you like. Now I even have room to keep my rulers there also next to my rotating mat. 🙂 Think I will make some more to hold misc items in my studio. You can adjust the size easily. This size holds 10 of my Aurifil Spools which now live by my machine. I will never buy any other kind of thread again after using Aurifil, but that’s for a different post. 🙂 Need to use up all my misc other threads first on projects like this. lol These also make sure organizing containers for markers, pens and pencils or anything you like.
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