Oh god, I just threw up in my mouth a little...that was waaaaayy too Martha.
So, anyway, I started some zippered pouches back in, oh, August? I finally finished them today along with a couple of crayon caddies. Now, there is an interesting thing about the crayon caddies...I purchased this pattern from a local shop. Actually, I purchased four of the same patterns from a local shop. I wanted this for a stocking stuffer for our Suff a Stocking Project.
Before I even opened the pattern to read it, I read the copyright info. Apparantly, I am not supposed to purchase patterns and then give them away. Not even to my volunteers. And we are not supposed to make this pattern and give it away. Notice, I didn't say "sell it", I said, "Give it away." Now, perhaps I'm stupid but I never realized that I would be breaking copyright by purchasing patterns for my volunteers and then having them make the item for charitable donation. I have sold my own patterns before and frankly, as long as you purchase the pattern and don't copy it, I don't have a lot of problem with what goes on after that, but then again, I'm not feeding my family with my pattern income either.
I do know that I was shocked when I went to the Minnesota State Fair and saw people's creations that they had made from patterns and they got prizes for it. Now, THAT is where I draw the line and I'm betting that a lot of people feel that I'm full of crap there. I think you should be judged on your creativity, not your ability to read a pattern. I'm just sayin....
So, I have a few elderly law breakers out there that are making hot crayon caddies for donation...I hope it is my karma that I'm screwing and not theirs.
Anyway, to combat this problem, I have made my own damn crayon caddies. These, I feel, would be more accepted by boys as they don't look like a purse AND rumor has it, the donated coloring books that we have don't fit in the crayon pattern that I purchased. Guess what? My pattern does! Hey crabby copyright fairy...here's my crayon caddy pattern for free. By the way? Bite me!
(With that very comment, I will have excluded myself from any tutorial sewing links for this pattern...sigh.)
This pattern will accommodate an 8x11 inch coloring book and a box of 24 crayons. The seam allowance is 1/4 inch.
You will need two pieces of pocket fabric, both 11 x 13 inches. One piece will be on the inside and no one will ever see it. Take advantage of this situation to get rid of something you hate.
You will also need two pieces of caddy fabric and one piece of batting, also 11x13 inches.
You will next need 6 strips of fabric for the actual crayon holders. Make these strips 11 x 3 inches.
Take your pocket fabric, put it with right sides together, stitch around 3.5 sides, leaving a hole for turning it right side out on the bottom edge. Turn it right side out, making sure the corners are nice and sharp (use something like a sharpie marker butt to turn them. Turn your opening edges under and iron the entire thing. Top stitch the open edge. Set aside.
Take your crayon holder strips. Put two of them right sides together, stitch up each long edge, turn it right sides out, and iron. Lather, Rinse, Repeat for the other two strip sets. Set aside.
Put your two main caddy fabrics right sides together with the batting on the bottom. Pin it to hold your "quilt sandwich" together. Stitch it as you did for your pocket fabric. When you have sewn 3.5 sides, use a rotary cutter if possible and trim any excess batting and fabric from your seams. Turn right side out, fold open edges in, iron, and topstitch.
Lay your first crayon holding strip on your caddy backing, lining it up with the bottom edge. Pin it in place.
Put your next strip on 1 3/4 inches above the bottom strip. Pin in place. Repeat for the last strip.
If you have a fabric chalk marker, mark the exact center of your caddy from the top to the bottom. If you don't have a chalk marker, mark the center line with pins. Sew along this line. Measure the entire width of your caddy and figure out how many slots you need for how many crayons you have. Don't make your slots less than 1 inch apart.
Move over 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches from the center line and mark your next sewing line. Continue to mark all your sewing lines with either chalk or pins and then sew them all.
Next, sew across the bottom of all your crayon strips, just catching the strip fabric. You don't want to take up a lot of your slots with a big seam allowance.
Trim all those damn thread ends!
Place your pocket fabric down on top of your caddy fabric with the side that you want showing to the world face down on the caddy. Pin in place. Sew down one long side, reversing at the beginning and the end of the seam for added strength. Sew across the bottom and then up the other side, reversing at the top again for strength.
Take a rotary cutter and carefully trim excess fabric and crayon holder strips from your seams. Don't cut into your seams or you will be forced to swear...
Turn it right side out, iron it, and fill it with your crayons and coloring book.
And the last step is essential, color with a few of the crayons before you give it away to some ungrateful child. Don't let them have all the fun!
And now, time to eat the halloween candy before the kids get here!
Posts
3 comments:
You are too funny. Love the pattern and thanks for sharing. I'm going to be making some of these for our "cry room" at church, if that's all right. :-)
Thanks so much for sharing your pattern. I have been looking for a pattern like this so I can make two for my granddaughters.
Great blog and pics. I am a novice seamstress, I am hoping I can make this patter, which I thank you very much for.
Can't wait to get started, (with some scrap fabric, for a practice one).
Post a Comment