I am so excited to introduce you to one of my good friends today, Chelsey Cobabe of CobabeCo. She writes the most amazing patterns for young kids that include play panels for all sorts of imaginary play! And because there is no video tutorial for Week 3 of the Shimmer Sky QAL, I asked her to write a guest blog post that related to the pattern. I absolutely love her idea for a door hanging mailbox, so I decided to share it here so it would be available to everyone! So let me turn it over to Chelsey:
Sawtooth Star Orphan Block Project: Door Hanging Mailbox Tutorial
Hey there! Chelsey here from Cobabe Co. I’m a quilt pattern/play panel pattern designer who loves color, texture, and kid lit. I live in Upstate NY and have three littles who are growing up wayyyy too fast! My oldest who is 8 (going on 18) inspired me to create this project. She loves to write, craft, and draw. I’ll often find little notes from her that she’ll hide in places for me to find, and she always expects a note in reply. With my limited brain space it’s sometimes hard for me to remember where I hid the notes for her to find, so she ends up disappointed. To save space in my already over-occupied memory, and avoid her dismay, I decided that a door hanging mailbox would be the perfect place for the exchange of letters.
With that, today I’m dropping by on Christine’s blog to share this fun Sawtooth Star orphan block project tutorial for a quilted door hanging mailbox. So grab any orphan blocks you have lying around, any WIPs that you’d rather use for something else than finish, or those test blocks you put together and let’s get going!
Click here to get the full PDF pattern.
Materials Needed:
- Fabric scraps- enough to size up an orphan block
- Fabric lining
- Two Sawtooth Star orphan blocks
- Flex foam interfacing
- 3M hook
- Thread
Tools Needed:
- Sewing machine
- Sewing clips
- Rotary cutter
- Thread snips
- Quilting ruler
- Iron
Step One: Add strips or to each Sawtooth Star block to fit the dimensions noted in the pattern.
Step Two: Baste the Sawtooth Star block to the flex foam (if using a non-fusible flex foam baste with a school glue stick, or use basting spray). Quilt the Sawtooth Star to the flex foam as desired. Note: dense quilting results in more shrinkage due to the nature of flex foam. A walking foot is recommended for sewing through the thick layers.
Trim and square the block so the edges of the fabric are flush with the flex foam. Repeat with the other orphan block to create the front and back outer panels of the hanging mailbox.
Step Three: Orient the top and bottom of the front and back outer panels of the mailbox. Cut out a square from the bottom left and bottom right of each outer panel.
Step Four: Place the front and back panel right sides together and sew along the sides and bottom using a ½” seam allowance. Make sure to avoid sewing the cut squares/inverted corners, and back stitch at the beginning and end to reinforce each seam.
Step Five: Open the pouch made in step four to line up the raw edges of the cut squares/inverted corners. Use sewing clips to keep the raw edges connected, and nest the seams (by finger pressing the two adjacent seams in opposite directions, it allows them to interlock or “nest” when sewn together to reduce bulk). Sew together using a ½” seam allowance, making sure to back stitch at the beginning and end to reinforce each seam.
Step Six:Take the fabric lining and trim to the same size as the front and back outer panels of the hanging mailbox. Cut a square from the bottom left and bottom right of each piece of the fabric lining.
Step Seven: Place the front and back fabric lining pieces right sides together and sew along the sides and bottom using a ½” seam allowance. Make sure to avoid sewing the cut squares/inverted corners, and back stitch at the beginning and end to reinforce each seam.
Step Eight: Open the fabric lining pouch made in step seven to line up the raw edges of the cut squares/inverted corners. Use sewing clips to keep the raw edges connected, and nest the seams (by finger pressing the two adjacent seams in opposite directions, it allows them to interlock or “nest” when sewn together to reduce bulk). Sew together using a ½” seam allowance, making sure to back stitch at the beginning and end to reinforce each seam. Press. Turn the lining right-side-out.
Step Nine: From the leftover flex foam, cut a scrap to be enveloped by a piece of scrap fabric. Wrap the fabric around the flex foam, ensure no raw edges are exposed (see photos). Secure with sewing clips and zig zag stitch over the seam.
Step Ten: Find the center of the back panel of the mailbox by folding it in half. Using sewing clips, match the raw edges of hook created in step nine to the raw edges of the back panel of the mailbox, the hook ends spaced evenly apart, straddling the center line. Sew the hook onto the back panel piece of the mailbox with a ¼” seam and backstitch.
Step Eleven: Connect the raw edges of the lining to the raw edges of the outer mailbox panels, right sides together, by inserting the right-side-out lining into the inside-out outer mailbox panels. Line up the side seams and use sewing clips to secure the edges.
Step Twelve:Making sure to backstitch, sew ½” around the top edge. Leave a 4” opening to turn the mailbox right side out.
Step Thirteen:Pull the fabric through the 4” opening to turn the mailbox right side out. Finger press the edges down and use fabric clips to keep the 4” opening closed (maintaining the ½” seam allowance). Sew a top stitch ¼” around the top edge of the mailbox.
Step Fourteen: Attach the 3M strip as directed to the door. Hang the mailbox hanger on the hook to start to receive letters!
Other uses for the hanging door mailbox:
- Use as a receptacle for Secret Santa during the holiday season
- Use as a receptacle for advent gifts during the holiday season
- Use as a “catch-all” by the front door: for outgoing mail, spare keys, odds and ends, and bits and bobs
- Hang by sewing space to catch loose threads and tiny scraps
- Use at bedside, or favorite reading nook, to store your next book
- Use in kids bedrooms for easy access to favorite little toys
- Use to store found treasures and knick knacks while one a nature walk
- Use as a gift basket to fill with goodies for a friend
More from Cobabe Co: If you enjoyed making this door hanging mailbox, check out the other great patterns at www.cobabeco.com. You’ll find whimsical quilt patterns and interactive play panels. Be sure to sign up for the monthly Cobabe Co. Chronicle to get the latest updates, coupons, and pattern releases (including the newest post office play panel).
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