Sewing to the Moon
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

​Pattern Reviews, Easy Projects, Tips, & Sew-a-longs 

2/5/2022 2 Comments

How to Sew an Ironing Board Cover in 1 Hour

How to sew an ironing board cover

Recover your ironing board, yourself!


There's one thing almost every sewist says, "I only iron when I sew." That rings true for me 95% of the time. I'm not a big fan of wrinkles so, I do iron the occasional laundry basket of clothes. However, my ironing board lives in my sewing space. Unless we have people over, it hangs out in sewing land.

There's nothing fun about pressing open seams on a musty crusty ironing board, amiright? I've bought countless pads for my board over the years. They've worked fine enough until they flatten and get ugly. It was time to make my own cover.

After going down the rabbit hole that is Google, I discovered people using felt blankets on their boards or Insul-Bright. You're going to use both for your new cover! No more wimpy covers that leaves board indents on your project or, dare I say, laundry. 

Your new board will be thick and lofty, oh and it'll look cute too. Yay for pretty things. :D 
Are you ready to re-cover your ironing board? Let's do this.
DIY your ironing board quick and easy

Items You'll Need:

  1. 2 yards of pretty cotton fabric, you may end up with some leftover 
  2. 2 1/2 yards of elastic, 1/2" wide at least 
  3. 1 wool blanket (buy it new, thrifted, from a military surplus store, or an old one in the closet)
  4. 2 yards Insul-Bright
  5. Thread
  6. Sewing Machine
  7. Pins or clips
  8. Iron and ironing board, of course 

Ironing boards come in all shapes and sizes. 2 yards for the fabrics should be more than enough. Measure your board length to be sure, don't forget you'll need extra for the seam allowances.

This whole project takes about an hour. You'll be pressing those seams open on a pretty new cover in no time. 
Recover your ironing board, an easy sewing tutorial

Let's get Started

Start by removing your old cover and after you've washed it, stuff it inside this floor pillow. ;)
​Use the thin foam piece as a cutting guide for the wool and Insul-Bright layers. If you don't have one, just eyeball it. This is an easy project, and it's all about winging it here.
  • Cut 2 layers from your wool blanket
  • Cut 1 layer of Insul-Bright batting
I cut the wool and Insul-Bright pieces one inch larger around. Set aside.
Sew your own ironing board cover. Great for beginner sewers.
The bumpy piece was the thin foam that came with my ironing board. I used it as a template for cutting the Insul-Bright and wool. I cut the new layers about 1" larger all around.
Add wool and Insul-Bright to your ironing board for better pressing.
Insul-Bright and wool layers for the ironing board.
Place the 2 wool layers onto the board, then the Insul-Bright layer on top. Iron over the layers to smooth them out. Look at those wrinkles. Yikes!
Make an ironing board cover.
2 layers of a thick wool blanket and 1 layer of Insul-Bright will go under the cotton fabric cover.
Sewing fabric for your ironing board
Isn't this fabric cute? I love it. It's from Joann.
Drape your cotton fabric over the board. You'll want it to hang 4" all around. Give everything a good press, sliding your iron back and forth over all the layers. 
Recover your ironing board.
Roughly cut your fabric leaving a 4" for turning under.
Sew your own cover for your ironing board.
I cut a little too rough. Yikes!
Renew your old ironing board with an easy DIY cover.
Even out the rough cutting by folding in half and trim the jagged edges.
Cut your fabric, it doesn't have to be perfect but, make sure your edges are smooth and not jagged. I'm speaking from experience. ;) Haha
How to recover an old ironing board.
Fold the fabric corners onto themselves to create curves. Pin. Do the same thing for the nose of the board as well. Then, pin the long edges 1/2" under.

How to recover your hand me down ironing board.
You could pin the whole cover under 1/2" or not. I found pinning helped but, it's upto you.

Sewing Time

Take your fabric cover to the machine. You're going to sew with a 1/2" seam allowance. Use a 2.5 or 3mm stitch length. It doesn't have to be perfect, the seam will get covered.
Easy beginner sewing project
Sew with a 1/2" seam allowance. Just eyeball it.
Now, grab your elastic. You're going to sew a zigzag stitch over the seam you just sewed with the elastic on top. 
Pull the elastic taught with one hand while gently pulling the fabric behind the machine with the other hand. Use a zigzag stitch and sew. You want to pull the elastic tight enough so it will make the cover fit nice and snug over your board.
Sewing elastic with a zigzag stitch.
Sew the elastic on with a Zigzag stitch. Place the elastic over your raw seam edge and sew, pulling the elastic as you go.
How to sew easy projects.
It's not perfect but, it's an ironing board cover. Nobody will see it.
How to sew
The elastic covered the raw edges.
You will have something that looks like mine up above. If not, grab that seam ripper, grab a cup of tea, and start ripping. 


If your fabric doesn't fit snugly enough, clip a piece of elastic and attach it on the underside along a long edge. Clip. Then, pull it toward the other side to get a snug fit. Clip or pin. Take it to the machine and zigzag over both ends. You may have to slide it on and off the board a few times to get a perfect fit.
​
My old cover came with elastic straps that fir like this, except they had a button. That's where I got the idea. I added two elastic strips under the cover. One at the nose and one at the bum. ;)


Yay!! You just made a cute ironing board cover and it will work much better than any store-bought one. 
How to fix your ironing board cover
Add a crosswise piece of elastic to tighten the cover if needed.
Find the love of doing laundry again
Maybe I'll like doing laundry again with my new, pretty ironing board cover. Nah, probably not!

I've wanted to recover my ironing board for a while, and I'm so happy I finally did it. With the multiple layers, everything presses nicely and quickly too. 

Are you excited to make your ironing board cover? Or is it something you'd rather not make? I'm curious, so tell me in the comments below if it's something you're excited to make.

​
Thanks for hanging out with me today. Now go sew something fun. :D


Happy ironing,
Annette

Looking for something else? Read below


Have a ton of fabric scraps? Want to use them up? Sew a floor cushion.

New to sewing and want to jump right in? Read this Budget-Friendly sewing post here.

Is your machine not working properly? It might need a quick cleaning session, find out how, here.

Do you love vintage style and want to incorporate it to your everyday wardrobe? Grab this easy free pattern for a vintage headscarf. 

Do you have chickens? Yes! Well, you need an egg apron. Grab the free pattern and tutorial here.

2 Comments

1/23/2022 0 Comments

DIY Floor Cushion: Filled with Fabric Scraps

Use up all thos fabric scraps with this DIY floor pouf
Do you save every fabric scrap you've ever cut in hopes of using them for something? If you're like me, you don't save them all but, you do save pieces big enough to use for a pocket. Because... pockets! Right? I've discovered the best fabric-busting project of all time. It uses all your fabric scraps up. Okay, it doesn't technically "use" them but, it does put them to use. You're going to sew a simple floor cushion and store all your scraps inside! ​

​You'll want to plow through that list of sewing projects so you can cut into fabric and have more scraps to fill the floor cushion. Whew! Trust me, I'm speaking from experience. ;)

Cozy Meets Functional

How to sew a floor pouf sewing project.
Big and cozy floor pouf to sit on or use as an ottoman.
The floor cushion itself is not a good scrap buster. You might need to buy fabric to make it. But, it'll free up space in your sewing area, I promise. 

I was lucky enough to have leftover grey chenille from my pop-up trailer makeover, so I used that. You'll want to use an upholstery weight fabric or something similar. This cushion is going to take a beating. 

If you have upholstery thread, you can use it here. If you don't, good ole polyester thread works fine. This whole project takes 2hrs give or take. It's a quick sew and gives a huge reward! 
DIY ottoman how to tutorial
My son uses it as a foot rest while playing videogames.
If you're still on the fence about making one, think ottoman, pet bed, kid's seat, etc.

My cat claims it as his bed when my son isn't using it for his feet. It gets carried from room to room and makes a great coffee table game chair as well. I'm surprised it hasn't been involoved in a pillow fight yet.
How to make a floor pouf ottoman sewing project
All these scraps and much more will fit inside this floor pouf.

Supplies

  • 2.5 yards upholstery fabric or similar weight fabric (you'll have a little bit leftover) 
  • Thread
  • Clips or pins
  • 14" Zipper 
  • That huge pile of fabric scraps
  • Sewing machine
  • Scissors, ruler, marking tool, etc. 
Sewing blog

Let's Sew!

Wash your fabric if you want. I didn't. When I need to wash it in the future, it'll shrink a little and be fine. 

You're going to sew a large cube and fill it with your fabric scraps. Hooray!
​
1. Cut ​2, 21" squares. Cut 4 rectangles measuring 15.5" by 21". Serge or zigzag over the raw edges. Upholstery fabric loves to fray. 
Scrap busting project for sewers
A rotary cuter and ruler were nice to cut the large pieces with.
How to sew a floor pouf
Serge or zigzag over all those raw edges.
2. Clip or pin the rectangles together along the short sides, right sides together. You're making a loop. Sew up the short sides using 1/2" seam allowances, backstitching at the beginning and ends.
DIY bean bag
Clip the sides of the rectangle pieces together, forming a large loop.
How to use up fabric scraps
See the edges fraying? I ran everything through the serger after this photo was taken. Yikes!
3. Lay one square right side up on your table. Clip one side of the loop you just made from the rectangles, onto the square, RST. It's easiest to clip the corners of the square to the side seams first. Then, ease the side seams in. Your upholstery fabric might have some stretch in it but, you tell it who's boss!
​

​If you don't want to insert a zipper, sew along the edge using 1/2" seam allowance.
Sew your own floor pouf cushion
Clip the corner sections to the flat square first. Then, clip the sides.
How to sew a bean bag
After it's clipped, it will look like this.
4. Here's where you'll insert your zipper if you want one. This is a little different than inserting a zipper into a bag so, bear with me. 

Clip/pin one side of the zipper to a rectangle edge. Sew the zipper with a zipper foot. 
Open the zipper and clip the zipper tape to the square bottom edge. Sew using the zipper foot. You might have to sew one side of the zipper tape facing down which feels awkward but is totally fine.

Switch back to your regular sewing foot to sew around the whole square. Start at one end of the zipper and end at the other end of the zipper. Open and close the zipper to make sure it's lined up, if it isn't smooth, unpick one side and resew it. 

*It's easier to sew with the flat piece down and move the rectangles out of the way as you sew.
How to sew a bean bag flood cushion
I ended up sewing the second side upside down. It worked just fine.
To get the seam and zipper area to match up nicely, sew an extra 1/8" inside the zipper seam allowance when you get to the zipper.

​It's a little trick that's used when inserting invisible zippers. 
5. Now that the hardest part is over, it's time to sew the top square on. Clip the top the same way you did with the bottom square. Start with the corners first, then clip the sides. Sew all around using 1/2" seam allowance. 

This might look tricky but, take your time. Go slow and make sure you're only sewing over the 2 layers. 
How to use up fabric scraps
Sew the top on all the way around.
6. Turn the cushion right side out and pop out the corners. You don't have to worry about trimming the corners unless you want to. I left them alone. Press the seams open as well as you can. 
​
Ta-da! You've made a floor cushion, bean bag, floor pouf, or whatever you want to call it. You made one!
DIY stuffed floor cushion
Pull it out gently. This was my first zipper I used and then realized I needed a much bigger one. LOL
7. Stuff it with all those fabric scraps inside. It's very therapeutic. If it feels empty still, toss some extra yardage inside if you'd like. I had yards of fleece, minky, and faux fur from my baby gift making days and that really helped to fluff it up.

You can even fill it with those random pieces of interfacing you're probably saving.  ;) 
How to make a bean bag
Stuff it. Fill it. Shove everything inside it! Haha
How to sew and use those fabric scraps. Fabric busting tutorial
Dig out all those fabric scraps. Big and small.


​All that's left to do is use it. Who gets to use it first? The kids, your kitty, or you?
DIY pet bed for a Ragdoll cat. How to sew a pet bed.
This is Captain, he loves the new pet bed I made him.

Read Below for Extra Tips:

  • Use a long enough zipper to get your hand in and out. Originally, I used a tiny 6" zipper thinking I'd never need the scraps again. Haha!! It was quickly ripped out and replaced with a longer 14" one. It's fun and easy to add more scraps. And, if you need a pocket or other scrap sized piece of fabric in the future, you can look through them easily. Dump everything out onto a table and sift through them all.
DIY floor pouf
Sewing fail!
Simple home sewing project
Itty bitty zipper. So cute and not helpful for this project.
Sew your own floor seat.
I was barely able to pull the fabric through. Face-palm!
Sew your own furniture
Ripped it out and replaced with a long purple zip.
  • This is great for using up fabric that has been sun faded. If your fabric has fading in areas, use that piece for the bottom. Or, use it to stuff your floor pouf. It's a perfect use for what would normally be unusable fabric. Win-win! 
What to do with sun faded fabric.
This was used for the bottom of the cushion. Nobody will know. ;)
  • If you have random pieces of heavy weight fabrics, use them to make the cushion. Use a different piece for each side, top, and bottom. It'll give it an eclectic and lively look. Faux fur would be fun too!
         
You can make a set if you have buckets and buckets of scraps laying around. Oh, a set would be great for a kids room or game room as well. 

Now I'm off to tackle that sewing to-do list. I need more scraps!! 

How to sew a cube shaped floor pouf
Happy floor cushion sewing!
So, are you ready to put all those scraps to use? Well, store them in a fun way at least? If you do, tag me on Instagram @sewingtothemoon so I can see them all.
Happy stuffing!

​Annette

Newsletter Sign Up

Subscribe to Newsletter
Still, have the sewing bug? Make some easy things for your home below. 

​Fabric Baskets are great for storing things on the counter and inside drawers. Make one here.

Sew the easiest dress ever, here. It's also the coziest dress. Here's another cozy dress. 

​Want to organize your sewing space? Here are pattern organization tips. 

Want an easy Vintage sewing pattern to up your style game? Grab your Downloadable PDF here.
Sew a pet bed DIY floor pouf
0 Comments

11/18/2021 2 Comments

Crossbody Bag Review

Clarendon crossbody wallet
I have found the holy grail of bags and I'm shouting it out from the rooftop!

This bag is the biggest-little bag I've ever laid eyes on. It's a game-changer for sure and everyone needs to have one or two! It's honestly the best travel bag I've come across! You can fill it with everything except the kitchen sink. This day-use crossbody bag is perfect for walking around museums, theme parks, concerts, national parks, etc.
I'm not getting paid for this post, I am just in love! Haha!

I've always carried my regular handbag whenever we ventured out and after a few hours, my shoulder would hurt something fierce. I eventually bought a tiny crossbody bag from a big box store for $5 because it was $5! Oh, and it was in the shape of cherries. Super cute!!

Well, my newest phone is too big for the cherry purse. So, I searched Pinterest high and low for a crossbody sewing pattern and nothing came up. Is it me or is Pinterest extremely lackluster nowadays?

I wanted pockets and the bag shape to be more horizontal than vertical. My next stop was Etsy. Thank you Etsy, for coming through. I found the best pattern and I'm sharing it with you today. Hold on to your teacup because she's a doozy.

This bag has so. many. pockets! It's comfortable to wear (aren't all crossbody bags?) and will hold allllll of your things. I'm not sharing a step-by-step tutorial in this post because the bag creator has Youtube videos and an extremely detailed PDF that comes with the pattern. This post is more of a pattern review. 

I made this one for myself so, it is full of bright colored fabrics. If you know me, I'm the opposite of a neutral person. Ha! 


Clarendon Crossbody Wallet

​by: Hold It Right There Bags

Cross body purse sewing pattern DIY
This bag has tons of pockets and card slots. It's the perfect weekend purse.
Grab the downloadable pattern here. 
I want to start off by saying this bag is not great for scrap-busting. It takes a good amount of fabric. You'll also need a couple yards of interfacing because everything needs to be interfaced. Don't skip the interfacings, bags really do need all the pieces to be reinforced. 
After you print and cut out all the PDF pattern pieces, trace and cut the fabric pieces, and interface everything 'til the cows come home, you'll be ready to sew!
Whew! 

Holy moly. This pattern has sooo many pieces. I suggest cutting and interfacing everything one day and saving the sewing for the next day.  Like I said, she's a doozy.

​The bag does come together quickly when you start sewing though. Yay for that! 
Easy to sew crossbody bag
Clarendon crossbody wallet with tons of pockets.
The inside zipper pocket is big and roomy.
Bag with lots of pockets sewing pattern. DIY weekend purse for beginner sewists.
This bag has pockets galore!
I wore the bag all day on a family adventure to an aircraft carrier. It was full of all my things and a few of my kids thing. I walked up and down stairs and spent a lot time standing, reading signs, and listening to the volunteers talk. The weight would usually have hurt my shoulder and back but, I didn't have any pain. I could have worn this bag for 3 more days without batting an eyelash. Winner-winner!

It held everything I needed for the whole day and was comfy to use/wear. 

The following weekend I was invited to go away on a girls trip. I left my regular purse at home and only took the crossbody bag. It was perfect. It held my money, masks, cards, and everything else I needed for a whole weekend. 

I do like a full size handbag for everyday use so, when I got home I emptied everything back into my bigger bag. But, this was perfect for a day out.
Easy to sew crossbody purse pattern.
The outside zipper pocket is perfect for my phone.
Assembling the bag is fairly easy. Follow the PDF directions and/or Youtube videos. There are a few added steps to help with things like zipper installation, which is great for beginners.

You don't need rivets to make this bag. You can sew across the seam easily enough. Heck, you don't even need the swivel hook or D ring. Sew one long purse strap into the bag seams. 

​Okay, here are a few changes I'd make:

Tips For Next Time

  1. I wouldn't add the lining pocket. The bag is small and has a whole lot of pockets already. The main body portion is small enough and doesn't need the extra pocket (read: save your fabric).
  2. I made the purse strap twice as thick. I always prefer a thicker strap so, if you're the same way, use a 1" swivel hook and double the width of the fabric strap. I still used a .5" D ring and didn't have any issues with the different hardware sizes. 
  3. Next time, I want to use vinyl for the back and bottom. I didn't use any this time because it's a cross body bag. I usually don't let my crossbody bags touch the floor, they stay on my body throughout the whole day. But, I might try it in the future. 
  4. I would make zipper tabs next time. This will allow the front flap to lie flat and look nicer. Yes, adding zipper tabs adds extra time but, it'll be worth it. 
  5. Read through the pattern instructions first. The instructions are extremely detailed. Almost too detailed in my opinion. But, if you're brand new to bag sewing, extra details are a good thing. If you're more familiar with inserting a zipper, snap, etc.) some steps may feel a bit tedious. 
  6. I would topstitch the front flap and around the main opening. The instructions don't have you do this. I suggest you do it though. Topstitching holds all the layers in place and gives it extra reinforcement.
Clarendon crossbody wallet purse bag
Front of the swivel hook strap connection.
bag with lots of pockets to wear for a weekend trip.
Backside of the strap.
Views of the Clarendon crossbody wallet
Backside of the bag.
Comfortable crossbody wallet sewing pattern
Plenty of space for your cards.
Clarendon crossbody wallet
The inside lining pocket. Great for separating a tissue packet, car keys, etc. from the rest of your items.
Crossbody pattern for easy sewing
Top and side view.
Crossbody purse with pockets and card slots
Fits comfortably for a weekend of wear!
Cute crossbody sewing pattern
Here's what it looks like on, with the top flap up.
Crossbody sewing pattern
Back view of the bag.
So what do you think? Are you excited to make a Clarendon Crossbody Wallet? I highly recommend this pattern and bag. I plan on making a few for friends to give as Christmas gifts this year. But, shhh, don't tell them. ;) 

Happy Sewing!
​
XO,
Annette 

Pin Me!

Picture

Wanna hangout all the time? Join the Newsletter.

Subscribe to Newsletter
Looking for something easy to sew? Make a fun zip pouch. 

Or, make a headband to match your new bag. Wide hair scarf or thin one.

2 Comments

9/1/2021 0 Comments

9 Simple to Sew Projects

Want to sew something that doesn't take a lot of fabric or pattern pieces? This is the list for you! I've compiled 9 Simple Sewing projects that are easy and great for beginners. These are great scrap busters and some make wonderful gifts, too!
Sewing simple projects for beginners

Projects to Sew:

  1. Keychain
  2. Headband
  3. Zipper Bag​
  4. Apple Watchband Scrunchie
  5. Fabric Basket
  6. Pillow
  7. Small Purse
  8. Advent Calendar
  9. Hair Scrunchie

Picture
Pin me to save for later!
1. Keychain
We all need keychains for our keys or extra sets of keys. You can increase the length of this to make a wristlet or lanyard as well. 

Supplies:
  • Fat Quarter or large strip of fabric
  • Lightweight interfacing
  • Matching thread
  • Metal key ring
  • Iron + ironing board
  • Sewing machine + notions
  1. Cut a rectangle piece of fabric that measures 8" long by 4" wide. You can always cut this shorter if you'd like but, this is a good starting size for a pocket key fob..
  2. Apply interfacing according to the manufactures instructions. 
  3. Fold the fabric in half, wrong sides together, lengthwise, and press.
  4. Fold one long edge into the center crease you've previously made. Press. 
  5. Do the same with the other side. Press. Fold the edges in again and you should now have one long strip. Give it a good press once again.
  6. Top stitch 1/8" using 3mm-3.5mm stitch length, from the folded edge starting from the top. Repeat on the other side, starting at the top. (This will help with any puckering that may occur).
How to make a keychain sewing prject for beginners
Cut strip of fabric. Interface the piece if desired.
Sewing keychains is an easy and fun gift project to sew
Fold the strip in half, press.
How to sew a keychain
Fold each half towards the middle crease, press.
sewing project for beginners
Fold and press both sides towards the middle, then press again.
Sewing to the moon simple sewing prjects
After you press, topstitch down each side, 1/8" from the edge.
How to topstitch sewing
Topstitching should look like this.
How to sew
Grab the ring and slide it onto the fabric strip. Pick which side you want on the outside.
Picture





​Fold one end over the ring about 1/2". 

​









​Sorry for the blurry photos, my camera was mad at me. ;)


Read More
0 Comments

4/24/2021 2 Comments

Simple to Sew: Fabric Basket

Wow! Spring sure arrived quickly. We are still in the middle of fake Spring here- cold for a few days, then delightfully warm for a few days, and so forth. Do you do any Spring cleaning? Organizing your whole house and then you need places for all the random little things? With things starting to open back up, are you having visions of people coming over? I bet you're thinking about all the backyard parties as well. Or not. Either way, everyone could use some easy storage ideas for their home. 

Fabric baskets or bins are the perfect small storage remedy. Keep some hand sanitizer inside a cute basket for your visitors. Make one and fill it with snacks for a new neighbor. Use them in the craft room filled with thread spools or fabric scraps. Or, make some fun decor fabric baskets for your kitchen and keep fruit inside.

I'm starting a sewing project category calledSimple to Sew. I want to give you more simple sewing projects and lessons. These fabric baskets are the first sewing project of many more to come. Next up, zippers!

Now that mask making has slowed, it's time to get some "fun-sewing" in. Not that masks weren't fun but, they were draining. Pick out some fun fabrics that match your personal style or a new style you secretly love. These simple to sew, fabric baskets are 100% customizable. Soon, every room will have a fabric bin. Once you make one, you'll want to make more. I promise! 

Let's get started.
Picture


​Supply List:


  • Sewing Machine
  • 1/4 yard (minimum) fabric for outer
  • 1/4 yard fabric for lining
  • Fusible or sew-in fleece interfacing
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Matching or contrasting thread
  • Pins or clips
  • Scissors
  • All your other sewing notions you love

If you're looking for budget-friendly sewing options, read this post. It's long and has tons of information. If you're brand spankin' new to sewing, start there. It's a great in depth post even if you're a seasoned sewer. 
Coffee diva fabric to make fabric baskets.
I chose quilting cottons for this fabric basket.
Quilting fabric, canvas, upholstery fabrics, and linen make great fabric basket choices.
So many fabric choices to choose from.

 
​Fabric Choices:

You want a medium to heavy weight fabric to make fabric bins with. The fabrics listed below are great options but, experiment with what you have on hand too. Make these entirely your own. One fabric I don't recommend is stretch knit. 
  • Canvas 
  • Denim
  • Quilting cotton
  • Home decor fabric
  • Upholstery fabric
  • Linen
  • Oilcloth and vinyl (I don't use interfacing for this fabric)
how to make a fabric basket. DIY storage bin
Choose a contrasting lining fabric for extra style.


​
​Sew a Fabric Basket:

  1. Prewash and iron your fabric. *If you are using oilcloth or vinyl, skip this step.
  2. Cut 2 rectangles of your outer and 2 of the lining fabrics. Each should measure 10" wide by 8" tall. Of course, you can change up this measurement. Make them longer or shorter, taller or wider. This just gives you a starting point.
  3. Interfacings: Cut your interfacing and add to your fabric following the package instructions.
  • This is where you can experiment. Use lightweight, heavyweight, or fleece interfacing. 
  • When I make a smaller basket with denim or canvas, I tend to not add interfacing. 
  • When sewing with quilting cotton, I use fleece or a medium-weight fusible. Find what works best for you.
  • Foam interfacing is really nice to use. It costs more but, creates such a nice finish and look.
Trace pattern measurements onto your fabric for sewing a fabric basket.
Trace your bin measurements onto your fabric.
Cut out your lining the same size as the outer fabric.
The lining should be the same size as the outer fabric.
How to sew a beginner friendly fabric bin for storage.
Cut out your rectangle shaped fabric pieces.
How to make boxed corners in sewing
Cut out a 2" square on both bottom corners. These are going to give you basket the boxy 3D shape.
     4.  Cut squares into your fabric pieces. For the measurement above (10"x8") you'll measure a 2" square. Using a quilting ruler makes this part               easy. If you don't have one, just mark 2" from the bottom and sides. *I like to place all 4 layers together to cut the corners. When I go to pin               the sides and bottoms, I match the corners up. This ensures even corners.

If your basket is smaller, make a 1.5" square. If it's larger, mark a 2.5" or 3", and so forth.

I'm sure there's a science to it but, I don't really do math. LOL
​How am I a sewer, you ask? I don't know. ; -)
Making boxed corners in fabric bins.
I cut squares into both layers at the same time. It seems to keep them more even later when I sew them together.
Sewing to the moon Beginner friendly sewing patterns
Use a quilting ruler to make sure they're exact.
Easy home sewing project. Storage bins
Both layers should look like this.

Interfacing Hack: Piecing it Together

Add interfacing to the outer fabric. 

Here's a quick tip on interfacing if you don't have a big enough solid piece.
​
If you're short on interfacing, piece it together like a puzzle. I do this more often than I'd like to admit for my projects. So, shhh, don't tell anyone. You can't tell from the correct side. Thinner pieces should overlap slightly while thicker interfacings should butt up next to each other. 
Beginner friendly sewing project
Using a solid piece of fleece interfacing is nice but, not always feasible.
How to use pieces of interfacing when there's not a big enough solid piece.
Place the interfacing pieces together like a puzzle, starting with the largest piece first. Cut smaller pieces to size and place them as close as you can to form a "solid" piece.
Sewing tip for using small interfacing pieces.
Use a press-cloth to quickly glue the small pieces to the fabric. Then flip over to press again. This keeps the tiny pieces from falling off when you turn over the main fabric.
How to apply interfacing.
Press again with your iron from the fabric right side up.


​After your fabric pieces are cut, interfaced, and corners cut out, you're ready to sew! 
Making fabric storage basket bins.
Can't see the different between the solid interfaced piece and the puzzle pieced one.

Time to Sew

  1. Place the two lining pieces RST and pin/clip together.
  2. Place the two outer pieces RST and pin/clip together. 
  3. Use a 1/4" seam allowance, and sew each side and bottom together, backstitching at the beginning and end. 
Make a basket out of sewing fabric
Place the lining and outer pieces RST. Sew down the sides and the bottom.
How to make boxed corners
Pinch the lining corner together.
Sewing to the Moon sewing blog. Retro vintage sewing
Match seams up.
Vintage style sewing
Pin together, then sew.
     4.  Now, sandwich the corners together to form the boxy bottom. Pinch them in the opposite direction so, the seams you just sewed are on top  of each other. Pin together. It should lie flat if your cutting was exactly a square. Match up the side seams up because you will see them.
     5.  Sew across the small corner area with a 1/2" seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end. Trim your seam allowances.

Do the same thing with the outer fabrics.
Sewing a boxed basket
Pinch the outer corner together.
Sewing an easy fabric bin
Sew together just like the lining was sewn.
Sewing beginner friendly patterns.
Sew the outer corners.
Sew with your iron. Press seams for a nice sewing finish.
Press the side seams from the right side of the bin. This seals the seams and gives it a nice finish.
    6.  Turn the lining right side out. Place the lining piece inside the outer piece. The right sides should be touching each other. Pin together at the    side seams first, then continue to pin around the whole top of the bin. Leave a 4" gap for turning out. You can do this at the back or along a side seam area. 
Placing pieces together when sewing fabric bins.
This part confuses sewers sometimes. Just be sure to match the right sides together.
How to insert pins while sewing seams together.
Pin at side seams first.
How to add pins while sewing fabric bins.
Pin all the way around the top. Mark a 4 inch gap for turning out.
Sewing fabric baskets. Beginner sewing patterns
Use 2 hands to rotate the storage bin while sewing. You may have to stop every few stitches to reposition it.
    7.  Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew around the whole top making sure to catch both layers. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the opening. 
      8.  Turn the fabric basket out. Reach inside and gently pull out the lining through the gap you left open. Then, reach inside and grab the outer fabric and pull it out, gently. This is little more difficult because of the thicker interfacing. Just be patient and keep pulling it out through the opening.
  
How to bag out a sewing bag or basket
Reach inside and gently pull out the lining.
Poking out corners while sewing
Grab your chopstick to poke out the corners, carefully.
Poke out the corners using a chopstick or blunt end of a pencil. I love using my chopstick for poking out corners. My dad brought it back for me, from China, when he visited 20 years ago. It's a near and dear to me, sewing notion. :-)
Sewing home decor bins for your small storage needs.
After pulling out the lining and outer pieces, its time to push the lining back in to form the bin.
How to make a fabric basket
Push the lining down into the fabric basket.
Sew a simple storage basket with fabric.
Press, then add pins where the opening is.
How to topstitch a fabric bin
Topstitch around the top. Add a second row of stitching for added style and stability if you'd like.
Check your seams. Make sure everything is neat and tidy. No interfacing is sticking out or fabric that wasn't sewn in, accidentally. No puckers either. If anything is happening that you don't love, grab that seam ripper. 


    9.  Push your lining back down into the basket. Press the top edge with your iron to flatten out the seam bulk.
   10.  Last step! Pin the opening closed, and topstitch around the whole top. You can even do a second row of stitching using the edge of your pressure foot as a guide.

That's it. You're done! Go fill it up with whatever fun things you have that need a home.

It looks like a lot of steps but, it's not. Once you make a simple fabric basket, you'll want to make more. They're great for storing all the little things and big things. Just follow the interfacing guide up above and experiment with different fabrics and sizes. You can add handles or loops for hanging too. Make an extra-long loop on a bin to use for a trash bin inside your car. There are endless possibilities for these little baskets of fun. 

Share in the comment section what you plan to use them for. 

Thanks for hanging out and stay tuned for more Simple to Sew sewing projects. Zippers are up next!


Annette


Need something a little more time-consuming so sew? Check out this post on the Charms Pattern Rita Blouse. 

During all the Spring cleaning chaos, have you cleaned your sewing machine lately? Here's a quick 5 minute cleaning tutorial. 


Use #simpletosew on Instagram so we can all see each other's creations. 

More Fabric Basket Options

Play with sizing. Make them tall. Make them short. If you're unsure if the sizing will work for your needs, use scrap paper to staple the pieces together. These are meant to be customized for your own use. Have fun with them!
Fabric baskets are great for storage options.
Fold the top over for a fun contrast look.
Hanging fabric baskets
Add a strip of webbing or make a strap to hang them.
Ed Hardy home decor fabric basket
Add a handle on each side for larger sized baskets. Carry them from room to room.
Nostalgic candy party decor
Make them taller to fit large items.
2 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Hi there, I'm Annette and I love eating and sewing. I usually have a cup of coffee or tea with me, but not next to my machine because I'd probably spill it. I am the reason we can't have nice things.

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018

    Categories

    All Beginner Sewists Butterick Pattern Fabric Storage Garment Sewing Gertie Patterns Holiday Sewing Machine Cleaning Me Made May Sewing For The Home Sewing Hack Sewing Machine Sewing Organization Sewing Swimwear Sewing Thoughts Simple Sewing Simplicity Patterns Vintage Notions Vintage Patterns Vintage Sewing

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly