Making a "dresser"

Because I'm working with such a small space, all space must be usable space.  Drawers take up a lot of space and weigh a lot.  I don't really want to be living out of a duffle bag (Mostly because I can never find anything in it)  So I decided I'll make pouches, as long as I can find a way to make it so that they don't slide out of the little cab over space it will act like a dresser.  The only problem is how will I know what is in which pouch?  Label them of course.  So I'm appliqueing pouches to use for a dresser in the tiny space I plan to call home for awhile.

How to:

2. Interfaced fabric

1. Find scrap (or cheap) fabric.  This means go through your entire fabric stash and decide most of it is to heavy for this project, need to keep it light.  Find cotton sheeting fabric, think yes this is the right weight, oh god where did this fabric come from it is ugly, don't want to use it. Find some nice scraps in of all places the large scrap bin of the stash.  Think now why didn't I start there.
2. Iron double sided interfacing to one chunk. (I choose plaid)  Of course this means finding the iron the ironing board, waiting for the iron to heat up hoping the cat doesn't try to "help" and knock the ironing board over.  Iron the wrinkles out of the fabric. Spend some more time trying to find the double sided interfacing, and then finally ironing it on. Unplug iron as this next step will take hours and if the cat does try to knock over the iron, nothing gets burned.



3-4. Writing Backwards and Cutting out

3. Learn to write block letters backwards, so you can pencil them in on the paper side of the plaid interfaced fabric, as this will be coming off and you don't have to worry about a stray line.
4. Cut out your block letters.  Those inside holes are always fun, remember just fold the thing and be careful that you cut all the threads before pulling it off so you don't have messy corners.  This is extra fun when the cat sees a lap and decides now is petting time and starts to do the loud purring demand attention by putting her head in your hand that happens to also be holding a pair of scissors thing that my cat does.
5. Turn over letters and make sure they are the right direction and look ok.  Check that you have all the letters you think you need and that it looks that you spelled everything correctly.



7. Position on pouch fabric

6. Find large scraps for actual pouches cut out a piece that is twice the size of the finished pouch plus a bit for seam allowance.  I'm actually a tear person when it come to cotton sheeting fabric.  Snip a little and the rip.  Such satisfying sounds.  Remember these are pouches and the size is only somewhat important in that if it is a bit to big it won't take up that much more space, because it is smoshable.  Go ahead and turn that iron back on and iron the pouch piece, after coming out of the scrap bin it must be very wrinkly. 
7. Peel off paper back of letters, position them on the pouch fabric and iron those things down. Remember to pick the iron up off the fabric to move from one letter to the next because they can easily get crumpled up if you don't, especially those s's. Be sure to leave seam allowance when positioning.
8. Sew those edges down.  Double sided interfacing is nice and all but we want this to look good, and I find that my corners start pealing if I don't sew them down.  Besides then if the bag needs washed we can wash it with so much less worry that the letters will come off in the dryer and stick to something else.  Invisible sew a bunch because you are using the thread that was already in the machine and you didn't check your bobbin before starting out. 
9. Sew into pouch:
1. Fold in half, with applique work on inside.  Sew long seam from fold line to opening leaving a couple inches not sewn at opening.
2. Sew the bits near the top open so that when you thread the casting you make in the next step the drawstring will not catch on the fabric. 
3. Sew casting for drawstring.  I always sew this with the drawstring already in it so I don't have to thread it through later on. 
4. Turn right side out.
10. Fill with things and appreciate your handy work

A couple of done pouches.

In other news, the dollar a yard store is now closed and it looked really closed, like gone out of business closed.  Where will I get my cheap dollar a yard cotton plaids and fabulous stripes now?  What will I make bloomers out of??? My limitless supply of cheap fabric is now limited.  This makes me sad.