Found a use for some of the felt that I made years ago - fun to make and only took a little over an hour.... of course it's from another of those wonderful Japanese zakka books that I so adore. This one had many beautiful felt things in it. I will post an image of the book and the relevant details tomorrow. Just wait until you see the little shoes.......
Here is a quick run down on how -to -make ...
Cut a piece of felt as in above diagram ( scale up or down as you wish)
Fold so that the 15cm edges are together and stitch the 9cm sides using a simple whip stitch or blanket stitch ( or something more elaborate if you are brave and adventurous)
"Open" box and sew two bottom seams using same stitch . The 9cm side seam will sit at the centre point of the 7cm bottom edge ( this makes more sense when you have the box piece in your hands, truly! If this sounds all too confusing, take a look below at the lining piece flattened after sewing the bottom seam. )
Cut the lining piece ( if you are going to line it) allowing an extra 0.5-0.8cm seam allowance around the outside edge. I have just folded the pattern piece I used for the outer felt shell to make it easier to cut.
Stitch as for the felt box either by hand or machine.
This is what it looks like when you have flattened the 'box" to sew the bottom seam.
Put the lining inside the felt box with right sides together and side seams matching.
Turn the edge of the lining over to the same height as the felt box to neaten raw edges and use a running stitch ( or your choice) through both layers to secure.
There you go ..a simple yet pleasing box to put things in.
And take things out of.
Just like Eeyore and his useful jar that Pooh gave him for his birthday. Not suggested for hunny though!
Let me know if this is a dreadfully unclear pattern and I will make any necessary changes.
Love to see a photo if anyone makes one.......
Love the felt box, it would be great to give gifts in or store things around the house. I may just have to make some of these thanks for the instructions. Also, loving the little bird pendant just gorgeous!!
Posted by: Belinda Andresson | Monday, 29 May 2006 at 11:52 PM
nice idea! i've been browsing your blog -- lovely work! i did some similar birds as a gift recently; the stitch patterns you used have so much personality.
Posted by: mrspilkington | Tuesday, 30 May 2006 at 10:02 AM
That felt box is so cute that I just had to make one today as soon as I saw it. I'll take a picture but it may be a week before I can post it because I have to take pictures the old-fashioned way, wait for them to develop and scan them in.
Thanks for the pattern/tutorial! I think I'll be making more of these!
Posted by: Green Darner | Tuesday, 30 May 2006 at 10:29 AM
Awesome tutorial! Thanks!
Posted by: Creative Kismet | Wednesday, 31 May 2006 at 12:39 AM
Wow, that's adorable.
Posted by: Maitreya | Wednesday, 31 May 2006 at 11:10 AM
This box is beautiful! And your felt really looks gorgeous, looks amazingly soft. Is it pure wool?
I just read your comment on my blog - thank you! I'd love to try your felt :-)
Posted by: Alex | Thursday, 08 June 2006 at 06:43 PM
this is so stunning! thank you for sharing it. felting is one of my favorite things.
Posted by: susan@artstream | Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 01:11 AM
Thanks for the pattern! I'll send you a picture when my version is done :-)
Posted by: Marieke | Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 07:09 AM
thanks for the tutorial.. i'll be making one of these for sure..
Posted by: Anita | Thursday, 17 August 2006 at 07:35 PM
thanks for the tutorial! What a sweet little box, and useful, too! Now, off to find some decent felt!
Posted by: melissa | Friday, 18 August 2006 at 06:08 PM
Thaaaank you for such a nice and simple tutorial, I am just cutting the first box, I promise a pic when it is finished !!
Posted by: Julia | Wednesday, 01 November 2006 at 03:45 AM
I don't get it. I did the felt (cut it out) and after that its like what the.... can you explain it better by emailing me???
Posted by: Terri | Saturday, 11 November 2006 at 01:40 PM
As soon as I saw this tutorial I went immediately to the thrift store for some sweaters to felt in the wash. I made about a dozen of these for my co-workers' desks for pencils, scissors and such. They thought I was wacky for making boxes out of sweaters but they loved them nonetheless. My next goal is to make bigger, more shallow ones to organize my magazines. Thanks for the tute.
Posted by: Melanie Taylor | Thursday, 18 January 2007 at 04:32 PM
What cute and useful little box. Love it!
Posted by: Michelle | Sunday, 18 February 2007 at 08:19 AM
I am going to have to make a few of these. I am thinking pre-quilted fabric.
Posted by: Kate | Sunday, 25 February 2007 at 01:20 AM
Great tutorial must try it!
Posted by: Péitseoga | Monday, 26 February 2007 at 10:33 PM
Thanks for this, will add it to my growing list of must-try-projects!
Posted by: Péitseoga | Tuesday, 27 February 2007 at 06:48 AM
Once again, I was inspired by this post to try a little felt box. For months I held this picture in the back of my head. Last week someone gave me my first Japanese felt book! They are the best! My pattern is a little different and I sewed it with the machine. Both patterns are sweet, but your picture is cuter.
Posted by: Leah Adams | Friday, 09 March 2007 at 05:02 PM
Great tute! I have put up a link from my blog http://crafttutorials.wordpress.com I hope that's ok!
Thanks for sharing
Eve
Posted by: eve | Friday, 23 March 2007 at 11:22 AM
Great tutorial- I could use a few of these.. but first I need some large spare pieces of felt to make them with!! Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: di | Tuesday, 08 May 2007 at 07:23 AM
Thanks for teaching us how to the box
love from Portugal
Posted by: jacky | Sunday, 13 May 2007 at 10:09 PM
Thank you for the tutorial!! Here's a picture of my felt box: http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlebearyli/1811189289/
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Posted by: sandra | Monday, 10 December 2007 at 08:28 AM
So cute and perfect! Thanks.
Posted by: Ashlea | Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 07:30 AM
Me encanta!
Zepequeña.
Posted by: Aitziber | Thursday, 24 July 2008 at 01:01 AM
Hi! Your little tutorial has been lurking in my brain for a week now, and I finally got the guts to give it a go this morning, on a slightly larger scale! I'm happy to report that it worked, and I even managed to make my first tutorial from it! Thanks for the inspiration!
http://becominghelly.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Helly | Tuesday, 05 August 2008 at 02:48 PM
Thanks for the tutorial! I've made a couple of these baskets already, and just love them. For pictures go to my blog: http://pm-betweenthelines.blogspot.com/2009/01/piece-of-white-paper.html. One is still in the making: http://pm-betweenthelines.blogspot.com/2009/01/felt-like.html.
Posted by: Pascale | Monday, 12 January 2009 at 12:05 AM
Hi love the box, i just noticed that i have the exact same red thread as you and alot of the threads from the same brand.
Posted by: Jessica | Wednesday, 14 January 2009 at 08:02 AM
WOW, what a great blog with extremely useful information. Thanks
Posted by: hypotheek afgelost | Tuesday, 17 March 2009 at 03:04 PM
Thanks for adding the new information, as well as your analysis. This is why your blog is one of the few I read that I also ever bother to comment on. I don't do it to hear myself talk - I do it because I know you actually listen.
Posted by: Gucci Shoes | Thursday, 29 April 2010 at 12:19 PM
I really liked this blog, very well prepared and with good topic of discussion.
Posted by: Gucci Shoes | Sunday, 09 May 2010 at 06:19 PM
I love how you explained it so well and I can make these in any size!! I'm going to make a basket as part of a teacher thank you gift thanks so much!!
Posted by: Heather H. | Saturday, 15 May 2010 at 03:51 PM
I made the box in deep green. So cute and useful!
Posted by: Anne | Wednesday, 01 February 2012 at 07:52 AM