How to Make an Arm Chair Remote Holder

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With this easy-to-sew remote caddy, you'll never lose your remote control again! By choosing a fabric that complements your home decor, you can make an arm chair remote holder that is both functional and aesthetically modern. So, stop digging around in the chair cushions and simplify your life with this arm chair remote holder DIY.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Things You'll Need

  • 13-inch W x 50-inch L fabric for main pattern piece

  • 13-inch W x 6-inch L fabric for pocket pattern piece

  • 13-inch W x 4-inch L fabric for pocket binding

  • 3 1/2 yards bias tape

  • Coordinating thread

  • Ruler

  • Universal sewing needle

  • Pins

  • Rotary cutter or fabric scissors

  • Iron and ironing board

  • Optional: 3 1/2 inches of 1-inch wide elastic (not shown)

Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Tip

I used home decor weight fabric for this remote caddy tutorial. You want a mid-heavy weight fabric, that does not have a clear 'wrong side' to the fabric, as both sides will be showing. If a lightweight quilting cotton is desired, then I suggest lining the project and adding iron-on interfacing in between.

Step 1: Sew Pocket Binding

Fold the pocket binding pattern piece in half, wrong sides together. Press.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Align the long raw edges of the pocket binding with the upper raw edge of your pocket pattern piece, right sides together. Pin together and sew, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Finish seam with a serger, zig zag stitch or pinking shears, and press seam down.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Step 2: Sew Pocket to Main Pattern Piece

Measure 12 inches down from the short edge of your main pattern piece. Place the unfinished long side of your pocket at this mark, right sides together with your main pattern piece. Pin in place and sew using a straight stitch.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Fold pocket toward the closest short edge of the main pattern piece, covering up your raw pocket seam, and press. Using a ruler, draw with a fabric marker or use pins to make straight lines down your pocket. I made 2 lines, approximately 4 inches apart. Sew a straight stitch over your lines to create the pockets for your remotes.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Step 3: Sew Bias Tape Around Edges

Unfold your bias tape, and wrap half an inch of the bias tape around the top corner of one side edge to the back side. Pin the unfolded bias tape to the front (pocket side) of your remote caddy, pinning along the folded line of the bias tape. Pin along the entire side edge, and stop when you get to the bottom. Fold the bottom of the bias tape half an inch toward the other side, as we did at the top, and pin in place.

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Tip

There are lots of ways to sew bias tape around raw edges. Whether you love to sew bias tape by hand or with the help of your sewing machine, feel free to use your favorite method.

Image Credit: Jess Abbott
Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Sew bias tape to side edge, sewing directly over the unfolded line on the bias tape.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Fold bias tape toward the side, and press. Make sure the seam is pressed out toward the side as well when ironing.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Flip your remote caddy so that the wrong side is facing up. Fold the bias tape toward the inside, covering up your seam. Press in place, making sure the bias tape edge covers the sewn line when pressing. Pin in place.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

With the right side facing up, sew directly over your bias tape seam to secure back of bias tape in place. Repeat for all sides of the remote caddy.

Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Step 4: Add Elastic for Smaller Remotes (Optional)

With the invention of Apple TV, Amazon FIRE and other web services, we have inherited much smaller remotes. By adding a simple piece of elastic to your remote caddy, you can help keep these small remotes from getting lost in the shuffle. To add elastic to your remote caddy, simply measure three inches down from the side edge (the same side your pocket is on). Pin elastic in place and sew.

Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Bring the other side of your elastic up and over, matching the elastic edges together in the middle. Pin the bottom in place.

Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Sew the opposite side of the elastic in place, moving the top of the elastic loop out of the way when sewing. For a clean finish, press elastic loop down, and pin the top and bottom in place. Sew a straight line to secure.

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Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Step 5: Sew Pocket Magazine Loop in Place

Measure 12 inches down from the pocket side of your main pattern piece, and fold the pocket toward the wrong side of the fabric. Pin the short edge in place to the main pattern piece. Sew a straight line, 1/8 inch away from the seam.

Image Credit: Jess Abbott

Step 6: Press Remote Caddy to Finish

Press your remote caddy one last time for a clean, professional finish to your handmade home decor. To hang the remote control holder over your arm chair, simply make sure the pocket is facing out, and drape the non-pocket side over the arm. Tuck the fabric flap under your chair cushion, add remotes, and you are finished!

Image Credit: Jess Abbott
Image Credit: Jess Abbott

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