Today I’m super excited to be working with Warp & Weft and Sew Mama Sew to create a new tutorial for you! Esmari from Warp & Weft has even come up with a giveaway to go along with it. Hooray for everyone!

I came up with the idea for a sturdy base fabric tray a few months ago. Since the fabric tray tutorials I was finding online seem to have fabric bases, they are hard to pick up without dropping everything on the tray. Which, of course is fine if you don’t want to move them around – but I thought it would be nice to make one that you could could carry. I love the shape of this tray is like a little wooden tray, right down to the contrasting handles – and they are really easy to sew in!

I count myself super fortunate to have been able to work with two collections, brand new to the Warp & Weft shop! First, Beyond the Backyard , features lovely springy flowers and (my favorite) tiny bees hidden throughout. These meld amazingly well when they are pieced together.  The second collection, Petite Plume is based on peacocks and I am loving the bright colours in this one! The navy background on the “Floral” design sets off the others beautifully. Both of these collections are made by Canadian manufacturer Camelot Fabrics. Since Warp & Weft and I are both based in Canada that makes this post a truly Canadian experience – Enjoy!

So, you’d like some fabric of your own? Here’s your chance! Esmari from Warp & Weft is giving away one fat quarter bundle with each of the lovely Petite Plume fabrics in it. That’s 5 fat quarters just waiting for you to make something amazing! (And of course a fabric tray is on your list?!) The giveaway starts today and ends at midnight on Monday, May 19th. Enter on the Rafflecopter widget below – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email! (Keep reading, the tutorial is next!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The full tutorial is on Sew Mama Sew today – Click: Sew Mama Sew Fabric Tray Tutorial – to access it. The tray tutorial on Sew Mama Sew is for a 10″ x 6″ tray – the perfect little rectangular size for showing off your favorite fabric scraps in a pieced rectangular log cabin. This post will cover the materials needed and cutting sizes for the bonus 6″ x 6″ tray. A perfect square with my newly acquired skill – the wonky star quilt block – in the centre. (More on that in a later post!) I love this little tray for things like jewelry, paper supplies in your office, or even for holding your kids’ loom bands!

Materials:

  • Quilting Cotton Inner – Fabric Scraps (sizes indicated in Prep & Cutting below)
  • Quilting Cotton Outer – one piece 11”x11”
  • Quilting Cotton Handle – one piece 9”x5”
  • Batting – one piece 11”x11”
  • Canvas – one piece 11”x11”
  • Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing – one piece 11”x11”, one piece 9”x5”
  • Hardboard (for base) – one piece 5.75” x 5.75”
  • School Glue Stick OR Basting Spray OR Pins
  • Embroidery Floss & Needle
  • Ruler, Removable Fabric/Hera Marker, Your other usual sewing supplies
  • Zipper foot and/or Walking Foot are helpful but not necessary
  • 6″ x 6″ Fabric Tray Pattern Pieces

Printing the Pattern Pieces:

  • Print the 2 page pattern pieces pdf on letter size (8.5″ x 11″) or A4 paper. Important: Make sure scaling is set to ”None” or “Actual Size” when printing. Once you have printed the pages, measure the 1″ test square to ensure the pattern is the correct size. Cut out the 3 pieces along their outer lines. Tape/glue the tray pattern pieces together, matching the letters in the gray half-circles. You will now have 1 tray pattern piece and 1 handle pattern piece.

Prep & Cutting:

  • Prewash your fabric if desired and press well.
  • Fuse the 11”x11” interfacing to the Outer Tray Fabric and the 9”x5” interfacing to the Handle fabric.
  • Lay the interfaced Outer Tray fabric wrong side up and trace the Fabric Tray pattern piece onto it using your removable fabric marker. Also mark the back of the fabric with all dots and clipping lines. Cut out the Outer tray. Do not clip yet. (photo is of the larger tray
  • Fold the 9”x5” interfaced handle fabric in half so the short ends meet. Trace 2 handles using the pattern piece, being sure to line it up at the fold. Cut out both handles. (photo is of the larger tray
  • Cut fabric scraps for the Inner Tray following these sizes and the drawing below. You will need eight 2 1/2″ squares for the background and five 2 1/2″ squares for the wonky star. Also cut two pieces 6 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ and two pieces 2 3/4″ x 11″ for the inner tray sides.
Prepare the Quilted Tray Base:
  1. To make the wonky star inner base, follow this tutorial from Cathy at Blueberry Patch. She uses 4″ squares in her tutorial, but we are using 2 1/2″ squares here. Follow her steps 1 and 2, then follow the directions here to piece them together.
  2. Lay out and stitch your wonky star block together with ¼” seams. Add the top and bottom sides to your centre block, then add the left and right sides. Your pieced fabric should be approximately 11”x11” when finished. 
  3. Create a quilt sandwich with the 11”x11” canvas on the bottom, batting in the middle and quilted inner tray on top. Use pins/glue stick or basting spray to secure everything together. (photo is of the larger tray
  4. Click the link and follow the Sew Mama Sew Fabric Tray Tutorial to finish your fabric tray. Continue the tutorial by finding the “Prepare the Quilted Tray Base” section and begin with the step noted in the photo below.

I’d love to see your trays! Please share on the Thread Riding Hood Facebook page, or hashtag #alongforthreadride or #threadridinghood on Instagram or Twitter. And don’t forget to pick up your Beyond the Backyard and Petite Plume today!

** Please note: This is a sponsored post and the fabric was provided to me at no cost by Warp & Weft, through Sew Mama Sew. However, as always, all opinions are my own and I will not promote a business that I do not love myself!