As well as being perfect for tidying away all those loose bits and pieces, these fabric boxes also have the added bonus of looking so much better than a plain plastic or cardboard box. The small square boxes are ideal for small sewing items such as quilting clips, the larger square boxes are great for putting in larger sewing items, and the large rectangular ones are the perfect size for keeping your fat quarters all together in one place. They are also ideal for non-sewing related storage too such as storing make-up or jewellery.
What you will need:
Owl Boxes:
Owl Christmas Fat quarter set by The Craft Cotton Company
Christmas Stag Boxes:
Stag Cotton print by The Craft Cotton Company
Ombre Trends fabric by The Craft Cotton Company in blue for the lining.
Pins or quilting clips
Scissors
Batting or interfacing for the lining, if you want to boxes to be sturdier you could also use cardboard
Thread
Needle
Paper
Pencil
Ruler
Firstly, make your paper templates...
Make your paper templates for the size of boxes you would like to make. In this tutorial you will see 3 different sized square boxes (8 x 8 cm, 16 x 16 cm, 20 x 20cm), and one rectangular one (16 x 32 cm).
When making a rectangular box, you will also need a square template for each end of the box, this will be the same width as the rectangle but half the length, e.g. 16 x 32 cm box has end pieces of 16 x 16 cm in size.
If you would like a box with a different coloured band around the top of the sides of the box, you will need to cut the top part of the paper template off at the size of band you want. For example, 20 x 20cm box has a band of different coloured fabric 8 cm wide, so an 8 cm piece was cut from the top of the square pattern piece.
Cut out your fabrics
Square boxes:
You will need 5 pieces of batting/interfacing, 5 pieces of lining fabric, and 5 pieces of outer box fabric for each box.
Rectangles:
You will need 3 pieces of batting/interfacing, 3 pieces of lining fabric, and 3 pieces of outer box fabric for each box. You will also need 2 square end pieces of batting, lining fabric, and outer box fabric.
If you are making a box with a different band of fabric around the top, sew the separate pieces together now so you have your complete square/rectangle side pieces for sewing together the box in the next stage.
Sew the lining together
First start to sew the lining together by taking two of the side pieces and placing them right sides together; now sew down the right hand side stopping 1 cm from the bottom.
Take the next side piece and place right sides together with one of these sewn together pieces and sew down the side to join making sure you stop 1 cm from the bottom.
Repeat with the final side piece, then sew the first and last side piece together by placing right sides together. Press flat the seams to help with sewing on the base. Now take the base piece and sew to the base of the sides. Do NOT turn out.
Repeat
Repeat step 3 to make the outer box, making sure you include the batting/interfacing. When completed, turn out the right way.
Right sides facing
Place the outer box fabric into the lining so that the right sides are facing. Pin to hold in place and sew around the top edge, leaving a 4 cm gap for turning. Turn and slip stitch closed the gap.
Finally...
Sew a line of stitching around the top edge of the box 1 cm from the top of the box.
© by Lesley Foster at Hook, Stitch, Sew for The Craft Cotton Company 2016