Couch Caddy

Couch Caddy

 

 

Confession. I am a fabric hoarder. Especially darling fabrics such as this on by Suzy Titlman. It is called "Little Kukla design #12817."  I think I may have found it at Joann's a few years back. Anyway, I purchased a couple yards and put it with my other fabrics and there on my shelf it sat. And sat. And sat. Until the other day when I came across a couch caddy on Instagram. I am sorry to tell you that I did not save the post, so I cannot thank who ever it was who inspired me...But if you happen to read this, THANK YOU! I love practical projects. And since my last step in finishing one is carefully cutting the stray threads off in the evenings while my husband and I watch TV, I decided to try my hand at it. Here is what I did:

First, I drew the design freehand on an old paper bag. (Remember the days when grocery stores gave not only asked you if you preferred paper or plastic, but GAVE them away, FREE?)

Then I chose the fabric and a coordinating fabric for the back.

I laid the fabrics right sides together, added a layer of quilt batting on top. cut them out according to the pattern, and sewed them together (leaving a 5 inch opening so I could easily turn it right side out).

I clipped the round edges so it would be  smooth, turned it right sides out, sewed the opening closed, and quilted the fabrics together with my long arm. You do not need a long arm for this project because it is relatively small.

Then I sewed a pin cushion for the top by measuring the width of the narrowest part that will lay across the arm of the couch, sewing two pieces of fabric together..

Next, I sewed the pocket of the caddy by using the pattern to cut out two pieces of fabric and sewing them together with a layer of batting in between and quilting it together.

I used red and white polka dot fabric to make a binding of 2 and 1/2 inches wide and sewed that across the top of the pocket.

Then I pinned the pocket where I wanted it, and sewed it to the caddy. I sewed a dividing line down the center of the pocket so it would hold things a bit closer to the caddy. Because nobody likes a mamby pamby couch caddy. Am I Right?

I added some batting scraps to the pincushion, sewed it closed, and then sewed it where I wanted it to be on the caddy.

I sewed the binding (Right side to the right side of the top of the caddyw)all the way around, making sure to cover any seams I already sewed when I added the pocket and the pin cushion. I turned the project over, and sewed the binding to the back.

Ta-Da! It's done! I am now ready for a This is Us marathon!!!!

I hope you enjoyed this easy little project! See you next time! The Quilting Gangsta