How to Make a Lunchbox
A lunch box is a convenient way to bring food to work or school. Square, metal lunch boxes were first made in the 1940s when lightweight metal manufacture became cost-efficient for mass production. Then, plastic became the material of choice for lunch boxes during the 1980s. Fabric lunch boxes, which became popular in the 1990s, provide an inexpensive and easily-cleaned alternative to metal and plastic boxes.
Things You'll Need
- 1 yard exterior fabric
- 1 yard interior fabric (plastic or nylon)
- Ruler
- Pattern paper (or newsprint)
- Fabric shears
- .5 yard Velcro fastener
- 1-yard braid material for handle
- Thread
- Dressmaker pins
- Sewing machine
- Semi-firm flat foam pieces
- Plastic sealable and lidded food containers
Instructions
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How to Make a Lunchbox
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1
Determine the lunch box size. Stack the food containers in a 10x8-inch square. Use a ruler to measure the amount of space that the items extend beyond this measurement. Do the same for height and width measurements. The height, width and depth measured will be the measurements for the new lunch box.
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2
Use the measurements, ruler and pattern paper to create a box pattern. Draw one main piece that will serve as the front and rear of the lunch box. Draw one side and one top piece. Add 1 inch to all sides of the pattern for seam allowance. Cut the pieces.
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3
Pin the pattern pieces on the fabric. Begin with the exterior fabric. Fold the fabric so that it is doubled, then pin the pattern pieces. There is no need to match patterns or design. Do the same for the interior fabric.
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4
Cut the fabric. The cutting should yield an exterior set for the main box (the front and back of the box), a set for the front and bottom of the box, and a set of two sides. Repeat this step to cut the interior fabric for the box.
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5
Sew the exterior sides of the box. Pin the sides to each end of the bottom. Sew both of these seams using a 1-inch seam allowance. Pin the sides to the top of the box and sew these using a 1-inch seam. Once this is done, the sides of the box are completed. Repeat this step to sew the interior box sides.
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6
Attach the sides to the rear of the box. Using the back lunch box fabric piece, attach the interior sides using a 1-inch seam allowance. Repeat this step to construct the interior lining.
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7
Sew the front of the box. Pin the exterior and interior fabric (patterns to the inside) pieces and sew 1 inch around the edge. Do not sew the bottom of the lid. Cut the foam to fit the front and insert it in the lid.
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8
Cut and insert the foam into the main box. Place the exterior sewn box on a firm surface. Measure the foam so that it easily fits in the interior of the box. Use sewing pins (on the exterior center) to hold the foam in place.
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9
Put the lining fabric in place inside the box and fold down the edges by 1 inch. Pin the lining (the edges will end up inside the seam) and machine top stitch (1/4-inch from the edge) around the sides.
Finishing Work for the Box
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10
Fold the bottom part of the lid under by ½ inch and sew it on the machine. Fold this piece under by ½ inch and machine-sew the lid onto the bottom edge of the lunch box.
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11
Finish the piece by hand-stitching (tacking) around the interior seams. This will keep the foam permanently in place.
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12
Attach the Velcro in two places on the front. Hand-sew the backing to the front piece and the other pieces to the front of the box.
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13
Sew the handle strap to either side of the box. Stitch a square in the handle material (around the bottom edge) to support the weight of the loaded lunch box and one straight line across the handle where it meets the top of the lunch box.
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Tips & Warnings
Select washable fabric for easy laundering.
