SUPPLIES

15” x 10” x 10” cardboard box

Packing tape

¾ yard each of exterior & lining fabric (A & B)

1” square of hook-and-loop tape

PREP IT

Secure the cardboard box bottomusing packing tape. Tape generously tocreate a strong base. Push each top flapinto the box, and tuck them tightly inside (1).

CUT IT

From fabric A, cut two 11” x 16”rectangles and two 11” squares for thesides, one 51⁄2” x 11” strip for the handle,one 5” x 12” strip for the strap and three3” strips that measure the fabric widthfor the ruffle.

From fabric B, cut two 11” x 16” rec-tangles and two 11” squares for the

sides and one 11” x 16” rectangle forthe bottom.

SEW IT

Use 1⁄2” seam allowances unless other-wise noted.

With wrong sides together, fold thehandle in half lengthwise; press, andthen unfold. Fold each long edge 1⁄2” to-ward the center foldline. Fold the strapin half lengthwise along the previousfoldline. Topstitch 1⁄4” from each longedge; press.

With wrong sides together, fold thestrap in half lengthwise; press, and thenunfold. Fold one end 1⁄2” toward thewrong side; press. Fold each long edge1⁄2” toward the center foldline. Fold thestrap in half lengthwise, concealing thelong raw edges. Topstitch the strapperimeter; press. Center the hook tapesquare 1⁄4” from the finished strap end;stitch the hook square perimeter (this isthe strip wrong side).

Fold each handle end 1” to thewrong side; press. Center the handle

SmartSmartStorageStorage

by Tina Givens, courtesy of Lark Books

68 sew it all ° V O L U M E 2

Cover a recycled cardboard box

with fun fabrics from your stash for

a budget-minded and eco-friendly

alternative to spendy storage bins.

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SIA-100063-Smart Storage-068069:Layout 1 10/29/10 5:33 PM Page 68

4” from one exterior square upperedge; pin. Stitch a 1” square at eachhandle end, and then stitch an X insideeach square.

With right sides together, align oneexterior square edge with one exteriorrectangle short edge; stitch. Press theseam to one side and topstitch 1⁄4” fromthe seam on each side. Repeat to stitchthe remaining exterior square to theopposite stitched exterior rectangleshort edge.

With right sides together, align theremaining exterior rectangle shortedges with the stitched exterior squareedges; stitch. Press the seams to oneside and topstitch 1⁄4” from the seamson each side.

Stitch two ruffle strip ends withright sides together. Stitch the remain-ing strip end to one stitched strip end,creating one long strip. Fold the strip inhalf lengthwise with wrong sides to-gether; press. Fold the short ends 1⁄2”toward the wrong side; press. Fold andpress the strip every 3” to 4”, creatingfreeform pleats.

Designate one ruffle long edgeas the upper edge. Position the ruffleupper edge along the exterior-boxlower edge with right sides together;pin generously. Adjust the pleats, ifneeded, to fit the ruffle around the ex-terior box. Overlap the folded ruffleends. Stitch the ruffle in place.

With right sides together, center thestrap raw end along one exterior-boxrectangle lower edge over the rufflestitching line; pin. Stitch the strap endto secure (2). Press the ruffle seam to-ward the box.

Stitch the lining rectangles and sidesas per the exterior box instructions. Withright sides together, pin the lining bot-tom to the lining box. Stitch the bottom

to the box, beginning and ending thestitching 3⁄8” from each corner. Handstitch each corner in place to ensure accuracy (3).

FINISH IT

With right sides together, place theexterior box inside the lining box. Pinthe upper edge, and then stitch. Turnthe box right side out; press the upperedge, and then topstitch 1⁄4” from theseam on both sides through one fabriclayer only.

Place the cardboard box on a flatwork surface. Push the lining box intothe cardboard box with the right sidefacing out. Pull the exterior box aroundthe cardboard box, aligning the corners.The ruffle should sit on the surface andsplay outward, concealing the card-board box bottom.

Pull the bottom strap around thecardboard box bottom to the oppositelining rectangle lower-edge center untilthe strap is comfortably snug. Centerthe hook-tape square along the liningright side. Mark the loop square place-ment along the lining rectangle rightside; stitch the loop square perimeter.Attach the hook-and-loop tape pieces to secure the box. e

V O L U M E 2 ° sew it all 69

1.

2.

3.3⁄8”

3⁄8”

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