Free Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects by Amy Butler Page A

nothing serene about a cluttered night table. The solution? Keep your bedtime essentials right at your bedside! This fabric organizer has a place for everything you need—magazines, digital music players, tissues, eyeglasses, lip balm, pens, journals—so you can rest easy. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten your partner—there’s an identical set of pockets for the other side of the bed, too!

BEDSIDE ORGANIZER

FABRICS
    • 2 1 / 2 yards (54″-wide) home-decor-weight cotton fabric for the organizer, lining, and deck topper
    • 1 / 4 yard (44″-wide) coordinating cotton flannel to line the eyeglass pockets
    • 1 1 / 8 yards (60″-wide) cotton canvas for the deck (for any size mattress; cotton duck or twill could also be used)
    OTHER SUPPLIES
    • Coordinating thread
    • Yardstick or ruler
    • Chalk pencil or fabric marker
    • Scissors
    • Masking tape
    • Straight pins
    • Turning tool (such as a closed pair of scissors)
    NOTES
    • All seams are 1 / 2 ″ unless otherwise stated. (The 1 / 2 ″ seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.)
    • The length of the deck is determined by the width of your mattress. Mattress sizes differ slightly from one manufacturer to another. Please measure the width of your mattress before beginning your project.
    • Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project.
    Step 1. Cut out all pieces from the fabric.
    a. Simply measure and mark the dimensions below directly onto the Wrong side of the fabric, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil. Then, using your scissors, cut out each panel following the marked lines.
(FIGURE BEDSIDE ORGANIZER OVERVIEW)
    FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE ORGANIZER, LINING, AND DECK TOPPER ( FIGURE 1 )
    • Cut 2 magazine pocket panels: 17 1 / 2 ″ wide × 31 1 / 2 ″ long
    • Cut 2 magazine pocket linings: 17 1 / 2 ″ wide × 31 1 / 2 ″ long
    • Cut 2 eyeglass pockets: 4″ wide × 7″ long
    • Cut 2 CD pockets: 8″ wide × 7″ long
    • Cut 2 iPod/pen pockets: 7″ wide × 7″ long
    • Cut 2 small miscellaneous pockets: 11″ wide × 5″ long
    • Cut 2 large miscellaneous pockets: 11″ wide × 7″ long
    • Cut 2 deck toppers: 16″ wide × 7″ long
    FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE POCKET LININGS
    • Cut 2 eyeglass pocket linings: 4″ wide × 7″ long
    FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE DECK
    • Cut 2 decks: * 16″ wide × (width of mattress + 29″) divided by 2 (For example, if you have a standard queen-size mattress, each piece would be 16″ wide × (60″ + 29″) divided by 2, or 16″ wide × 44 1 / 2 ″ long.)
    * Cut these panels with the length going across the width of the canvas.
    b. In order to keep your pieces organized, mark each piece by writing the name on a piece of masking tape and attaching to the wrong side of each panel as it is cut.
    Step 2. Mark the folding guidelines on the magazine pocket panel. ( FIGURE 2 )
    a. Lay the first magazine pocket panel on a flat surface with the Wrong side of the fabric facing up. Fold the 17 1 / 2 ″ top raw edge in 1 / 2 ″ toward the Wrong side and firmly press a crease on the fold. Now open up the fold. Repeat this step for the 17 1 / 2 ″ bottom raw edge.
    b. Next, fold both of the side raw edges in 1 3 / 4 ″ toward the Wrong side and firmly press a crease on both folds. Open up the folds.
    c. Then, measure down 14 1 / 2 ″ from the top raw edge on the right side and make a mark. Move your yardstick over to the left side, measure down 14 1 / 2 ″ again, and make another mark. Use your yardstick to draw a line connecting the 2 marks. Fold the magazine pocket panel on the line, folding the Wrong sides together. Press a firm crease on the fold.
    d. Follow the instructions in step 2c to measure, mark, and press 14 1 / 2 ″ up from the bottom raw edge.
    e. Now, fold the magazine pocket panel in half with Wrong sides together, matching the top and bottom raw edges, and press a firm crease at the folded edge to mark the center bottom of the