Creativebug Guest post by Blair Stocker of Wisecraft
We have the start of a new year bug at my house, and in the midst of all the reorganizing and purging, we’re also doing a little updating my in basement studio. Realizing I need more storage that’s functional but also pretty, I picked up some wooden boxes from the thrift store to play around with embroidering them. This is a great afternoon project, and once you have the boxes you probably have everything else you need already on hand.
DIY: Embroidered Storage Box
Materials
- Wooden boxes (these can be found at most craft stores, I found mine secondhand for $1 each)
- Sandpaper (optional, if you need to prep your box)
- Painter’s Tape
- Spray Paint
- Pencil
- Ruler
- A drill with a drill bit size that a yarn needle can go through
- Scrap yarn in pretty colors
- A yarn needle
- Scissors
- Scrap fabric (enough to cover the inside of the lid)
- Scrap batting (option, to give and extra layer to the inside lid)
May I suggest a podcast to listen to while you work? Check out Creativebug’s Kelly Wilkinson and Liana Allday’s interview with Abby Glassenberg.
Step 1: Prep Boxes
My wooden boxes needed a little sanding and prepping before I could paint them. If yours are ready to go, skip to the next step.
Step 2: Paint
Tape off the hardware with painter’s tape (or remove it temporarily) and give the box a couple of light coats of spray paint. I didn’t paint the insides of mine, but you can. Allow to dry completely.
Step 3: Mark Holes
Mark your holes using a light pencil marks and a ruler onto the outside of the lid. Subtract out the sides of the box lid (you don’t want to drill into them). I marked my holes 1/2” apart on one box, and 1” apart on one.
Step 4: Drill
Drill a hole through each mark from the right side of the lid (not the inside). Note: These holes will not end up perfectly spaced and lined up unless you are a master carpenter and that’s okay!
Step 5: Stitch
Using your yarn needle threaded with a piece of yarn no longer than your forearm, start stitching X’s to create your design, double knot the inside. This part goes quickly, have fun trying out several different colors. And don’t limit your design to X’s. Rebecca Ringquist teaches you how to make all sorts of stitches in her Embroidery Sampler class.
Step 6: Cover
When your design is complete, you can cover the inside of the box lid with a piece of fabric to cover up the stitching and knots. (I wrapped a piece of scrap fabric around a piece of quilt batting, then used fabric glue to secure everything to the lid.)
Blair Stocker