You can sew this helpful organizer in an afternoon so you’re ready for your next session of stitching and watching!
Armchair Caddy Tools and Supplies
Materials
Linen or another base fabric: 1/2 yard or a fat quarterPrint: 1 or 2 fat quartersSolid (for backing/lining): 1/2 yardFusible interfacing: 3/4 yardThread
Tools
Iron Rotary cutter, cutting mat, ruler Pins Sewing machine Scissors
Cut and Prepare the Pieces
Use a rotary cutter to cut the pieces for your armchair caddy, then fuse interfacing following the manufacturer’s instructions. From linen fused with interfacing:
Cut one 13x21-inch piece
From print fabric fused with interfacing:
Cut one 5.5x16-inch pieceCut one 5.5x13-inch piece
From print fabric (no interfacing):
Cut one 3.5x4.5-inch piece
From solid fabric (no interfacing):
Cut one 13x21-inch pieceCut one 5.5x16-inch pieceCut one 5.5x13-inch pieceCut one 3.5x4.5-inch piece
Sew the Pockets
Set aside the large linen and solid pieces. Match the pieces of the same sizes for the pockets, placing them right sides together. Pin and sew along one long edge of larger pieces. Sew around all four sides of the smallest pocket, leaving an opening for turning. Use a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press the seam on the larger pieces, then turn them so they now have wrong sides facing. Topstitch 1/8-inch from the seam. Trim the corners of the small pocket and turn it right side out. Press to remove wrinkles and press under the seam allowance. Topstitch 1/8-inch from the edge on one short end. This is the top of the pocket.
Prepare the Gusseted Pocket Panel
On the long pocket piece, press a crease six inches in from each edge for the front of the center pocket. Fold and press the pocket gusset about 3/8-inch from the first crease in the opposite direction on each side. The folds on each side should form a Z and a backward Z. Fold and press another 3/8-inch pocket gusset on each side of the center pocket. The folds should almost touch when flat.
Place the Pocket Panels
Lay the linen piece flat and pin the smallest pocket piece with the bottom edge 2 inches from the bottom of the linen and with 9 inches on each side. Sew the two sides and bottom 1/8-inch from the seams, forming the pocket. Pin the gusseted pocket piece on one side and the plain pocket piece on the other with raw edges aligned. Topstitch between each of the gusseted pockets. If you wish to divide the flat pocket, you can topstitch down the middle of this piece.
Sew and Finish the Armchair Caddy
Pin the solid fabric to the linen piece with right sides together. Sew around the four sides, leaving an opening on the linen section without a pocket. Use a 3/8-inch seam allowance. Trim the corners to reduce bulk, then turn the armchair caddy right side out. Press the seams open and press under the seam allowance on the opening. Hand sew the opening with a slip stitch. You can put your new organizer to use!
Tuck Large Items Away
Hang your armchair caddy over the arm of a chair or sofa, then stow your most-used tools in the pockets. The large flat pocket is great for holding embroidery hoops, patterns or instructions, and even a book. Of course, since this is a large pocket, lots of things can go in here, but you may want smaller items in the gusseted pockets so they are easy to find.
Keep Small Items Safe
No one wants to fish around for tiny items that like to hide! Use the smallest top pocket for holding an Apple TV remote or your favorite pair of embroidery scissors. If you like to do a lot of hand sewing for English paper piecing or embroidery, you can add a magnet or a magnetic needle minder to the empty space on the top of this caddy. It will keep your needles and pins safely in place!
