SEW simple
Stitch this easy-sew children’s organiser to help keep your little one’s room clear of clutter
What’s one of the best things you can teach a child? How to tidy up! This easy-sew organiser is the perfect place for them to store all of their bits and bobs. With safari animal-pattern and bright sunny yellow fabric, finished with bias binding and several compartments for toys, books and colouring pencils, this fun project will help to keep their room organised.
1 Cut two pocket pieces from safari-patterned fabric measuring 17 x 23cm, and a third piece from the same fabric measuring 17 x 40cm. Iron on the interfacing to the piece of plain backing fabric and cut two rectangles from the backing material measuring 30 x 60cm.
2 Sew the bias binding to the top and bottom edges of the top pocket piece, then turn the two sides under and hem with a single line of stitching. Repeat for the second pocket.
3 Place the zip to the top edge of the bottom pocket and pin it in place with right sides (RS) facing. Sew the zip to the pocket, then flip it over to the RS and topstitch. Hem the other three sides of the pocket.
4 Mark the centre of the long middle pocket, then mark the centre of each half. Do the same on one of the backing panels so you know where you want the middle pocket to sit. Take the marked backing piece and position the larger middle pocket centrally on the mark. Sew a line of stitching to hold the pocket in place in the centre, then match up the quarter marks on the pocket with the ones on the backing fabric and sew a straight line vertically where each mark is. Secure the pockets by sewing along the edges of the panel. To finish this pocket, flatten the bottom edge and sew along the edge of the bias binding to create four pocket pouches.
5 If you like, you can add a patch or felt motif, either shop-bought or homemade, to the centre of the top pocket at this stage. To do so, mark the centre of the pocket and iron or sew the felt patch in place. Once the decoration is attached, you can sew the pocket to the backing panel along the sides and bottom.
6 To attach the bottom pocket, mark where you need the top of the pocket to be on the backing fabric, place the zip on the mark but with the pocket sitting above the zip with RS facing. Fold the raw ends of the zip in and sew the zip tape in place. Fold the pocket and sew it in place around the three remaining edges. Place the backing panel with the pocket panel and sew the two together around the edges, with a 0.5cm seam allowance so it won’t be seen once the bias binding is sewn around the edge.
7 To finish off the edges, sew bias binding around the edges of the main panel’s backing panel. To do this, unfold the edges of the binding then place an edge against the raw edge of the fabric, with RS together. Fold the binding over the fabric then sew along the fold closest to the edge of the material. Once you have sewn along the length of the piece, fold the binding over to the other edge and sew in place.
8 Use the bias binding to make two loops for hanging to your desired length and sew them to the top corners of the panel.
SHOPPING LIST
Printed cotton fabric, 0.5m Plain backing cotton fabric, 0.5m Mediumweight fusible interfacing Matching thread 4m bias binding Zip, 20cm
Felt and Bondaweb, or a ready-made decorative patch Iron Basic sewing kit