When I saw Noodlehead’s divided basket last week, I knew I had to make one for myself so purchased her pattern immediately. After completing it I looked though all the patterns I had downloaded and found Elizabeth Hartman’s Stack & Nest Quilted Blocks tutorial (pdf here) she had created for Sew Mama Sew and thought I’d combine Noodlehead’s basket handles with Elizabeth’s boxes.
Interfacing applied on top of seams.
My process is somewhat different in that I don’t fuse my heavy interfacing or batting onto the project until the basic sewing is done. Even if you cut your interfacing 1/2″ smaller than your fabric, it’s still possible to catch it in the seams. My stiff interfacing crinkles when bent and it has a tendancy to distort the fabric so I used very light interfacing first, then fused the thicker stuff over that. Another benefit of fusing your interfacing after sewing is that you can apply it over your seams to reduce bulk and because my interfacing has glue on both sides, I can fuse the rest of the seams over the interfacing.
Center corners folded inward.
Interfacing applied on top of bottom seams then side seams sewn and fused.
For the outside of the box, I used the same technique — applying the batting after the basic pieces were sewn together, then quilted it in a simple diamond pattern.
Pieces are quilted after initial sewing.
I made the 1″ wide handles by creating a fabric tube, inserting cotton batting inside and top stitching 1/4″ on either side. The handles are sandwiched between the lining and the outer box then top stitched.
And what’s a shot without a little photo bombing by Cookie?
Cookie the photo bomber!
Great boxes! I think I’m going to make myself some and start sorting my Studio!!
I know yours will be spectacular, I love your style!!
Love your boxes they are cute and guess they will have to come next on my list of things to make but really Cookie is even cuter Kathy.
Thanks Kathy, Cookie knows she’s stinkin’ cute, she’s the best Pug ever! ;D
Amazing and excellent 🙂
Thanks so much Kathleen, I saw your post and was blown away and honoured!
It looks very difficult, there is no end to what you can do with fabric and talent. Proud of you.
Mom
Thanks Mom but they’re really not that hard to make, just a little time consuming. xoxo
Hello! I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. I follow you and love your content! Congratulation! ~Kare
Hi Kare, thank you so much for nominating me, that’s very sweet and kind of you!
These are sew pretty … and useful. Thanks for sharing and linking to the .pdf. pattern. Cute dog! … 🙂 Pat
Thanks Pat! I’m sorry I missed your Dresden Plate book giveaway, it looks interesting!
Practical thinking & beautifully made!
Thank you so much Betty, they’re in use already!
Very cute boxes 🙂
Thank you Emma.
Those are great! So pretty, and I could think of a hundred uses for them. 🙂
Thanks Heather, my sewing studio is in the basement so I use these baskets to bring my hand sewing projects upstairs at the end of the day. 😀
These boxes turned out great, and I think your dog would like one of her own! Maybe your next project?
I used to make and sell dog beds about 10 years ago, we still have one that I made but realistically, they’re cheaper to buy!
I am making someone a dogbed quilt as we speak. Well…I cam inside to eat lunch, but it’s out on the porch in progress. She designed a fabric panel and had it printed up on Spoonflower. Have you heard of them?
Wow, I love your fabric choices for these boxes, they’re great, I plan on making a whole load of these when we move and i have a proper sewing space, as I’m so untidey, and i need all of the help i can to keep it all tidy. : )
And I’m making another today with that cute little house fabric. I really like having a cuff over the edge, it adds a little detail. Sewing the lining to the outer box can be a real pain in the ass. 😛