Sew Cute: Picnic Utensil Carrier
I love picnics. There’s something so magical about eating outside, especially in the summertime. Picnic season is in full swing, and I can’t wait to pack up a basket and head back to the park for some fun outdoor dining.
This week’s craft is perfect for the picnic fan: a reusable, roll-up carrier for utensils and flatware. I used classic, all-American red-and-white gingham for my fabric, and added a whimsical touch with a polka-dotted ribbon. The resulting carrier makes for a cute, convenient way to tote your picnic essentials—plus, it won’t take up much space in your basket or bag.
Materials:
- Patterned fabric
- Thread in a corresponding color to the fabric
- 7/8-inch wide ribbon
- Basic sewing needle
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Measuring tape
- Ballpoint pen
- Iron and ironing board
- Optional: sewing machine
Craft away:
- Draw two rectangles onto the fabric, 13-inches long by 11-inches wide. Cut them both out.
- Draw a third rectangle onto the fabric, 16-inches long by 9-inches wide. Cut it out.
- Fold the edges of the 16-inch long rectangle in 1/2-inch, towards the back of the fabric. Iron and pin the fold to set it in place.
- Using a sewing machine or a needle and thread, stitch the fold in place.
- Fold the edges of the other two rectangles in 1/2-inch, towards the back of the fabric. Iron the folds to set them in place, but leave them unpinned.
- Pin the short ends of the stitched rectangle to the short ends of one of the unstitched rectangles, making sure the bottom edges of the two pieces line up. Make sure the folds of both pieces are facing away from you.
- Arrange the fabric so that it pokes up in four places, making four little tubes or channels. Use pins to hold the channels in place. These will make the pockets for the silverware.
- Using a sewing machine or a needle and thread, sew the short ends of the stitched rectangle to the unstitched rectangle. Stitch along your pins to hold the channels in place as well.
- Pin along the bottom of the channels to finish closing the pockets. You’ll have to make little gathers as you go.
- Stitch along the pins to close the pockets.
- Cut a 36-inch piece of ribbon.
- Pin the ribbon to the front of the other rectangle, on the opposite side of the folds. Place the ribbon 6-inches up from the bottom edge of the rectangle, and 4-inches in from the side.
- Stitch the ribbon in place using a sewing machine or a needle and thread. Just make one line of stitches through the ribbon; let the rest hang loose.
- Pin the two pieces of the carrier together, with folds facing each other. The ribbon should be on one side, and the pockets on the other.
- Stitch the pieces together with a sewing machine or needle and thread. Keep your stitches close to the edge of the fabric, and be sure to sew all the way around the edge of the two rectangles.
- You’re finished! When you’re packing for your picnic, just slip the utensils in the pockets, roll the carrier up and tie it shut with the ribbon.