Quilted Up: My Stylish Storage Box Tutorial

Since I'm celebrating National Quilting Month I thought I'd share one more quilted project tutorial: My Stylish Storage Boxes.  Firm walled, padded, quilted boxes that are just perfect for storing anything - wine glasses, plates, magazines, clothes, etc.  Pretty enough to keep out, but also ideal on a shelf or in a closet.  Using two coordinated prints means they make a perfect pair:

I used these fabulous Script prints from the Library collection by Timeless Treasures.  They make things look classy, but still understated:

The quilting adds some nice texture and the lettering on the black print is a shimmery gold so it's a really lovely effect.  Now here's how to make them!


You'll Need:
- 2 1/4yds Outer Fabric
- 2 1/4yds Inner Fabric
- 3 yds Fusible Fleece
- 1/2 yd 96in wide Batting
- 3 yds Ultra firm, heavy weight stabilizer
- 2 packages of Quilter's Tape
- Sewing Machine & Notions (iron, pins, ruler, marking pen/chalk, heavy duty needles, thread, scissors)

Note: I made these boxes really big to hold lots (the large is 17in x 13 in x 11in), but you could scale them down to just about any dimensions.  

First cut out the bottom and side pieces from outer, inner, batting and stabilizer using the following measurements:  

For big box

Front & Back Sides: 18in wide x 12in high

Sides: 14in wide x 12in high

Bottom: 18in wide 14in high

For small box

Front & Back Sides: 16in wide x 10in high

Sides: 12in wide x 10in high

Bottom: 16in wide 12in high

Cut a double set of fusible fleece (one to attach to outer, one for the inner):

With wrong sides together, iron the fusible fleece onto the outer & inner fabrics.  Take outer fabric sides and starting from a corner, draw diagonal lines spaced 1.25in apart, then starting at the opposite corner draw lines in the other direction so you have a lattice design. Don't you love that this ruler pays compliments?  Someone running for mayor gave these out years ago.  He totally gets my vote!

Lay the batting underneath the fleece side.  Topstitch along the lines to make the quilting.  It will look like this on the back when finished:

With right sides facing, match up and pin together the raw edges of front side and bottom, width-wise and stitch together with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Leave 1/2 inch un-sewn at beginning and end of seam.

Repeat on opposite end with back side, so it looks like this opened up:

Do the same with the smaller sides:

Now pull sides together and pin and stitch together with a 1/2in seam allowance to form the corners.  This makes the quilted, outer box layer.  Repeat the above step of stitching together the box with the ultra firm stabilizer as the sole backing to make the box lining (which will give it the structure and support).  The inner doesn't need any fleece or batting or to get quilted.

Trim all seams and corners from both layers and then insert inner fabric into outer, matching corner seams, and pinning along the top edges:

Join the layers by encasing the raw edges with the quilter's tape and stitch into place:

Now the Stylish Storage Boxes are ready to keep things organized AND look good at the same time!

Sharing this with my FAVE LINK PARTIES too - click HERE to check them out!