First Friday Freebie #18 with Tutorial

Due to the renovations that were happening at our house last month, there was no FFF because I couldn’t get into my studio.  So, for this month’s First Friday Freebie, as an added bonus, I’m including a step-by-step tutorial of how to make my…

Colonial Sampler Sewing Caddy ©

 

Finished size folded in half is 12 1/2” x 10”

Inside view #1…

Finished size when open is 12 1/2” x 20”

Inside view #2…

So lets begin! 

Please read through all the directions first before starting.

Requirements:

Approximately1/2 yard of each of two coordinating fabrics, one for the outside top and back and the other for the inside lining and binding.

Two pieces of batting approximately 14” x 12”.

1 skein of Black DMC floss #310.

A piece of wool or felt approximately 8” x 3”.

Two, 6” pieces of thin black ribbon.

From the fabric that you’ve chosen to use for the outside top and back, cut one piece at 20” x 17”. This is the piece that you will use to complete the stitched design.  Set the rest aside. 

Using either a light box or  a window during daylight hours, lightly transfer the design with a black Pigma pen.  Complete the stitching using 2 strands of black DMC floss #310.  All stitching is done using the backstitch except for the broken lines which were completed in the running stitch.

After completing the stitching and using the outside stitched lines of the design as your guide, trim to 1 1/2” around the perimeter.  The piece should now measure approximately 12 1/2” x 10”.

Cut one other piece of the outside fabric and two pieces of the inside lining fabric at 12 1/2” x 10”.

Cut two pieces of batting at 12 1/2” x 10”.

To form the inside pockets, cut two pieces of the outside fabric at 7” x 12 1/2” and iron in half lengthwise.  If you wish your pockets to be deeper, then increase the 7” to either 10” or 12” and iron in half lengthwise as shown below.  Set aside.

Using a quilt basting spray…or whatever method that suits you…attach the  outside stitched front to one piece of batting and the outside back to the second piece of batting.  Hand or machine quilt as desired.

Note: Quilt using only the top stitched piece and the outside back piece and the individual pieces of  batting.  Do not include the inside lining fabric.  In other words, there will only be two layers when you quilt each of the outside top and back. 

I elected to hand quilt mine within the perimeter of each of the boxes and around the outside perimeter of the design on the front panel and a 1” spaced diagonal on the back panel. 

Note: This next photo showing the quilting is out of sequence but I’ve inserted it here so you can see how I hand quilted mine.

Pin the pockets to what will become the center fold of both pieces of the inside or lining fabric.  The cut edge is toward the center.

Then pin two small size zip lock baggies on top of the pockets approximately 1” in from the outside edges.  Note that the baggies are not sitting directly on top of each other but are staggered. 

Repeat for the other side as well.

Sew through all layers using a 1/4” seam allowance.

Sew another line 1/4” in from the first seam.

Using a rotary cutter, trim to just inside the first 1/4” stitching line.  This will ensure a clean, straight line, just in case the plastic bags shifted during the sewing.  Repeat for the other side.

With right sides facing, sew both sides together  using a 1/2” seam allowance.

After quilting and with right sides facing, sew the outside front and back together with a 1/2” seam allowance.  Iron the seam open. 

Inside view…

Outside view…

With wrong sides together, line up both the inside and outside layers and sew through all the layers down the inside center line .  

View of the outside spine after sewing down the center line…

Using a scrap piece of wool or felt, cut a 8” x 3” rectangle.  This will become the needle and pin keep.

Iron in half lengthwise.

Sew to the inside top layer only along the folded center seam line.  Do NOT sew through all layers.  Off set it to one side  approximately 1” down from the top edge and 1 1/2” in from the outside edge.

Using the fabric that you chose for the inside lining, bind the caddy as you would finish and bind a quilt.  I cut my binding strips at 2 1/4” wide.

Find the center point of the top and bottom and while you are attaching the binding, insert the ribbon.

Repeat on the other side.  These will be the ties to fasten the caddy closed.

And voila…your very own

Colonial Sampler Sewing Caddy ©.

Now comes the really fun part when you fill the baggies with some of your favorite sewing needfuls.

And don’t forget to add a few pins to the woolen pinkeep.

And there you have it!  Easy-peasy and oh so handy!

To download the PDF file which includes the colored photos and line drawing, please click HERE.

I hope you have as much fun making this as I did.