Clutter seems to have a life of its own. If it belongs to someone else, it doesn’t seem so bad when it is contained in a pretty fabric box. Sometimes – only sometimes, mind you – even my clutter looks better in a pretty fabric box.

To determine fabric sizes, start with the size you want the bottom of your box to be, the height of the sides, and 1/2 inch to provide for a 1/2” seam allowance.

For a square bottom: Size to cut fabric = box bottom + 2 times height + 1” (1/2” x 2) seam allowance.
Batting is cut 1” smaller than the length and width.

For a rectangular box: Determine the length and width of the bottom. Use these values as box bottom length and then as box bottom width in the equation above.

I decided on a 5” square box with 1 1/4” high sides. Using the above formula:
5 + 2 1/2” + 1 = 8 1/2” fabric square
8 1/2” – 1” = 7 1/2” batting square

Supplies:
1 – 8 1/2” square of interior fabric
1 – 8 1/2” square of exterior fabric
1 – 7 1/2” square of fusible fleece or batting

Instructions:
1. Cut fabric and batting to your determined size.
2. Center batting on interior fabric and fuse or use spray adhesive to join batting to wrong-side of interior fabric.

3. Place exterior and interior fabrics right-sides together, lining up the edges. You might want to pin the fabric layers together.
4. Stitch with 1/2” seam allowance leaving a 4” opening in one side for turning.
5. Trim corners.

6. Turn right side out. A point turner or chopstick helps to push the corners out.
7. Press the opening seam allowance to the inside.
8. Edge stitch all 4 edges.

9. With interior fabric facing up, use chalk or water soluble pen to mark a line at the width of your sides (1 1/4” for me) in from all edges.
10. Stitching on these lines will make folding the sides up easier. However, you can just press the sides up.

11. Fold fabric to form corners.
12. Using a ruler and chalk or water soluble pen, mark the corner stitching line where the folding line intersects the folded bottom.
13. Stitch from top edge to the corner of the line of stitching that forms the bottom. Repeat on all 4 corners.
14. Now, what will you put in your clutter control box(es)?