Couch Caddy Sewing Instructions

Remote controls and television guide books are often misplaced or out of reach. A couch caddy, which drapes over the armrest, has pockets for these items. The pockets are also ideal for notepads, pens, eyeglasses and tissues. Sew a couch caddy using a fabric to match a room's decor or the personal tastes of the homeowner. The couch caddy sewing instructions use basic lines that would work well for a beginner sewing class.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-yard fabric
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• 1/4-yard low-loft quilt batting
• Iron
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Disappearing ink pen
• Ruler
• Hand sewing needle and thread

Instructions

1. Cut two rectangles of fabric 8 inches by 20 inches and one of the same size from low-loft quilt batting. These will make up the body of your couch caddy. Cut an 8-inch by 9 1/2-inch pocket panel and a 7 1/2-inch by 8-inch pocket panel.

2. Fold over a quarter inch of one 8-inch edge of one pocket panel and press. Fold over another quarter inch, press and pin. Top stitch the pinned hem. This will be the top edge of the pocket. Repeat on one 8-inch edge of the other pocket panel.

3. Place the batting flat on your work surface. Lay one body rectangle over the batting with the right side facing up. Lay the larger pocket panel on the rectangle with the right side facing up. Match the raw 8-inch edge with one short end of the caddy's rectangle body and the long raw edges of the pocket with the body edge. Lay the smaller pocket, right side up, on top of the first pocket, matching the edges in the same way as the larger pocket.

4. Pin the sides and bottom raw edges of the pockets, through all layers. Stitch around the pinned side edges and bottom edge of the pockets using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

5. Measure 4 inches across the top edge of the largest pocket to find the center. Mark with a disappearing ink pen. Repeat on the bottom edge of the pockets. Use a ruler to connect the marks. Top stitch along the line, through all layers, to create smaller pockets on each side of the line.

6. Place the remaining body panel over the panel with the attached pockets, with the right sides facing. Pin the panels together on all four edges. Sew around the pinned edges using a 1/2-inch seam allowance and leaving a 3-inch opening on one edge for turning.

7. Turn the couch caddy right side out and press. Hand sew the opening closed.