School Organizer
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Just in time for back to school, give your child a cute place to place to put her new pencils and school supplies with this smart School Organizer. (A personalized homework box is a great craft as well!) Use two place mats for this quick-sew project that is perfect for even beginning seamstresses.
What you'll need
- 2 double-sided fabric place mats
- ribbon
- sewing machine or needle
- thread
- straight pins
- scissors
- ruler
- pencil
- Tips for sewing placemats: Sewing placemats is easy if you pick up a heavy-duty needle to help you sew through the thicknesses of the place mats. Sew a little past the seams on the place mats to avoid the additional bulk of extra fabric. When in doubt, sew slowly!
- Personalize It: Add your child's name to the organizer with foam letter stickers or fabric paint.
- Roll it: This organizer also doubles as a supply roll. Just flip the top down over supplies, roll, and tie with ribbons to keep the roll together.
How to make it
Cut 4 pieces from your ribbon, each piece should be 12 inches long.
Parents ONLY: Hold the cut edges of ribbon up to an open flame to fix ribbon ends and keep them from fraying.
Pin your ribbons: Place Placemat #1 upside down. In each corner, measure 1/2 " in from each long edge and 2" in from each short edge and make a mark until you have four marks in every corner of your upside-down placemat.
Pin one piece of ribbon to each marking so that the ends of the ribbons come out vertically from underneath Placemat #1. Sew each ribbon in place.
Fold Placemat #1 in half with good sides (top-side) facing outward, and crease at the fold. Unfold.
Fold Placemat #2 over with good sides (top-side) facing outward, making about one side of your folded placemat about 2" longer than the other side. Crease at the fold. Unfold.
Place Placemat #1 right-side up on your table; place Placemat #2 upside-down over the end of Placemat #1, with about 6" overlapping at the short ends of the placemat. (See photo.)
Pin Placemat #2 to Placemat #1; you must place your pins lace the pins at the edge of Placemat #1 and sew across where the pins are. (See photo.) Remove pins.
Fold Placemat #2 at the crease.
Pin the sides and sew up the sides of Placemat #2, being very careful to keep the ribbon ties clear of your sewing machine.
Make pocket compartments for pens, pencils, and other supplies by sewing where desired.
Drape organizer over chair back and tie ribbons together to secure.
