Released November 6, 2009
By Judy Roberson
This is a pattern box that would do Mr. Clean or should I say, Mr. Gain, proud. After emptying my large Gain washing powder box, I looked at it, as I had done sooo many times before… what a waste to throw away such a good box.
My thoughts began to race. There had to be some useful thing to do with this box?? But, what?
As, I looked at it, I noticed that my sewing pattern sleeves looked about that size. I ran to my sewing room to find a pattern sleeve and to my amazement, they were the exact size. My mind began to race with the excitement of ways to transform this otherwise trash into a useful pattern container.
I went to my sewing room, and found left over scraps for my ‘Newly-thought-of project”. I gathered fabric scraps, buttons, trims, scrapbooking paper, glue, etc.
INSTRUCTIONS for Pattern Box:
1- Find a Gain (or other brand washing powder box) large size - 63/64 load size, wipe it out to remove all washing powder.
2- Spray paint it (I used black). I spray painted the handle also. Allow to dry.
3-I used left over black toile fabric and covered the lid. I used Mod Podge glue (http://www.save-on-crafts.com/modpodglos.html ) to adhere it. This is a very easy to use glue. First put the glue on the box and then put fabric on it, folding under edges to the inside of the box lid. Then, put Mod Podge on the top of the fabric. It works great!
4-I took a sheet of black /cream stripe scrapbooking paper (can be purchased for less than 50 cents almost anywhere but most of us have a sheet or so stored away), I Mod Podged it to the front of the box. I also, did a strip around the box. I then added red rick rack over the strip.
5- I had to label my pattern box. What better way than my embroidery machine. So, I got my design notebook out to pick the “just right design”. As always, I found the perfect one in Designs by Sick. I chose the buttons and needle design from DD Love to Sew (http://www.designsbysick.com/details/ddlovetosew), and added the words, “Sewing Patterns”.
6-After finishing the embroidery work, I took my design and cut the design fabric to be 5 inch x 6 inch. Then, I Mod Podged it to the front of the box.
I couldn’t wait for the glue to dry, so I could put my patterns in it. This pattern box is so cute and so simple to make. It was made to match my newly remodeled sewing room.
You could decorate your pattern box any way you choose. Wouldn’t it be fun to bring in the kids and let them help?
Let your imagination run wild.
And now you can feel REALLY good that you recycled this good washing powder box. And another plus that I soon discovered was, I had an instant air freshener in my pattern box.
What a neat idea ~ and sooo cute!
Thanks for sharing it!
Comment by Gina — November 6, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
I love this idea. I have a lot of patterns laying around and now I can have them tidy also.
Comment by Joy — November 6, 2009 @ 2:21 pm
I love it!
Comment by betsy — November 6, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Very nice idea and great way to recycle. It almost makes me wish I used laundry powdered detergent.
Comment by Cari — November 6, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
Esto es una idea genial, fácil, barata, recicla y encima, huele bien, gracias por compartirla.
Translation: This is a brilliant, easy, cheap idea, recycle above and, smells well, thanks to share it
Comment by Ana — November 6, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
What a fabulous idea, very creative!
Comment by Sandra Parry — November 6, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
BRAVO JUDY, I’M LOVING IT. WE GET THE BIG TIDE BOXES AND EVERYTIME MY BROTHER-IN-LAW THROWS ONE AWAY I STARE AT IT, THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER LIFE FOR IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FRANCES
Comment by Frances — November 6, 2009 @ 4:13 pm
This is the greatest idea, will stop using liquid laundry soap and start using the powdered ones. Thanks so very much for the idea.
Comment by Dianna — November 6, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
GREAT idea! thanks!
Comment by Alicia — November 6, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
What a neat idea! Maybe I’ll switch to powdered detergent for a while, maybe a long while. I’ve got several hundred patterns!
Comment by Vera in Md — November 6, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
this is pretty neat …will hold the patterns I am planning on using immediately…instead of stacking them on the table to get in the way.
thanks!
Comment by Brenda — November 6, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
Ok, I am going back to powder detergent! What an awesome idea! Great job!
Comment by Debbie Lauzon — November 6, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
Well I have seen alot of recycling of things but this one to me WINNERS a Gold Star. This is the best idea I have seen in a long time. I usually use liquid, but now I am going to have to use powder just to get the box. Your creative wheels were really turning.
Comment by Lee — November 6, 2009 @ 5:06 pm
That is one very clever idea… I am looking at my various containers in terms of adapating to do a job in my perpetually messy sewing room!! I have some great scraps to coordinate with the room’s color scheme. Woo Hoo this will be fun and pretty too. Thanks for a great idea.
Laurie
Comment by Laurie Gassman — November 6, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Great idea! I also have a hard time throwing out sturdy boxes. For this idea, I’ll switch from my liquid detergent to powder.
Comment by Carol4700 — November 6, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
Talk about classic “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”! What a beautiful, clever project!
Comment by Barb — November 6, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
Love your idea and it looks GREAT. My Grandmother was the Queen of recylcing and it was not even important to anyone but her. Got the sewing bug from her. She would enjoy this project.
Comment by Joni B — November 6, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Love the idea! Just one question.
Do we have to do laundry to empty the box!?!?!?
Comment by debbie — November 6, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
Hello Judy,
This is brilliant! I too hate throwing out good packaging and it is hard to find boxes to fit sewing patterns. I shall take a leaf out of your book for my sewing room could well do with a clean up. Congratulations!!
Warmest regards to a gal after my own heart, Bev
Comment by Bev — November 6, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
what an incredible idea..thank you thank you waste not want not and I can put individual names on the boxes in an even more organized manner you are terrific thank you again
Comment by linda — November 6, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
What a wonderful idea, Judy. The box is adorable. Bet you’ll be doing more of them.
Comment by Luanne — November 6, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
What a great idea. You did a great job on that. I love it and will have to try it. Always looking for something to put my patterns in
Comment by andismom — November 6, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
This is an idea I haven’t used in 15 years. I used mine for magazine carriers.I gave them away with the magazines.Now is a wonderful time to use this idea again. Your instructions are fantastic!!!!!And the pictures are wonderful too.The note to spray paint the box first gives a clean slate for whatever fabric you would choose.Great project.Thanks
Comment by verne — November 6, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
I also used vinyl and embossed wallpaper on mine. I guess I’ll have to look out in the garage to see if I still have some of that wallpaper left.But even if I don’t I’ve got a great selection of fabrics just waiting to be used.
Comment by verne — November 6, 2009 @ 8:01 pm
You did a wonderful job! When I showed my DH the article, he said I had found a soul-mate. I have a whole attic full of boxes that were too good to throw away. I will now go up there in the morning and see what I can fine. You’ve inspired me!
Comment by ScrapperG — November 6, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
i love your ideas thanks for posting it
Comment by barbara watkins — November 6, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
I love it! Those sturdy boxes deserve the future you created for them. Maybe your new name will be the “Green Queen”!!!!
Comment by wissewer — November 6, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
Judy,
What a cute box!
They say ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’
Well, in your case it was recycle your own trash into a treasure! Good for you! Not to mention a great gift idea!!
This gives a bit of a twist on the term recycle.
I love it!!
Sue
Comment by Sue Bartz — November 6, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
Wow what a good idea! I might have to get a few boxes of powder detergent.. I use liquid. Thanks for sharing
Comment by grandma Shari — November 6, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
What a great idea to keep your patterns together and organized, and nice to look at, too!
Comment by Nancy — November 6, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
I make pattern storage with jumbo Pizza Pop boxes, but I don’t decorate, and mine don’t have lids. I simply cut off the top flaps. The Pizza Pop boxes are *just* wide enough to accommodate a Butterick or Simplicity pattern envelope, and you can get about 30 or 40 (pristine) patterns to a box. The patterns stand about 2″ taller than the box, making a number search quick and simple.
The larger Kwik-Sew, Vogue, and McCall’s pattern envelopes require something larger, and for those, I have a mish-mash of recycled stuff. I may have to check my neighbours’ blue bins on recycling day to see if they have suitable detergent boxes. And decorating the box is the perfect purpose for all my test stitch-outs. Thanks for the inspiration!
Comment by Elfie B. Taylor — November 6, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
Fantastic idea !!! Why didn’t I think of that?? Leave it to you to add another project to my list! Thanks!!
Comment by Jodie — November 6, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
Great idea!! Beautiful project.
Comment by Julie Down — November 6, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
Great idea! Thanks.
Comment by Susan — November 6, 2009 @ 11:38 pm
Super idea. Well done
Comment by Marthie — November 7, 2009 @ 12:02 am
What a wonderful Idea! I really like this..
Comment by Sam — November 7, 2009 @ 1:43 am
What a wonderful Idea… I really like this!!!
Comment by Sam — November 7, 2009 @ 1:43 am
love it! Thanks for ideas, I’m always good at following directions, but run short in the “thinking it up” dept
Thanks for sharing!
Comment by Sharlyn — November 7, 2009 @ 1:45 am
Love It! I will go back some powder detergent again. Thanks!!
Comment by Sheryl — November 7, 2009 @ 2:13 am
What a wonderful, novel recycle idea. Turned trash into treasure, custom made. Good job!
Comment by Glenda — November 7, 2009 @ 2:22 am
THAT IS TOTALLY A GREAT IDEA! THANK, LOVE IT!!
Comment by lucy — November 7, 2009 @ 5:03 am
i am going to give this a try, thanks, i love the recycle idea. leslie
Comment by leslie — November 7, 2009 @ 6:08 am
Wow, as many detergent boxes as I’ve thown out I could have gotten my sewing room in order.
Thanks for the wonderful idea.
Comment by Patty — November 7, 2009 @ 6:38 am
What a great idea !!
Comment by maria — November 7, 2009 @ 9:27 am
What a great idea! You make me regret that I use liquid GAIN. Mmmmm…..maybe one of my daughters who uses powder. Too good an idea to let slip through my fingers.
Comment by Jeannette — November 7, 2009 @ 9:58 am
This is a great idea. I am going to pass it along to my ASG neighborhood sewers. I have done this before with smaller boxes for all those magazines we want to save for there articles.
Comment by Marie — November 7, 2009 @ 11:25 am
You did a terrific job on the box. What a great idea. I bet it smells “clean” too!
Comment by Roxanne — November 7, 2009 @ 11:27 am
This is really a great idea, and almost cost free, thank you!!!
Comment by Nina — November 7, 2009 @ 11:37 am
Great Job of recycling and how attractive it is and you could really decorate it any way you want. A great gift for a sewer.
Comment by Maria Delsing — November 7, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
very smart of you. I use liquid soap but am going to see if my daughter has this type of soap
Comment by Katherine McGarry — November 7, 2009 @ 2:31 pm
What a wonderful idea and perfect timing as I was just looking for a way to store all my newely acquired (but old) patterns. Thanks for the idea
Comment by Linda — November 7, 2009 @ 3:20 pm
Great idea, should help the room smell great too!
Comment by Joanne in Mn — November 7, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Great idea. Looks like I will have to buy washing powder in larger containers. lol
Comment by Joan — November 7, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
What a terrific idea, you did a great job. Now if I only used the powder detergent and not the liquid (I have a front load washer). Very, very stylish!
Comment by Linda H — November 7, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
Years ago, when all my magazines were getting torn by the mailman squeezing them into the small mailbox on my front porch I spray painted a soap box (One of those good sturdy tall ones ) Silver and painted U S Mail on the front of it in black and hung it under my small box.
I had not thought of embroidering U S Mail and my house number on it. What do yu think?
Thanks for the good suggestion
I also cut those boxes from 2 inches above the bottom on one side to 2 inches below the top on the other side and use them for magazine racks. You can buy these things, but it is so much more fun to make them!
Comment by Joan — November 7, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
This is a great idea and using something free is even better.
Comment by ilv2sew — November 7, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
That’s a great idea. I’m going to get my deterg. in a box instead of liquid just to get the box!!
Comment by pcsavant — November 7, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
Hey what A great way to use,Will make one,,Go Girl.
Comment by Leona Richards — November 8, 2009 @ 7:10 am
HI Everyone,
thankyou so much for the wonderful feedback.I appreciate it.. I can forsee alot of powder detergent beind sold verus liquid.LOL
Debbie, hate to be the barrier of bad news..but yep…us girls have gotta do the laundry before we can get the boxes.. lol. Wouldnt it be nice if we had the laundry elf to come do it? Then we could just sew, sew,sew..and craft,craft,craft.ha.
Joan, love the idea of the mail box.. What a cute box to embroider US MAIL.. CUTE. Bet no one in town ,would have a box ,like you.
God bless.Judy
Comment by judy — November 8, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
This is a wonderful idea. Right now we are getting ready to go through a bunch of pictures and papers that was in a box at my moms in the basement that got wet, and I think this would be perfect for her to put all of her pictures and special papers in so that she can store them under her television and not have to worry about about them getting wet anymore. Thank you so much for such a wonderful idea. I always have boxes of laundry soap to use for these types of projects.
Comment by Diana — November 9, 2009 @ 4:15 am
Smart girl, Really that was a clever idea. Not only did you use something that would normally have been thrown out, but you saved money by making a great place for your patterns. You got your creative juices going and you also inspired others to do. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Susan — November 10, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
In Australia we have the same kind of Laundry powder boxes so this is a great idea. when I finally settle into my new home I will sort through my hundreds of patterns and sell them in designed boxes a fantastic market stall idea don’t you think
Comment by Margaret — November 10, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
Girl after my own heart! Transforming ‘trash’ into a definite treasure!
Linda
Comment by Linda Fox Chase — November 11, 2009 @ 9:47 am
Great idea - I make similar pattern sleeve boxes out of half-case wine boxes. I have to make a lid though, but they are the right size too. You can also get ones that fit the larger ‘Vogue sleeves’. I have covered mine in fabrics which I previously decorate with lettering embroidery in the name of the manufacturer of the patterns contained inside the box using lots of different fonts and styles.
Comment by Margaret UK — November 11, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
You deserve a prize for submitting this great idea! I just wish I had time to paint and glue…
Comment by Sydney — November 11, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
I love it ! I use shoe boxes and boot boxes to make keepastake boxes. Using a variety of themes, etc, baby, wedding, birthday. with the embroidery designs you can make personalize designs. By the way you can get free boxes at pay less or other shoe stores.
Comment by sandra — November 15, 2009 @ 8:25 am