How to Sew a DIY Fabric Tray Tutorial

Fabric trays can be used to store all types of things such as keys, jewelry, candies, makeup supplies, sewing supplies, pens/pencils.  It's a perfect catch-all tray.

Learn how to make these easy sew fabric trays by watching our video or reading this photo tutorial. These fabric trays are an easy sewing project and great for beginner sewers since it requires only straight seams.

This is a quick and easy sewing project and would be a good project for teaching kids to sew. These can be made in various sizes and either in a square or rectangular shape.

We used this fabric tray pattern as a learn to sew project with our 4-H club.  It was a great project for kids who have never sewn to experienced sewists since it has only straight seams.

Look at the end of this post for links to purchase supplies for this project.

Fabric Trays with the 4-H Club

Our 4-H Club made these fabric trays during a club meeting. The club consisted of members who were experienced sewers and some who had never sewn before. Everyone was able to complete this project.

Some opted for sewing the corners instead of using the Kam Snaps. This was mostly because one of the kids broke the Kam Snap pliers by squeezing way too hard! FYI--I was able to buy replacement parts from the manufacturer to fix them.

We enjoyed leading this project for our club. This gave the kids an item to enter in the county fair that year. Several of the fabric trays were entered and won ribbons at the fair.

Easy Sewing Projects

If you are looking for other sewing projects and tutorials to help kids or adults learn to sew, check out our Sewing For Kids page. Many other sewing projects are also available on Sewing and Quilting Free Kids Projects. Our Sewing Department has many links for learning to sew and free projects.

About Our Fabric Trays

This fabric tray is a fat quarter friendly project.  Pick out two coordinating fat quarters and make some trays!

For our fabric tray, we used Kam snaps in the corners to make the basket/tray shape. The snaps add a bit of decor to your fabric baskets.

Since there are snaps, the trays can easily be flattened for storage or travel. 

What you will need to make a fabric tray:

• 2 Fat Quarters
• Pellon 808 Craft Fuse 
• Kam Snaps
• Kam Snap Pliers

STEP 1: CUT FABRICS

For this project, cut two pieces from the fat quarters and one piece of Pellon.  All three pieces are cut to the same size. Please see the size chart below for cutting sizes.

Fabric Tray Cutting Chart:

Finished Fabric Tray Size (approx)	Cut Two From Fat Quarters and one from Pellon
6" x 6" x 2" (depth) tray (15 cm x 15 cm x 5 cm)	10.5" x 10.5" (26.5 cm x 26.5 cm)
4" x 10" x 1.5" (depth) tray (10 cm x 25.5 cm x 4 cm)	7" x 13" (18 cm x 33 cm)
8" x 8" x 3" (depth) tray (20.5 cm x 20.5 cm x 7.5 cm)	14.5" x 14.5" (37 cm x 37 cm)

Make the Fabric Tray any Size!

To make a fabric basket your own size, take the size of your finished basket (ie. 5" x 9" x 2" finished size), add the depth of the box to each direction twice and then add a half-inch for the seam allowances.

So, for the 5" x 9" x 2" we add 5" + 2" + 2" + .5 = 9.5". Then we add 9" + 2" + 2" + .5" = 13.5 " so we would cut the fabric at 9.5" x 13.5" to make the 5" x 9" x 2" deep basket.

STEP 2: FUSE the PELLON To the Fabric

Fuse the Pellon to the wrong side of the outer fabric following the manufacturer's instructions.

The fusible side of the Pellon will be shiny or have little bumps.  This side should face the back of the fabric.

STEP 3: SEW AROUND LEAVING OPENING

Place the two fabrics with right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam all the way around leaving a 3" - 4" (8 cm - 10 cm) opening along one side.

Don't forget to leave the opening for turning the fabrics to the right side.

With scissors, clip off the points of the corners.  Be sure not to cut through your stitching.  This will help you get flat and pointed corners after turning.

STEP 4: TURN the fabric tray RIGHT SIDE OUT

Turn the fabrics through the opening, pushing out the corners to get nice pointed corners.  A pencil, chopstick or another pointed item can be used to push out the corners.

Iron the fabric tray fabric flat.  Turn in the raw edges for the opening.

The edges are folded in.

STEP 5: TOPSTITCH AROUND the EDGE of the fabric tray

Sew a topstitch about 1/8" from the edge around the fabric. Sew over the folded edges of the opening to close the opening.

STEP 6: INSTALL KAM SNAPS to the fabric tray

Install the Kam Snaps on each corner.

To find where to install the Kam Snaps, fold the fabric in half so it's a triangle. Measure from the point to the depth of your basket and place a pin to mark. Using the pointed part of the snap, make a mark where you want to put the snap.

The pointed awl that comes with the Kam Snap Pliers can be used to make a hole in the fabric for installing the Kam snap.

From the outside put the pointed part of the snap into the fabric, add the socket or stud to the other side.  Slide the Kam snap pliers over the snap and squeeze the pliers to install the snap.

Install the snaps on the corners. You will need one set of snaps at each corner (two caps, 1 socket and 1 stud).  See the photo above for the locations of the Kam snaps.

If you need help installing the Kam Snaps, watch our video It's a Snap, Kam Snaps. This video gives tips and step-by-step instructions on installing Kam Snaps.

Did you install Kam Snaps incorrectly and need to remove them?  Click to see our tutorial on How to Remove Kam Snaps.

Snap each corner and then iron the bottom edges to get a crisp edge. Your fabric basket or fabric tray is complete!

Look below for links to supplies for this project.

Click for other free BASKETS, TRAYS, BOXES & BOWLS tutorials.

Some other Basket Tutorials you may be interested in are:

• HOW TO MAKE A LINED RECYCLED JEAN FABRIC BASKET
• Fabric Button Boats - Learn about this fun project and pattern by Lazy Girl Designs.