How to make a little box.

Hi there friends! So a couple of DM'd me on IG to ask me if I had a pattern for my cute little box and I don't.  But trust me it's SO EASY you'll be amazed, and these not that great photos and the word salad that goes with them should be enough for you to make one too.  

Ok, here we go.  The box will measure about 7" x 4" x 4", I say about because your final box size is influenced by how well you sew, and you might sew a lot more accurately than I do, so your numbers could vary slightly.  

You'll need your basic sewing supplies, two 12" squares of fabric, one for your outer box and one for lining.  You'll need a 12" square of stabilizer, I used Shapeflex (Pellon SF101), but you probably have something laying around that will work just as well.  This fabric is regular quilt weight and it's stiff enough to suit my fancy.  I like how nice Shapeflex fuses to the fabric, I don't get that weird orange peel look that I sometimes get.  You'll also need about 28 inches of large rick rack. It takes less, but you want enough to have a nice joining area.  I pressed my fabric with a generous amount of spray starch so it's nice and crisp.

RECAP... Two 12" squares of fabric, one 12" square of stabilizer, and rick rack. Seams are 1/4 inch unless noted. 

Fuse stabilizer to outside  piece of fabric.  Fold right sides together and press, stitch side seams.  Press seams open.  Repeat with lining fabric leaving an opening on one side for turning your box right side out.  Press a crease in the bottom of  each piece.

Cut a 2" square off the bottom of each side of both your lining and outside fabric. Fold the side seam to the crease in the bottom of your piece to create one side of the  boxed bottom. Repeat on each side of the lining and outside piece. 

Turn outer fabric right side out, line rick rack up with the top of the outer  box fabric and baste in place using a 1/8 inch seam allowance. 

Insert outside box  into lining RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.  Match side seams and pin around the top.  Stitch all the way around using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Turn right side out through the opening in the lining.  Press.  Stitch the lining closed by hand or machine.  

Stuff your lining down into your box and press well.  I used a small folded towel inside the box to press the outside of the box and form nice corners.  You can fuss around with it so it looks nice and rectangular.  

I am quite happy how it turned out.  It's so much fun to make, from fabric selection (both pieces from Sunny Day Supply) to rick rack matching.  Use what you have on hand, it's  very easy  and just about anything would work.  You could leave the top plain or add a ruffle instead of rick rack.  Embellish the heck out of it.  

The best part of a fun project like this is that it's just 2 squares of fabric... if it turns out crappy you can just throw it away!!!  But it's so easy I know you can do it.  I hope this slipshod tutorial  will help you make one of these boxes or ton of them.   Thanks for indulging me.  Seriously, so fun.  

One track mind

 Hi there! I'm back at it with the boxes.  You probably already saw these on Instagram, but I love it so much I had to blog about it. I'm thinking of making a little blog tutorial, what do you think? I had some people contact me asking if it was a pattern.  It isn't, it's just something I made.  The original one that Frankie wanted was more like this.  Like I said I didn't remember making the old one at all.  

The box looks nice and stiff but it just has Pellon SF101, commonly known as Shapeflex, in it.  And just on the outside fabric.  The cat fabric is a medium weight fabric, kind of canvas like, but not quite as heavy.  You could use any kind of stabilizer you have laying around really.  

Careful pressing really gave this box it's shape.   I really starched my fabric before hand so it presses up really nice even after being manhandled when turning right side out.  

Might start on a tutorial soon, it's so easy I just made another and took a bunch of pictures.  It won't be fancy like a lot of people do these days,  but enough info to get the job done.   I love little projects like this, practically instant gratification.  I mean if you don't count in fabric selection you could make it in less than an hour.  I would even say 30 minutes if you didn't stop to admire your work so many times. 

Hope you're well friends!   

Welp, now it's May

 So how are things with you ?  Not much going on here in PamKittyVille.  I haven't felt much like sewing anything big lately, just working my way through a bunch of small fun projects.  All the little bags are from Jean at Little Mint Designs.  Super fun to make. Perfect for some hand sanitizer and maybe a lip balm.  I couldn't stop making them, this is just a few of them.  (now I've done something so that this photo isn't in the center and I can't fix it and I'm not trying anymore, sorry.  Sometimes it's just TOO MUCH.)

Frankie wanted some little baskets to organize things in her IKEA cart.  I'd made a couple for her before and she needed new ones.  I didn't actually remember making the first ones, so I tried to figure out what I'd done.  I had made some small berry baskets from Ayda's Made for Baby book, so I made a couple of those.  I have a stash of fabrics I've picked up for Frankie-stuff, and a small supply of that cute bias tape.  She brought over her old basket and I didn't remember making it at all.  Yikes.

I decided I'd make a pincushion. I know this is all old news for people who follow me on Instagram.  I haven't paper pieced in a long time, so it was a fun mini-challenge.  This is from Ayumi Mill's Patchwork Please book. I might even try the hexagon potholder if I can master enlarging on my printer.   

Also made some scrunchies.  One thing that happened this past year is that I didn't have my hair cut and colored so I have ponytail hair. (that is also half gray, weird)  This is for Frankie and it  matches a mask I made her.  

Still hanging out with this guy.  He comes daily to my yard to check in.  He's kind of a jerk but I like him ok.  I guess he doesn't want me to get too attached since he belongs to some kids down the street. I get it.  

Last week, or the week before, WHO EVEN KNOWS ANYMORE, I picked up Elizabeth from the airport and we spent the day hanging out.  She was visiting her kids and meeting her new granddaughter. What a great day.  You can see a picture of that new baby over on her instagram. I can't believe I didn't take a photo.  We're both vaccinated so it was a safe visit for both of us!  And speaking of vaccinated, I met up with my sewing friends last week and it was great.  Looking forward to more of that kind of thing now.  My people will get their second shot next week and I couldn't be happier. 

Hope things are going well for you all.  I am going to head into my sewing room and figure out how to make those larger baskets for Frankie.  I want to cross that project off my list next!  Tell me how it's going!  xop