Fat Quarter Club Subscription: Hanging Storage Pots
July 2022
This month’s My Guilty Pleasure Fat Quarter Club box really is the bees knees! July’s pattern is for ‘Hanging Storage Pots’ which are super simple to sew. The bee, butterfly and bug themed fabrics are perfect for this time of year and there is enough fabric to make three storage pots. Did I mention how simple they are to sew?
The buzz
As usual, a beautifully packaged box of goodness dropped through the letterbox with its contents wrapped up in the signature Little Miss Sew ‘n’ Sew blue tissue paper. It really does feel like you are receiving a present each month as the contents of the box and the make are kept under wraps for a few weeks among members. This month’s box contains:
- 3x fat quarters from the ‘Flutter By’ collection by Dashwood Studio
- Fusible fleece
- Hanging Storage Pots pattern sheet and instructions by Sew Cosy Patterns
- A shortbread treat that’s worthy of a cuppa
The fabric really did make me feel spoilt for choice when selecting which design to use for the outer and lining pattern pieces. You could mix and match (which many of the members of the Fat Quarter Club Facebook group did), you could use the same fabric for both inner and outer pieces of the storage pot to really show off their design, or you could use a complimenting fabric from your stash so that the included fabric goes that bit further. Because one fat quarter will make one complete hanging storage pot, it’s a great pattern for stash-busting too. Let’s be fair, many of us have a lot more fabric than we care to admit so this is a great project to make a dent in your hoard.
Tools to get you flying through this make
Before your sewing space becomes a hive of activity, here are a few tools you’ll want to make sure you have to hand:
- Complimenting or contrasting thread – I used a light blue cotton which suited all three fabrics included in the box, but you could also use a bold or contrasting colour for the top stitching when finishing off the edge of the pot
- Fabric scissors – you’ll also want some general ones to cut out the paper pattern, so you don’t blunt your sharp ones
- Pins or clips – not only for pinning your pattern pieces to your fabric, but you’ll also need a pin or a clip to secure the hanging hoop in place before you attach the outer and lining pieces
- Iron and a spare piece of fabric or tea towel – you’ll be attaching the fusible fleece to the outer fabric pieces to help strengthen and give the pot its shape. The fabric or tea towel will help project you iron from the glue
If you want to make more than one storage pot you’ll also need some extra interfacing or fusible fleece. I didn’t have either to hand, so I ended up using quilt lining which worked although it does have a tendency to slip when sewing sandwiched pieces together. I’d definitely opt for something you can fuse in place to make it easier.
Spreading your creative wings
You’ll soon have this make mastered and there are plenty of ways to customise the storage pots. Here are a few tips I picked up while sewing this make and some ideas to take it to the next level.
Tips:
- You’ll need to leave a gap when sewing the base of the lining piece and I for one have a tendency to get carried away and forget to stop. To remind myself, I place pins at the start and end of the gap to remind me to stop. Without that gap you won’t be able to turn out your work to the right side
- Don’t be too shy with the gap you need to leave when sewing the base of the lining piece. Bigger is better and will make it easier for you to turn your work out. You’ll sew up the gap at the end so give yourself some slack
- I don’t have a third because the pattern really is that simple to follow!
Make it your own:
- The strap piece can be a little fiddly and requires some delicate pressing. You could use wide bias binding instead in a complimenting colour which would just need sewing up along the long edge. This would definitely save you some time if you’re making multiple pots
- You could add bias binding, ric-rac or pom-pom trim in a complimenting colour around the top edge of the pot to finish off your work. Do this at the point where the instructions tell you to top stitch
- As with any pattern included in the Fat Quarter Club subscription you could easily scale-up the pattern to make bigger storage pots. You could even use an oilcloth or waterproof fabric to make storage pots that will hold potted house plants
- And as mentioned earlier, you can play around with your fabric combinations, mixing up your main and lining fabric.
A make that’s meant to bee!
This was my third monthly make from the My Guilty Pleasure Fat Quarter Club and most definitely my favourite so far. That’s not to say that I didn’t love the others, but this one felt so quick, easy and very satisfying. The storage pots would make a wonderful gift for any storage fan (who isn’t?) and are the perfect way to brighten up your craft space and store those all-important tools and notions. The pots would also be a great place to store fat quarters … so the perfect excuse to add more fabric to your collection 😊
To purchase the July box as a trial then click HERE.
For more information on the Fat Quarter Club then click HERE