Category Archives: slipcover box tutorial

Box slipcover tutorial

May 17, 2014 TeresaDownUnder 2 Comments

This tutorial will show you the steps to cover any box you have in your house.

In my case I chose a strawberry box. Now, this wasn’t the best choice.

As you can see the sides of the box don’t go all the way up and the corners aren’t straight. I’m considering at this stage taping some cardboard to the box so the sides go all the way up and the cover sits nicely up.

Materials

Cotton fabric. The amount will depend on how big your box is
Trim of your choice. I think that a pom pom trim adds some cuteness to the plain cover.
Box – cardboard, wooden, plastic

Instructions

First of all you need to measure your box. You need to measure the height, the width and the length.

Now double the height size.

Then add 1/2 in to each measurement.

For instance my box measures:

Height: 3 in
Width: 7 3/4 in
Length: 11 3/4 in

I doubled the height so it is 6 in.

Now I added 1/2 in to each

Height: 6 1/2 in
Width: 8 1/4 in
Length: 12 1/4 in

Cut

Bottom panel: width x length rectangle (12 1/4 in x 8 1/4 in)
2 short side panels: width x height (8 1/4 in x 6 1/2 in)
2 long side panels: length x height (12 1/4 in x 6 1/2 in)

Note: You could just use one panel for the bottom and one for the sides. In that case you need to work out the length of the box by measuring it all around from corner to corner and then adding 1/2 in to it.

Pin 3 of the side panels alternating short and long sides and leave one side open.

Stitch.

Do a rolled hem as per picture.

Stitch with a zig zag or decorative stitch.

Now it’s time to add the trim to the side panel. I placed mine at about 1 1/2 in from the bottom but you will need to look at your box size and decide where it looks more pleasant.

Stitch the trim.

Now pin both sides and stitch.

Pin side panels to bottom making sure the corners match the side seams.

Turn inside out. I pressed the fold to make the slipcover sit more upright. If the sides of your box go all the way up it won’t be necessary to press the fold.

Depending on the box design you may be able to stack them up. Or maybe you can also do nesting sizes.

decorating idea, quick sewing project, slipcover box tutorial, tutorial

Knitting storage: crate cover with pockets tutorial

May 21, 2011 TeresaDownUnder 28 Comments

This is an extension of the crate slipcover I made a while ago following a tutorial by Laura Gunn (Download the instructions to make the crate cover in pdf).

While the crate cover is great for large items, fabric and the like, knitting needles and crochet hooks get lost in the contents.

The concept is very simple: I added a long piece of fabric, folded in two, around three sides of the crate and stitched it into pockets between 1 1/2 and 2 inches apart.

The measurements I’ll be using are for the crate size on my crate slipcover post.

I started with a finished slipcover.

I was using this crate to store wool scraps, needles, crochet hooks and other bits and pieces.

I marked the 2 corners on the front of the slipcover and measured all the way around: 42 1/2 inches. I added 3/4 inch to this figure: 43 inches. Depending on your needs you could wrap the pockets all around the crate, cover just one or two sides, or 3 of them like I did. Crochet hooks are a bit short for the pockets depth and they fall to the bottom of the pocket. You could choose to use 2 pocket widths on different sides of the crate so that the crochet hooks stick out.

Then I cut 2 pieces 43 in x 7 in in the facing fabric and another piece of the same size of calico fabric for the inside pocket.

Place both pieces of fabric right side facing together and stitch all around leaving a 2 to 3 inch opening to turn inside out.

The finished height of the pockets is 6 1/4 inches.

Turn inside out and top stitch right on the edge. This edge will be placed facing up the crate.

Place piece over the slipcover starting at the marking in each corner of the cover you made earlier.

Stitch along 3 sides of the pockets fabric leaving the top side open. Stitch first right on the edge and then 1/4 inch from the edge.

Then mark the lines where the stitching making the pockets will go. I used two widths: 1 1/2 and 2 inches wide pockets all around the piece. You can adjust the measurements to your needs if you were to store larger pieces than hooks and needles.