In preparation for our trip to Texas, I've sewn some fabric mazes and 2 simple bags to hold some coloring books and snacks for the kids. I was very pleased with the bags so I wanted to share a tutorial with all of you. This is a VERY SIMPLE sewing project that can be completed in around 30 minutes.
Many of the back-of-the-seat organizers I've seen required lots of fusible interfacing, bias tape and nylon straps and all sorts of clips and various hardware. I needed something much simpler and quicker to make. So, I started with 2 fat quarters and worked from there.
I found some a length of cord-like stuff that I picked up at a thrift store. It consists of a thick cotton string covered in a tube of pastel-colored fabric. I bought it with the intention of making some fat piping. I haven't a clue about it's original purpose. However, any type of nylon cording, twine, thicker string, shoe laces, bias tape, etc. would do the job. I placed the cording at the top to tie the organizer to the head rest. Another length of cord ties around the back of the seat to keep it from swinging. I later fastened the cord to an arm rest on one side and a metal bar under the seat on the other.
Supplies:
2 fat quarters (a fat quarter is 18 X 21 inches of fabric)
Thread, iron, scissors, ruler, and sewing machine
1-2 yards of cording (or whatever you have on hand)
7 Easy Steps:
- With your fat quarters pinned right sides together, sew around the perimeter using a 0.5 inches seam allowance. Leave a 2 inch opening in the seam. Clip the corners.
- Turn the fabric right side out, pulling through the opening. Press flat.
- Now you have a nice two-sided rectangle of fabric with all the raw edges neatly tucked away. Fold the rectangle bringing one 17 inch edge within 3-5 inches of the opposite edge. The distance will determine how deep the pocket will be. Press flat.
- Top-stitch around the sides and top, leaving the fold unstitched. Begin and end your top-stitching 0.5 inches from the fold.
- Thread your cording through the openings in the top-stitching. Tuck your cording against the inside of your fold and stitch right along the cording, creating a channel for the cording. This is a lot easier than sewing the channel first and threading the cord later.
- Sew 2 button holes 5 inches apart and centered near the top edge of the fabric. Thread another length of cording through the button holes. Eyelets would also be a good choice.
- A 17 inch wide pocket will only sag open. See the photo below. Stitch through all the fabric 4 inches from one side to create a 4 inch and a 13 inch wide pocket. The 4 inch wide pocket will probably be too deep and narrow to utilize, so make it shallower with a line of stitching.
A too wide pocket will sag open and be in the way. |
Now the sagging is gone and everything looks neat and tidy. |
Little sister needed one as well. |
Happy crafting and big hugs from Montana,
Great organiser Rikka! Hope it made the journey fun for the kids!
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas and New Year!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/