Coloring Book Organizer for the Car

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:

1. 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.
2. Turn the fabric right side out, pulling through the opening.  Press flat.
3. 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.
4. Top-stitch around the sides and top, leaving the fold unstitched.  Begin and end your top-stitching 0.5 inches from the fold.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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,