Project How-To: Pretty Storage Pockets

This fabric hanger cover provides plenty of pockets to store accessories.

Mother's Day is this coming Sunday, May 11. If you're looking for a project to sew for a special mother in your life - whether your mom, sister, daughter, aunt or friend - we have a great idea to share. This pretty cover designed by Rosina Cassam for our sister magazine Stitch Craft Create's gift edition transforms an ordinary clothes hanger into a practical storage unit. It takes no time at all to make, and it's a perfect present for ladies of all ages who can use it to keep all their favorite fashion accessories at hand.

What you need: 
• Patterned fabric 
• Plain fabric 
• Coordinating thread 
• Wire hanger 
• Pencil 
• Paper 
• Ruler 
• Scissors 
• Sewing machine 
• Iron

How to create:
NOTE: Seam allowances are 3/8 inch.

1. To make hanger cover pattern, trace around top of wire hanger and lengthen bottom line to about 12 inches. Add a 3/8-inch seam allowance around perimeter. To make pocket pattern, fold over top part of hanger cover pattern and use lower part only (about 8 inches deep).

2. From patterned fabric, cut two main hanger cover pieces and one pocket piece.

3. From plain fabric, use main hanger cover pattern to cut two lining pieces and one pocket piece.

4. Place pocket pieces right sides together and sew along top edge. Turn through to right side and press flat.

5. Place one of main hanger cover pieces right side up on your work surface and lay pocket on top with lining facing down, aligning raw edges along bottom edge. Sew along pocket sides and bottom edge.

6. Measure 5 inches in from sides to mark pocket divisions and machine stitch to make three pockets.

7. Place hanger cover lining on top of pocket with front right sides facing, and machine sew along bottom edge only. Press; fold open along seam edge and press. Repeat with remaining fabric pieces to make hanger cover back.

8. Pin linings to hanger cover pieces and sew around top edges.

9. Place lined back and front together, right sides facing, and sew along top edge, leaving a 2-inch gap. Turn right side out and press flat along seams.

10. Insert hanger through gap.

Shop the Mother's Day Sale in our Martha Pullen Online Store for more great gift ideas!

Sew On, Sew Well, Sew Beautiful,
Cyndi and Amelia

Design-It-Yourself Giveaway Challenge

Today is our first 

Design-It-Yourself 

Giveaway Challenge!  

Here is how it works: 

Below is a supply list and FREE instructions on how to make a project.  We want YOU to tell us what products from the Martha Pullen Online Store you would use on your supply list to create this piece.  Be as specific as possible because at the end of the week, one lucky person will win all the materials they listed so they can make this project!  Leave your answers in a comment below.

From Precious Baby Daygowns:

Round Yoke Collection

NOTE: Please read through all 

directions before beginning. 

Supplies (as listed in book)

• 1/3 yard lavender mini check gingham (60" wide)

• 2-1/4 yards 5/8"-wide edging lace

• Light purple decorative machine 

embroidery thread

• One white plastic child's hanger

• Sewing machine with embroidery 

capabilities

• White lightweight thread for 

construction

• Lightweight tear-away or water-soluble stabilizer for machine embroidery

• Basic Sewing Supplies

Check purchased hanger for fit and adjust 

pattern as needed.

Embroidery Designs

The machine embroidery on this project may be created using one of your machine's lettering selections or using Monogram Wizard software, available from Martha Pullen Company. The selected design measures 1-9/16" x 3-7/16".

If you prefer to embroider the hanger by hand, write the chosen name in script and complete the embroidery using a stem stitch. Refer to the Stitch Library on page 116 for hand embroidery instructions and illustrations.

Cutting 

Trace a full pattern piece onto tissue paper and transfer all necessary markings. 

From lavender gingham, cut the following:

• One Hanger Cover for back

• One rectangle 8" x 16" for embroidered front

• One ruffle strip 1-5/8" x 2 yards (strip may be pieced)

From edging lace, cut a 5" strip for the top opening of the hanger cover.

Directions

Embroidery

1. Fold the 16" x 8" gingham rectangle in half vertically and horizontally. Mark the center of the rectangle (Fig. 1).

2. Trace Hanger Cover on rectangle, centering marks. Mark 1/2" seam allowances inside previous tracing. Your embroidery design must fit inside the seam allowance markings (Fig. 2).

3. Choose a font and letters using monogramming software or built-in embroidery machine font. If you are not sure if your design will fit in the area provided, make a template prior to embroidering the gingham fabric. Refer to the technique, Creating an Embroidery Template. NOTE: If your machine does not have embroidery capabilities, hand embroider the design of your choice or write the name in script with a wash away pen and hand 

embroider.

4. Stabilize, hoop, and embroider the design referring to your embroidery machine manual.

5. Remove stabilizer and press gingham on wrong side on a padded surface.

6. Retrace Hanger Cover on rectangle, if necessary, centering embroidered design, and cut (Fig. 3).

Construction

1. Right sides together, sew hanger cover front to back on one side only with a 1/2" seam (Fig. 4). 

Press seam allowance open.

2. Pull the uppermost heading from a 5" strip of edging lace and refer to Machine Heirloom Techniques, Lace to Fabric to stitch the lace to the hanger top, adjusting gathers to fit.

3. Refer to Machine Heirloom Techniques, Lace to Fabric, and stitch the remaining edging lace to one long edge of the gingham ruffle strip.

4. Straight stitch (L=5.0) 3/8" from unfinished long edge of ruffle strip and again 5/8" from un-

finished edge.

5. Pull gathers up to fit ruffle strip to lower edge of hanger cover (Fig. 5).

6. With right sides together, stitch ruffle strip to lower edge of hanger cover (L=2.5) with 1/2" seam. Trim seam allowance to 1/4". Zigzag, overcast or serge stitch seam allowance. Press ruffle away from hanger cover.

7. Right sides together, stitch hanger cover front to back on remaining side, catching lace and ruffle strip in stitching (Fig. 6). 

Turn and press. Insert hanger. 

Now, comment below what YOU would use in your supply list from Martha's Online Store!

*Total not to exceed $200*