Sew in Style

Designer: Monica Solorio-Snow of Happy Zombie

• 2--16-1⁄2" squares assorted multicolor prints (backing, lining)
• 6--5-1⁄2×11" rectangles assorted novelty prints (pocket units)
• 5⁄8 yard gray linen (pocket units, binding)
• 16-1⁄2" square batting

Finished sewing caddy: 15-1⁄2" square

Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.  Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order.

From gray linen, cut:

• 2--2-1⁄2×42" binding strips
• 2--13×15-1⁄2" rectangles

1. Lay multicolor print backing 16-1⁄2" square wrong side up on a flat surface. Place batting 16-1⁄2" square and multicolor print lining 16-1⁄2" square, right side up, atop backing; baste (Diagram 1).

2. Quilt as desired to make a quilted foundation. Designer Monica Solorio-Snow machine-quilted a grid about 2-1⁄2" apart.

3. Trim quilted foundation to 15-1⁄2" square.

1)    Sew together three assorted novelty print 5-1⁄2×11" rectangles along long edges to make a pieced unit (Diagram 2). Press seams open. The unit should be 11×15-1⁄2" including seam allowances.

2)    With wrong side inside, fold pieced unit in half lengthwise to make a 5-1⁄2×15-1⁄2" pieced rectangle; press (Diagram 3).

3)    Fold a gray linen 13×15-1⁄2" rectangle in half lengthwise to make a 6-1⁄2×15-1⁄2" rectangle; press.

4)    Layer pieced rectangle atop Step 3 rectangle, aligning raw edges.

5)    Referring to Diagram 4, topstitch 1⁄8" on each side of seam lines to make a pocket unit.

6)    Using remaining assorted novelty print rectangles and gray linen rectangle, repeat steps 1–5 to make a second pocket unit.

1)    Aligning raw edges, layer pocket units on opposite edges of quilted foundation, with folded edges toward the center (Diagram 5); pin.

2)    Stay-stitch 1⁄8" from raw edges to hold pocket units in place (Diagram 5).

3)    Bind with gray linen binding strips.