• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Ebooks and Printables
  • Etsy
  • Sewing Journal

Make it Yourself. Yes You Can!

  • Sewing Projects
  • Tips and Techniques
  • Embroidery
  • Other Crafts
    • Crochet
    • Felting
    • Jewellery
    • Wreaths
  • Christmas

How to Sew Storage Boxes

January 26, 2017 · 8 Comments

How to Sew Storage Boxes

Storage boxes are always useful.

I have made a number of fabric storage boxes over the last few years, and I have usually managed to find a use for them within a few days of making them.

They’re great for using up fat quarter packs bought on impulse, and if you don’t mind the sides being different, they can be a good way to use bits left over from other projects.

The only problem is that when you sew storage boxes from fabric, even if you use interfacing, they do tend to be a bit squashy. Squashy is fine, and it’s not too bad when the boxes are small, but if you want to sew storage boxes that are bigger, this can cause some problems.

In the past, I’ve covered cardboard boxes in fabric by gluing it on. These boxes retained their sturdiness, but the glue stank and it wasn’t sewing!

Another option is to sew in cardboard inserts, but it would involve unpicking seams if the cardboard needed replacing. Also you couldn’t wash it, unless you unpicked it and removed the cardboard first.

So I had an idea to sew storage boxes with pockets so that the cardboard is easy to remove.how to sew storage boxes

These boxes are bigger than ones I have made in the past. I actually used an old, smallish nappy box that’s currently holding outgrown clothes as a guide!

The pockets have their openings at the bottom so that the cardboard is not visible, and a button prevents the cardboard from falling out.

I was able to use fabric I already had and cardboard from boxes containing internet shopping.

Instructions

You Will Need

Fabric (cotton or polycotton is a good choice) for the outer and the lining
Cardboard
4 buttons
Strong thread or elastic to make the button loops

Cutting Out

For the outer, cut 2 side pieces 38 cm x 28 cm, 2 end pieces 25 cm x 28 cm and a bottom piece 27 cm x 40 cm.

For the lining, cut 2 side pieces 38 cm x 28 cm, 2 end pieces 25 cm x 28 cm and a bottom piece 25 cm x 38 cm.

From strong cardboard, cut 2 side pieces 35 cm x 25 cm, 2 end pieces 22 cm x 25 cm and a bottom piece 22 cm x 35 cm.

I didn’t bother with interfacing as the the cardboard would give it all the sturdiness it needed. However if you are using fabric that frays a lot, you might want to use some fusible interfacing.

Sewing Up

1. Take one of the outer side pieces and one of the lining side pieces. With the right sides together, sew them together along one of the short edges. If you are using a directional print, you will need to make sure that you are joining along the top edges. Press the seams open.how to sew storage boxes

Repeat for the other side pieces and the end pieces.

2. Join the side and end pieces to the bottom lining piece with the right sides together. When sewing each seam, leave about a cm at each end. This will make sewing the sides much easier!how to sew storage boxes

3. Take the bottom outer piece and hem it all the way round.how to sew storage boxes

4. Pin the bottom piece to the bottom section of the lining, on the wrong side so that it covers the seam. Sew around three of the edges, keeping close to the edge.how to sew storage boxes

4. Sew up the sides. In order to ensure that the seams along the top edge of the basket  match, start at the seam where the lining joins the outer (the seam you sewed first). Sew downwards to join the lining sections, then go back to where you started to sew together the outer sections.

5. Hem the raw edge all the way round.

6. Fold the outer section over the lining. The wrong sides of the outer sides and the lining sides should be together, and it should be starting to look vaguely like a box. Pin the sides at the edges. Sew, keeping close to the side seams.how to sew storage boxes

7. Make 4 loops from either elastic or strong thread. Sew the loops to the bottom outer. Try not to sew through the lining as well or you’ll have issues in a minute with your cardboard inserts!

8. Sew a button onto each side outer, at the bottom and in the middle, next to where you sewed the loops.how to sew storage boxes

9. Insert the cardboard and button it up.how to sew storage boxes

If the cardboard gets damaged, or if you need to wash your box, you can just remove the cardboard!how to sew storage boxeshow to sew storage boxeshow to sew storage boxeshow to sew storage boxes

If you like to sew storage boxes, you’ll probably like these tutorials too.

Nesting Fabric Storage Boxeshow to make nesting fabric storage boxes sew storage boxes

Round Fabric Basketssew storage boxes

Burlap Basketsew storage boxes

Quick and Easy Fabric Basketsew storage boxes

how to sew storage boxes

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Filed In: Blog, Sewing Projects / Tagged: children, decor, fabric boxes, how to, scrap project, storage

How to Sew Round Fabric Baskets

January 19, 2017 · 12 Comments

How to Sew a Round Fabric Basket

Fabric baskets are always useful.

I needed a project for the Minerva Crafts Bloggers’ Network, and knowing that this would be due just after Christmas when lots of us are needing some extra storage, I decided to write a tutorial showing how to sew round fabric baskets.

The best solution to too much mess is to sort through it, keep what you love or can’t manage without and get rid of the rest. But while you’re having your sort out (or delaying the sort out by reading lots of books telling you how to go about it!), it’s useful to have somewhere to put the stuff in the meantime.

Also, sometimes the mess is edible things, like chocolate money, or stuff that other people need to sort out, like half finished lego models and little yellow heads.

This is where having pretty round fabric baskets to hold the stuff comes in handy!round fabric baskets

There’s no need for piles of mess, just chuck the mess in a pretty basket!

These baskets are easy to make. I made three of different sizes and the tutorial explains how to do this. There’s also a template for the middle sized basket (about 20 cm across) if you don’t want to make your own template.round fabric baskets

The fabric I used was this Gutermann fat quarter bundle. I also used some bias binding and some sew in interfacing so that the baskets would hold their shape. These are affiliate links. The fabric bundle contained 5 fat quarters. This was enough fabric, but I did have to be creative with the lining of the smallest basket!

If you want to know how to sew round fabric baskets, you can read the full tutorial here on the Minerva Crafts Bloggers’ Network.

Linking up here.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Filed In: Blog, Sewing Projects / Tagged: decor, home, how to, minerva crafts bloggers network, storage

A Quick and Easy Fabric Basket Tutorial

July 26, 2016 · 24 Comments

A Quick and Easy Fabric Basket Tutorial

I was recently sent some fabric by the people at Stitch Craft Create. It was 8 fat quarters from the new Tilda ranges, Cabbage Rose and Memory Lane, so that I could join in the Tilda Bloghop next month.

Like all the Tilda collections, it’s beautiful! When I got it all out, although I could see several sewing projects and I couldn’t wait to get started, it was so lovely I didn’t want to cut into it!

The first thing I have made with some of the fabric is a fabric basket. I have made these before, but I this time I wanted to go about it in a slightly different way. The fabric baskets I made previously involved a lot of measuring. To make things easier to anybody who might want to make them, I gave the option of buying a pattern.

This time I wanted to keep things a simple as possible. The fabric is so beautiful it doesn’t need anything complicated. And you never know when you might need a fabric basket in a hurry!

So here is the quickest, easiest way to make a fabric basket that I could come up with!

How to make a quick and easy fabric basket

How to Make a Fabric Basket

You Will Need

2 fat quarters, interfacing (I used heavyweight fusible interfacing, but the sew in kind will work fine), trim (optional), usual sewing supplies.how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghop

Cutting Out

From the outer fabric, cut a rectangle 43 cm x 37 cm (17″ x 14 1/2 “)
From the interfacing, also cut a rectangle 43 cm x 37 cm (17″ x 14 1/2 “)
From the lining, cut a rectangle 43 cm x 49 cm (17″ x 19″)

If you are in a real hurry, providing that your fat quarters are the same size, you could just cut 12 cm (4 3/4″) of the long edge of the outer.

If your lining fabric does not have a directional print, cut 10 cm (4″) off the long edge.

Be warned though, your finished basket will be a longer rectangle!

Sewing Up

Outer

1. If you are using fusible interfacing, fuse it to the wrong side of the outer.

2. Cut 2 pieces of trim the same width as the outer. Measure down 5 cm (2″) from one of the long edges and pin the trim in place. Repeat for the other side of the fabric. Sew the trim in place.how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghophow to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghop
3. Fold the outer in half length ways. Check that the trim is lined up on both sides. Pin the sides, then sew. Trim the seams.
how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghophow to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghop4. To make the boxed corners, crease the fold at the bottom with your finger. Open it out and squash the corner flat so that the seam is next to creased line.

5. Measure up 7 cm (2 3/4″) from the corner and pin at right angles to the seam. Sew where you have pinned. Cut the corners off.

how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghophow to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghop
Lining

If you are using different fabric and it does not have a directional print, you don’t need to cut it in half. Just fold it length ways and sew the side seams, then make the boxed corners.

1. Fold the lining in half length ways. Cut where you have folded.

2. Take one of the halves and turn it round so that the bunnies go the opposite way. how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghopPin the 2 halves together and sew along the sides and the bottom. Trim the seams.

3. Make the boxed corners in the same way as for the outer.

Finishing the Fabric Basket

1. Pop the lining inside the outer so that the wrong sides are together. Push the corners of the lining right into the outer. You might want to pin the lining to the outer at the sides to make things easier.

2. Fold the lining over the top of the outer and press with your fingers as you go. Tuck the raw edge underneath and pin in place.how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghop

3. Top stitch all the way round.how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghop

Your basket is finished!how to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghophow to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghophow to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghophow to make quick easy fabric basket tutorial tilda bloghop

Tips

Leaving the trim off would make the process quicker.
If you use fabric that does not have a directional print, you could just fold both the lining and the outer in half and sew up the sides.
If you are using fabric left over from another project and you are worried about the size of the finished fabric baskets, you could just cut less off the outer. All you need is enough extra of the lining to fold over the top of the outer and tuck the raw edge underneath.
The off cuts don’t need to be wasted! You could save them for a scrap project, like a wrist pin cushion or pattern weights!

Linking up here.

Fabric baskets are always useful! This little basket is very easy and quick to make. This clear, step by step tutorial with pictures shows you how.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Filed In: Blog, Sewing Projects / Tagged: craft fair, decor, gift, how to, storage, Tilda

How to Make a Storage Bag With Pockets

January 19, 2016 · 20 Comments

How to Make a Storage Bag With Pockets is the 3rd in a series of posts I’m writing about  easy storage ideas you can make yourself.

All of these projects I have made using fabric I had already, so as well as being useful, they didn’t cost anything to make and my fabric pile has gone down a little bit!

If you haven’t already, you might like to take a look at the 2 earlier posts in this series.

How to Make a Drawstring Bag from a Pillowcasehow to make a drawstring bag from a pillowcase

How to Make Nesting Fabric Storage Boxeshow to make nesting fabric storage boxes

I have been using the new storage I’ve made to house new toys the boys got for Christmas. This storage bag with pockets I made specifically for Boy 2’s electronics kit.

To make the storage bag, I used my standard shopping bag tutorial. The bag is lined because I wanted to add 2 pockets on the inside. One is a standard pocket, for his instruction booklet, and the other is an elasticated number for all his bits of wire.how to make a storage bag with pockets

You can change up the size and pockets, inside or outside, depending on what your bag will be storing!

How to Make a Storage Bag With Pockets

You will need: fabric for outer, lining, pockets and handles, interfacing (optional), elastic, safety pin, usual sewing supplies.

1. If you are making the storage bag for something in particular, be guided by its size. Make sure you allow enough for the sides and bottom of the bag as well. Remember it’s much easier to make something smaller than to make it bigger!

From your main fabric, cut either a long rectangle, which will be folded in half widthways with the fold at the bottom, or cut 2 rectangles and sew them together. You will need to cut 2 rectangles if you are using fabric with a directional print. Allow enough for seams and hemming at the top.

Do the same with your lining. I made my lining a couple of cm shorter so that I could hem the top by folding the outer over to make it less fiddly!

2. Sew the side seams of the outer and the bottom seam if you need to. Trim the seams.storage bag with pockets

3. Make the boxed corners. To do this, you will need to squash each corner flat so that the side and bottom seams are together. Measure up from the bottom corner (I measured 5 cm, but it will depend on the depth of the thing you are making the bag for) and pin. storage bag with pocketsSew at right angles to the seam. storage bag with pocketsCut the corner off. storage bag with pocketsIf you would like more detailed instructions for how to do this, you’ll find this tutorial useful. Put the outer to one side.

4. Grab your lining rectangle and decide where you want to put the pockets and what kind you need them to be.

Flat Pocket

Decide how large you need the pocket to be. Cut a piece of fabric twice the size and fold it in half OR cut 2 rectangles of fabric the size you need for the pocket. storage bag with pocketsWith the right sides together, sew the top and side seams. Trim the seams and turn it out. storage bag with pocketsTuck the raw edges inside and pin.storage bag with pockets

Pin the pocket to the lining on the right side and sew around the sides and the bottom.storage bag with pockets

Elasticated Pocket

An elasticated pocket will have less width but more depth.

Cut 2 rectangles of fabric. The outer piece will need to be larger at the top by 2-3 cm to allow for the casing for the elastic.storage bag with pockets

With the right sides together, sew around the sides and the bottom. Trim the seams and turn out.

Fold the top of the outer rectangle over and tuck the raw edge underneath. Pin then sew. storage bag with pocketsAlong the bottom, sew 2 rows of long stitches. Knot the threads at one end and pull the other ends to gather. Tie the threads together. storage bag with pocketsCut a piece of elastic about half the width of the pocket. Using the safety pin, thread it through the casing.storage bag with pockets Pin the elastic at each end. Position the pocket on the right side of the lining and pin in place. Sew around the sides and the bottom. storage bag with pocketsWhen sewing over the casing, tuck the ends of the elastic underneath before sewing over them.storage bag with pockets

5. Sew the sides of the lining together.

6. Make the boxed corners as you did in Step 3.storage bag with pockets

7. Pop the lining inside the outer so that the wrong sides are together. Push the corners of the lining into the corners of the outer. You might like to pin them to hold them while you sort out the top.

8. Fold the top of the bag outer over the top of the lining and tuck the raw edges underneath. Pin, then sew all the way round the top.storage bag with pocketsstorage bag with pockets

9. To make the handles, cut 2 pieces of fabric 15 cm x 9 cm. If you need longer handles, then cut the rectangles longer.

If you have some fusible interfacing, it will make the handles firmer, especially if you are using a lightweight cotton, but it doesn’t matter too much if you don’t. If you are using interfacing, cut 2 rectangles the same size as the handle pieces and fuse to the wrong side.

10. Take one of the rectangles and fold it in half lengthways. Open it out, then fold the raw edges in towards the middle.storage bag with pockets Fold in half again and pin. Sew along the open edges. I like to sew along the folded edge to so that the handles look symmetrical.storage bag with pocketsstorage bag with pockets

11. Pin the handles to the inside of the bag and sew in place. storage bag with pocketsIt’s probably best to sew them in a couple of places to reduce the chances of them falling off.storage bag with pockets

Your storage bag is now ready to accommodate post Christmas mess!storage bag with pocketsstorage bag with pockets

You might also like these posts.

Shopping Bag Tutorialshopping bag tutorial

Messenger Bag Tutorialmessenger bag

How to Make a Little Purselittle purse lace zip

This post contains affiliate links.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Filed In: Sewing Projects / Tagged: bag, children, how to, sewing, storage

How to Make Nesting Fabric Storage Boxes

January 12, 2016 · 37 Comments

These nesting fabric storage boxes are the second in a series of posts about making quick and easy storage solutions! They are perfect for rehoming mess after Christmas, but useful at other times as well when you just need somewhere to put stuff!

You might also like to read the previous post in this series, How to Make a Drawstring Bag From a Pillowcase.

The patterns for the boxes are available to buy here if you don’t want to make your own pattern.

To make the fabric storage boxes, I used some fat quarters that I had in my hoard. The largest box measures about 22 cm x 16 cm x 13 cm.

To make bigger boxes to accommodate larger toys or more stuff, obviously you will need bigger pieces of fabric.

The boxes are lined and reinforced with interlining.how to make nesting fabric storage boxes

How to Make Nesting Fabric Storage Boxes

You Will Need: 2 fat quarters of cotton fabric for each box, interfacing, a ruler or a tape measure, usual sewing supplies.

1. Start by making the lining first as this will dictate the size of the box. It will depend on how deep you want the sides to be. The deeper the sides, the smaller the base of the box. The sides of the lining will need to be at least 3 cm higher than the sides of the outer.

If making your own pattern is too much of a faff, you can buy the pattern for all 3 boxes here.

These are the measurements I used.

Largest Box

Outer: base 23.5 cm x 18 cm, long sides 23.5 cm x 13 cm, shorter sides 18 cm x 13 cm.

Lining: base 23.5 cm x 18 cm, long sides 23.5 cm x 16 cm, shorter sides 18 cm x 16 cm.

Middle Sized Box

Outer: base 21 cm x 16 cm, long sides 21 cm x 12 cm, shorter sides 16 cm x 12 cm.

Lining: base 21 cm x 16 cm, long sides 21 cm x 15 cm, shorter sides 16 cm x 15 cm.

Smallest Box

Outer: base 19 cm x 14 cm, long sides 19 cm x 11 cm, shorter sides 14 cm x 11 cm.

Lining:  base 19 cm x 14 cm, long sides 19 cm x 14 cm, shorter sides 14 cm x 14 cm.

2. Cut out the outer and lining. Remember that the lining needs to be about 3 cm longer where the top of the box will be, as this will be folded over the outer.how to make nesting fabric storage boxes

3. Cut out the interfacing. It will need to be the same size as the outer. If you are using fusible interfacing, fuse it to the wrong side of the outer.

4. Pin the sides of the outer. To make things easier, I pinned the 2 opposite sides, sewed them, then pinned the other 2 sides. how to make nesting fabric storage boxesYou will need to keep close to the raw edge to avoid the box ending up a weird shape. how to make nesting fabric storage boxesTrim the seams closely.how to make nesting fabric storage boxeshow to make nesting fabric storage boxes

5. Sew up the sides of the lining in the same way.

6. Pop the lining inside the outer so that the wrong sides are together. Push the corners of the lining right up against the corners of the outer. how to make nesting fabric storage boxesPin in place on the lining side.

7. Fold the raw edge of the lining over the outer, tucking the raw edge underneath and taking care to match the seams. Pin in place.how to make nesting fabric storage boxes

8 Top stitch all the way round.how to make nesting fabric storage boxes

Repeat the same steps to make the other fabric storage boxes.how to make nesting fabric storage boxeshow to make nesting fabric storage boxeshow to make nesting fabric storage boxeshow to make nesting fabric storage boxes

Tips

The bigger the box, the more reinforcing it will need to hold its box shape. Although I did make a large box a couple of years ago to hold baby toys and I quite liked its squashiness!

For a more rigid box, try a heavier weight interfacing or something like buckram (affiliate link). You could even slip pieces of card in between the lining and the outer.

You could use ribbon or other kinds of trim to hide the join between the lining and the outer, especially if you don’t have quite enough to tuck the edge of the lining underneath.

Experiment with making them all different sizes!

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Filed In: Sewing Projects / Tagged: box, children, craft fair, how to, storage

  • 1
  • 2
  • Previous Entries
I'm Anna and I live in rural Norfolk in the UK. My mum taught me how to use a sewing machine when I was 10 and I haven't looked back! I love making all sorts of things and I hope you find inspiration here.

Join the list

Join the mailing list to receive updates, useful and interesting links and free pages from the Sewing Journal.

My New Ebook

things to male and do in the autumn

Bunting Makes Everything Better Tote Bag

Featured Kit

The Sewing Journal

My Kits and Patterns on Etsy

Shop the Christmas Shop at Sew and So



Join the List

Join the mailing list to receive updates, useful and interesting links and free pages from the Sewing Journal.

Privacy Policy

For information about cookies and Tea and a Sewing Machine's privacy policy, please click here.

Instagram

Instagram Widget by SnapWidget



UK Sewing Blogs

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok