Trunk Organizer

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Sewing Machine
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Iron & Ironing Board
• Rotary Cutter & Cutting Board
• Quilter's Rule
• Tape Measure
• Marking Pen or Tailor's Chalk
• 2 yds Solid Color Cotton Duck Canvas
• 1 yd Home Decor Print Fabric
• 1/4 yd Cargo Netting, Black
• 3/4" x 20" Velcro
• 2 yds 1/2" Elastic
• 3 yds 1" Belting, Black
• Parachute Buckles, (3, to fit 1" belting)
• Chopstick or Dowel Rod
• Optional: 1/4" Applique Tape

DIRECTIONS:

1. ATTACH BELTING TO BUCKLES:
• See manufacturer's directions.
• Cut one 12" in length of belting.
• Fold one end 1/2" and zig zag stitch in place. Feed folded end through "A" end of buckle and fold back approximately 2". Zig zag stitch in place. Cut one 20" in length of belting. Fold one end 1/2" and zig zag stitch in place. Feed flat end through "B" end of buckle. Repeat.
• Cut two backing panels from solid canvas at 21" x 43". Cut corners with a 2" diameter curve.
• Attach buckles with belting to RS of front backing panel. See illustration for placement. Do not twist belting. Tails of belting extend 1 1/2" past top long edge of backing panel. Sew 3/8" from raw edge of canvas. Set aside.
• Attach Velcro to bottom of RS of back backing panel. See illustration for placement.
• Cut three 4" lengths of hook side of Velcro. Zig zag stitch around all sides to secure.
• Place Painters tape to completely cover Velcro. This will prevent the Velcro from attaching to the netting during construction.
• Do not remove tape until project is completed. Set aside.


2. CONSTRUCT CARGO NET POCKETS:
• Cut one strip of print fabric to 3" x 53".
• Fold each long edge back 1/2". Press. Fold again in center to encase raw edges. Press. This will be the top band for the pockets.
• Cut one strip of print fabric to 1 1/2" W x 18" in length.
• Fold each long edge back 3/8". Press.
• Cut length in half to make two 9" strips for vertical bands between pockets.
• Cut netting to 9" H x 53" in length. Mark the center of the 53" in length.
• Pin vertical bands 8" on either side of the center mark.
• Optional: Tape down bands with 1/4" Applique tape.
• Open the top band of fabric. Place the top edge of netting touching the inside of the center fold.
• Place 1/2" elastic on top of netting, also touching the inside of the center fold of fabric.
• Fabric clip fabric closed over netting and elastic.
• Place a large safety pin at either end of the elastic. This may prevent the elastic from slipping out of the fabric channel.
• Zig zag stitch the bottom edges of the top band together without catching the elastic inside.
• Slide the top band on the elastic to create an even gather until the width of top band is 43".
• Pin each end to the sides of the front backing panel, 9" up from the bottom edge.
• Adjust the vertical band so the outside edges are 14 1/2" from the sides.
• See illustration. Mark the same location 9" up from the bottom of the panel.
• Adjust the elastic so there is no pull on the fabric at the sides of the pockets, the top band should lay flat to the backing panel.
• Sew close to both sides of the vertical bands between pockets.
• Continue the stitching through and just beyond the top band.
• Pin or fabric clip the sides of netting to the backing panel.
• Add a pleat at each bottom corner of the pockets, just large enough to settle the netting to lay flat across the bottom edge of fabric.
• At the outside corners keep the pleat at least 1" away from the sides. This will prevent it from being caught in the side SA. Baste 3/8" from edges.
• Place front and back backing panels RST matching corners.
• Sew 1/2" SA leaving 9" open on one side, above the top edge of the pockets.
• Trim corners to 1/4" and notch. TRSO. Fold in opening to match side seam. Press.
• Topstitch 1/4" from edges. Stitch down either side and across the bottom of each of the belting tails that are encased in the backing.
• Sew two horizontal lines from one side of the panel to the other, 9 1/2" and 11" down from the top edge of the panel. Set aside.


3. CONSTRUCT THE TOP POCKET SIDES:
• The two side pockets are made from one panel.
• For two sets of pockets cut two each, outer and liner 9" x 30 1/2".
• RST one outer and liner, sew 1/2" SA one short side and top.
• RST second outer and liner, sew 1/2" SA opposite short end (from first set) and top.
• Clip top corner. TRSO. Press. Center pocket, cut one each outer and liner, 9" x 15 1/2".
• RST sew 1/2" SA from both sides and top.
• Clip top corners. TRSO. Press. All pockets, clip 1/2" up from bottom edge and fold in 1/2" at flanges.
• See illustration for locations and additional information. Press. This will create a finished edge at the bottom of all flanges except the inside corners of the right and left panels. These corners will be layered with the flanges of the center pocket.
• Baste 1/4" from bottom raw edges of all pockets.
• Topstitch 1/2" from sides and 1/4" from top edge. On side pockets topstitch along "press" line, as indicated on illustration, for center flange between pockets.
• Fold side pockets at press lines indicated on illustration. See "top view" illustration for directions to fold pockets to press.


4. CONSTRUCT AND ATTACH POCKET BOTTOMS:
• Cut one outer and one liner for each pocket bottom. Two at 4 1/2" x 7 1/2", two at 4 1/2" x 11", one at pattern shape for center pocket.
• RST matching outer and liner sew one long side 1/2" SA, this will be the back of the bottom.
• Center pocket, sew 1/2" SA on back edge.
• Angle cut SA at corners to reduce bulk.
• TRSO. Press. Repeat.
• Baste 1/4" from raw edges.
• Sew to corresponding pocket bottom.


5. SIDE POCKETS:
• place RST and raw long edge of bottom matching raw edge of pocket.
• Match corners of bottom with pressed corners of sides.
• Back corner of pocket bottom should align with the corner of adjacent flange on pocket side panel.
• Cut 3/8" up on side panel at press lines to flare seam allowance and turn corners. Sew 1/2" SA.


6. CENTER POCKET:
• Find center of curve and match with center of bottom edge of side of pocket. Ease around curve. Match back corners of bottom with start of side flanges. Trim seams to 1/4".
• Zig zag edge to finish. TRSO. Press.
• Add horizontal strips of Velcro to side pockets with flaps.
• Cut one at 4" in length for small pocket, two at 2" in length for large pocket.
• Apply hook side of Velcro to pockets. Reserve loop side of Velcro for flaps.


7. SMALL POCKET FRONT:
• Set Velcro centered from side to side and 1/2" from top edge.


8. LARGE POCKET FRONT:
• Set Velcro 2" in from sides and 1/2" from top edge. Sew Velcro with a zig zag stitch around all edges.


9. CONSTRUCT FLAPS FOR POCKETS:
• Cut one outer and one liner for each flap. One at 6 1/2" x 7 1/2", one at 6 1/2" x 11".
• Cut both bottom corners with a 2" diameter curve.
• RST sew 1/2" SA, sides and bottom edge. Trim curves close to seam. TRSO. Press.
• Fold in opening 1/2". Press.
• Topstitch 1/4" from sides and bottom edge, 1/8" and 1/2" from top (opening side) edge.
• Repeat.
• Fold flap, liner sides together, 2" from curve corner edge and 1/2" from back edge (flange). Press.
• Add horizontal strips of Velcro to liner side of flap.


10. SMALL FLAP:
• Set Velcro strip centered from side to side and 1/2" from 6 1/2" front edge with rounded corners.


11. LARGE POCKET:
• Set Velcro strips 2" in from sides and 1/2" from 10" front edge with rounded corners.
• Sew Velcro with a zig zag stitch around all edges.


12. ATTACH FLAPS TO THE FRONT OF THE BACKING PANEL:
• On the backing panel mark a line 1" down from the top edge.
• Start the line 1" in from the left side and continue to 7 1/2". On the right side start the line 8" and continue to 18".
• Place the flaps on the front of the backing panel, liner side up, straight back edge aligned with the top of the marked lines. Small flap on the left, large flap on the right. Sew 1/2" and 1/8" from edge of flap.


13. ATTACH THE POCKETS TO THE FRONT OF THE BACKING PANEL:
• Mark a horizontal line 8" down from the top edge of the front backing panel.
• Mark points along the line to indicate placement for flanges on the sides and between the pockets.
• Start the outer edges of the bottoms of the side pockets 1" in from the sides of the backing panel.
• With the pockets liner side up align the back edge of the bottoms of the pockets with the bottom of the line. The bulk of the pockets will lay below the line.
• Sew 1/2" from the back edge of the bottoms from side to side of the backing panel to attach all bottoms.
• Add another line of stitching 1/8" from the back edges of the bottoms.
• Flip the left set of side pockets up. Set the side flange 1/2" from the outer edge of the backing panel.
• Set the left side of the center flange flush with the edge of the pocket flap.
• Set the right raw flange 10 1/2" from the right side of the center flange, start of the flange 10" from the center flange.
• Sew 1/2" and then 1/8" from sides of side flanges. Sew directly over original stitching (1/2" apart) on center flange.
• Reverse and repeat for right side pockets.
• Set center pocket flanges covering raw edge flanges of side pockets.
• Match top corners of center pocket flanges with top corners of side pockets raw edge flanges. Sew 1/2" and then 1/8" from sides of flanges.

JOANN HACKS:

• Add a small bead of Fray Block or other similar product to bottom corners next to flanges of side pockets.