How about a new free pattern? An early Valentine’s Day present.
Here’s a sweet little project that goes together quickly — a bow-tied box for treats or trinkets. Perfect for displaying tasty truffles and candies for your Valentine or hip paperclips and doo-dads for your desk. The pattern and instructions below are for one 3″ x 3″ x 1 1/4″ tray. However, once you have the hang of it, you can scale the design up or down as needed. Imagine tasty trays for sewing supplies, post-it notes, business cards, candies, jewelry, buttons, keys, coasters…
7” x 7” fabric*
7” x 7” lining fabric*
3/4 yd narrow piping
1 1/3 yd ribbon, 1/8” wide
8” x 10” stiff, thin cardboard
Thread
HELPFUL TOOLS
Pins, scissors, needle, liquid seam sealant (such a s Fray Check™)
* Suitable fabrics include laminated cotton, quilting-weight cotton, light-weight decorator fabric, and other light to medium-weight woven fabrics
INSTRUCTIONS (click on illustrations to enlarge)
A. Cut Out Fabric & Cardboard – Click here to download pattern pieces. Using pattern, cut one 5 7/8” square of fabric and one 5 7/8” square of lining fabric. Round corners per pattern & clip at circles to mark ribbon placement. Of cardboard, cut one 3” square, and cut four 1” x 3” rectangles. If cardboard is flimsy, cut two sets & glue corresponding pieces together to stiffen.
C. Attach Ribbon Ties – Cut eight pieces of ribbon, each 6” long. With a small stitch-length, sew one ribbon to tray at each black circle, on top of piping; stitch back & forth across ribbon to secure well.
D. Sew Lining to Exterior – With right-sides-together, pin lining to exterior. Sew around tray, leaving one side open between black circles. Notch curve at each corner. Turn tray right-side-out through opening in seam.
E. Insert Cardboard & Stitch Around Sides – Insert one rectangular cardboard piece into tray; butt cardboard up to stitching at side of tray opposite from opening, beneath the seam allowance on exterior side of tray. Secure cardboard in place by stitching 1 1/8” away from fabric edge (not piping edge) along stitching line shown on tray pattern, beginning & ending at black circles. See illustration. Be sure stitching runs alongside cardboard & does not go through it & ribbons are not caught in seam. Insert another cardboard rectangle at one adjacent side & stitch as before. Repeat at opposite side of tray. Slide cardboard square into place at center of tray & stitch along last stitching line, parallel to opening. Insert last cardboard rectangle into opening. Fold tray lining edge under 1/4” & ladder-stitch to close opening in seam.
F. Tie Corner Bows & Trim – Fold sides up & hold corners together with a pin. Tie two ribbons at each corner into a bow. Once tied, trim ribbons to desired lengths. Finish ribbon ends with liquid seam sealant to prevent fraying.
ENJOY!
So fun! I’ve actually been thinking of making some of these lately. But I hadn’t thought of putting treats in them. 🙂 Now maybe I’ll do both!
Cute! Thanks!!!
b.
thank-you!! can’t wait to try it 🙂
These are adorable and would look so cute holding my pins next to my sewing machine. Thanks for the free tutorial!
“tray” jolie ~ ha! I love it!
So adorable! I can see myself giving away a lot of cupcakes in these little trays.
xo
so sweet! Great idea…as always!
This is FABULOUS!!
Thanks! Love it!!
Thanks! What I’d really like to know: WHAT is the frosting recipe for that lusciousness above?
oooh this is lovely-thank you for sharing 🙂
That is wonderful! Thank you. I can envision one piled high with foil-covered chocolate hearts! 🙂
Heater, than you for you post in my blog, i love your work!
Nannys
I can easily see my sewing studio being overrun with these cute little trays! Thanks for the pattern!
so cute!thanks for sharing 🙂
I love these boxes. What a wonderful idea to make them mini.
That is really sweet – perfect! I’m on a stash-busting project so I shall give them a go. thank you for sharing. Have a lovely week. KP
Very cute! Thanks for the tutorial. Would make a great gift.
Very sweet idea Heather. Think while I am snowed in this would be a good time to finally make me a quilting pin tray. Going to attach some magnets to the cardboard so it will hold them in there.
Thank you for sharing with us yours projects
Great idea to use a magnet in the base for pins! Let me know how that works out.
Can you tell me more about the piping? Where did you get it? Can I buy it somewhere? Thanks
Very cute. I might have to give this a try with some of your gorgeous fabrics… I wonder about adding a little ball of cotton batting under the centre surface to create a tray/pin cushion in one?
wow, that is a great project – thank you for posting it for free. I might use some thin plastic (like the sides from icecream containers) instead of the cardboard, that way I can wash it if I need to – especially if I use it for food stuffs.
Thank you!! X Yasmin
This looks great! Thanks for sharing!