Sew A Kraft-Tex Storage Caddy

Happy September! I can’t believe a month has gone by and it is time to post this month’s Kraft-tex project. This month the color is sapphire.

With my family staying home more these days, I feel like I am constantly cleaning and organizing. Markers, pens and scissors are all over my floor and kitchen table…. So, I decided to make a craft storage caddy.

I even added a removable divider. Fun, right?

This storage bin is super easy to make. Have you sewn a bin before? Fret not, a bin is basically a circle and a rectangle sewn together. The divider/insert is another 2 rectangles sewn together and then folded open. Simple, right?

You can add extra details like the appliqué or leave it simple and clean. While I was sewing the appliqué onto the Kraft-tex, I thought of trying paint pens as another option for adding detail. So I tested a new white oil based paint maker on a sample of kraft-tex and it worked!

Have you tried kraft-tex? Kraft-tex is a vibrant paper that looks, feels and wears like leather, but sews, cuts and washes like fabric.

Want to make this storage caddy? Here are the materials needed:

• Kraft-tex in 2 colors
• Rotary cutter, quilting ruler and mat
• Scissors
• Pencil and paper
• Clover Wonderclips
• Chalk marker or pen

You can sew and go in 10 easy steps:

1. On a piece of paper, draw a circle with a 7″ diameter. Place not your Kraft-tex fabric, pin around the outside of the circle and carefully cut out. Also cut 3 rectangles: Cut a large rectangle measuring 20-1/4″ x 5″ and cut two small rectangles measuring 4-3/4″ x 6″.
2. Appliqué on one side of the large rectangle.
3. Place the short ends of the large rectangle right sides together. Use Wonder Clips to hold the edges together. Sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Backstitch at each end. Finger press the seam allowance open.
4. Fold the circle in half. Mark a small notch at each fold/seam allowance. Fold in half again and make another mark at each fold/seam allowance.
5. Repeat step 4, but this time for the rectangle. As the circle, fold and mark 4 notches.
6. Place the circle into the bottom of the sewn together rectangle ( The rectangle is now a cylinder). Match at each of the 4 notches. You want the seam allowances on the outside of the bin.
7. Place a Wonder Clip at each notche. Place more wonder clips around the outside of the bin until you have all the edges meeting.
8. Place into your sewing machine and sew together with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Smooth the seam with your finger. Finger press to have it lay nice and flat.
9. Place the two small rectangles measuring 4-3/4″ x 6″ on top of each other. Match at the edges. Find the middle and draw a line with a pencil.
10. Place into your sewing machine and follow the pencil line and sew a straight line. Backstitch at each end. Open in the opposite direction. Finger press open. Insert into your caddy.

Voila!

Sewing with kraft-tex is fun. I LOVE the simplicity of it and how you do not need to press, and then turn your projects inside out. For the most part, you sew and go.

Top Tips for sewing with Kraft text:

• Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam. This is important or your project will fall apart. Trust me, this has happened on my sample pieces.
• Do not use pins, as they will leave holes. Only use Wonder Clips to hold pieces together.
• Try to sew a seam only once. Make the first attempt be your first and only attempt. Otherwise you will have a nice line of holes. Think through each step before committing.
• Have fun!