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After you look at this months project,
there are more craft projects available in our project library page.
Easy Print Option:Includes
all patterns and instructions for this entire project.
*Plus Bonus: complete alphabet
and instructions to personalized with the baby's name.
How to Stitch on Plastic Canvas: If you do not know how to stitch on plastic canvas
and you need help understanding the patterns: Click
Here
1. Cut out the pieces of plastic canvas in
the following sizes:
Cut 1 - Top of box: 81 squares long and 67 squares
wide.
Cut 1 - Bottom of box: 79 squares long and 65 squares
wide
Cut 2 – Long side of box: 79 squares long and 23
squares high
Cut 2 – Short side of box: 65 squares long and 23
squares high
Cut 1 – Long side lid edge: 81 squares long and 10
squares high
Cut 2 – Short side lid edge: 67 squares long and
10 squares high
Cut 1 – “Baby Memories” Label Piece: 58 squares long
and 25 squares high OR if you want to personalized the box with
the baby’s name; all letters of the alphabet and instructions for making
a personalized name label for the top of the box are available in our Easy
Print PDF version of this project.
2. Stitch the side and bottom pieces:
Using the patchwork design pattern (linked in the
materials list above), complete each of the four sides of the box and the
bottom of the box. The patchwork design will begin in the top left
corner and repeat as it is needed toward the right and/or down.
3. Stitch the lid edge pieces:
First, stitch an extra row of yellow stitches along
the top, left and right of a lid edge piece. (These extra rows allow the
lid to be slightly larger than the box so it will fit over the box.)
Next, complete the top row of the patchwork pattern,
repeating as necessary, until it covers the full length of the lid edge
piece.
Repeat for all lid edge pieces.
4. Stitch the box label and attach:
Follow the label patterns (links in the materials
list above) to make the label for your box but save the long yellow stitches
for the next step. (Optional: you may wish to outline the letters with a slightly darker embroidery floss.)
You will use long stitches to attach the label to
the box. The long stitches will create a sort of “frame” for the name label
and also hold it in place.
Lay your name label on the piece of plastic canvas
you have cut for the top.
Center it by counting the number of stitch lines
or squares on each side of the label piece and moving the label piece until
the number of stitch lines or squares on each side is the same (or only
one different if there was an odd number). Center both vertically and horizontally.
Follow the long stitch lines in the label pattern
above to attach the label to the top.
5. Stitch the remaining box top:
To stitch the remaining box top, first stitch a row
of yellow around the entire box top on the first stitch line in from the
edge. (These extra rows allow the lid to be slightly larger than the box
so it will fit over the box.)
Next, inside this outer row, stitch the patchwork
design starting from the top left corner and moving across the box to the
right and down until the rest of the top is covered in the design.
6. Prepare the lining pieces:
Using your iron, press your lining fabric if needed
and then lay your lining fabric out on your work table.
Take a piece of your box and lay it on the lining
fabric. Hold it in place.
Use your ruler, measure and make marks ¼ inch
from the edge of the plastic canvas piece all the way around.
Cut out the fabric along the marks.
Put the box piece aside and turn the fabric so it
is wrong side up.
Fold the fabric edges 3/8 inch in toward the wrong
side and press in place.
Lay the lining on the box piece with wrong sides
together to make sure that it fits correctly.
Repeat to create a lining for each piece and set them aside.
7. Assemble the box:
Finally, thread your yarn needle with baby purple
to begin joining the pieces.
o Join the pieces in the following manner:
Line up the holes of each piece that you are joining.
As you begin, secure the end of the yarn by sliding
it under several stitches on the back of one of your pieces and near the
corner where you will begin.
Start at one corner hole and bring your needle through
from the wrong side.
Next, go through the adjacent hole in the other piece
from the right side through to the wrong side.
Continue joining the piece by looping through each
pair of holes in this manner.
First, join the lid edge pieces to the bottom, left
and right edges of the top.
Next, join each of the sides of the box at the corners.
Now, stitch the bottom of the box to the already
connected sides.
Finally, stitch the top edge of the lid directly
to the back side of the box to create a hinged box cover.
8. Attach the lining:
First apply the lining pieces to the inside of the
box.
One at a time, apply tacky glue around the entire
folded lining edge being careful not to apply so much glue that it will
run.
Carefully pick up the lining piece and place it,
wrong sides together, on the box piece that it was made to cover.
Repeat for each piece inside the box and let dry
with the lid left opened out.
Next, do the same for the pieces on the top of the
box and leave the top opened out while the glue dries.
Done! This box would become a very special keepsake
in itself for the new mom at her baby shower.
