Use Your Fabric Stash to Make Easy Gift Boxes
A Box From a Fat Quarter - a Gift in Itself that Says You Care
Sep 26, 2009
Your fabric stash probably has a few fat quarters (18" x 22" pieces of fabric) waiting to be used. Directions for 2 sizes of boxes are included here, a 5" x 5" box and a 4" x 6" box. Both boxes are 4" high. Both can be made from a single fat quarter, or, as the one shown, from different fabrics. They are so easy to make, you won't be able to make just one.
Equipment to Make a Fat Quarter Box
- Rotary cutter and mat
- Sewing machine
- Quilters' acrylic ruler
Fat Quarter Box Materials
- either mat board or Pellon Peltex
- masking, packing, or duct tape
- double stick carpet tape, found with carpet supplies in home improvement stores
- 1 fat quarter, or 22" strips from 2-3 fat quarters
- Stiffy fabric stiffener
Make the Box First
Cut 5 pieces of mat board or Peltex for each box.
For the 5" x 5" box
- Cut 1 piece 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" and mark it as the bottom
- Cut 4 pieces 4" x 4 7/8" for the sides
For the 4" x 6" box
- Cut 1 piece 3 7/8" x 5 7/8" and mark it as the bottom
- Cut 2 pieces 4" x 5 7/8" for the long sides
- Cut 2 pieces 4" x 3 7/8" for the short sides
Lay the bottom and the sides out and tape them together on both sides. Click the picture below to see it better. Fold the sides up and securely tape all the way around the box to hold it in place. Peltex can be taped or sewn with a wide zig zag stitch that catches the edges of both pieces. Taping with duct tape works just as well as sewing.
Cut Fabric for the Box
To use a single fabric for the outside and lining
- Cut a 12" x 22" strip for the 5" x 5" box
- Cut an 11 1/2" x 22" strip for the 4" x 6" box. (this size only works if the seam is centered on the 4" side of the box)
To trim the box as shown in the picture, cut 3 pieces for each box The measurements for the 5" x 5" box are on the left and the measurements for the 4" x 6" box are on the right in parentheses.
- 6" x 22" strip for the bottom of the box (5 1/2" x 22")
- 6 1/2" x 22" strip for the top and lining of the box (6" x 22")
- 1 1/2" x 22" strip for the trim piece (same)
How to Sew the 3 Fabric Strips for the Trimmed Box
Fold and press the trim piece along the length, with raw edges together. Match and pin the raw edges of the bottom, trim piece and top piece along one long edge. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. The trim piece is between the other two. Press the seam open.
Sewing Directions for Either Single or Multiple Fabrics
- Fold the 22" long strip in half, right sides together. You will have a roughly square piece.
- Align the fold with the marks on the cutting board, checking that all edges are square.
- With a ruler and pencil, mark the sewing line 10" away from the fold.
- Pin and sew on the sewing line and 1/4" away from the bottom edges. Press the seams open.
- Place the fabric, inside out, over the box. Center the seam on one side of the box, and for a trimmed box, be sure the trim seam is even all around. Click the picture below to see it larger.
- Securely pin the triangles and mark the sewing line at the edge of the box.
- Remove the box, sew across the triangles and trim the seam to 1/4". turn the fabric right side out and put the box back in.
Finishing Directions
- Place a 2" strip of double stick carpet tape near the inside bottom of each side and remove the tape backing.
- Fold and smooth the fabric into the box. The tape will keep the fabric from shifting around.
- Cut either a 5" x 5" or 4" x 6" piece of the lining fabric from a piece stiffened with Stiffy fabric stiffener and place in the bottom of the box..
Your fat quarter box is ready for use or for giving. Use your imagination for ways to fill it.
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