Block Keeper Tutorial

I have done a tutorial for a block keeper using a post office tube and a couple of people have asked me to put it on my blog. This is my first tutorial, so please excuse any mistakes. If you have any questions, or need further instructions, please leave me a comment and I will do my best to explain. I know there are lots of ways of doing this and this is in no way the first time a post pak tube has been used for a block keeper - this is just my take on how to put it all together.

Hope you enjoy making the block keeper.....

1. First of all you will need a postpak tube from the post office. There are different sizes available, but the 17 1/2" and the 29" tubes are the best. You will also need fabric for the outer, lining and wadding. Cut a piece of fabric the length of the tube by however wide you want the keeper to be (remembering the fabric has to go around the tube once and be big enough for your blocks). For the 17 1/2" tube I cut a piece 17 1/2" x 36".

2. Draw and cut out 2 curved corners on one short end.

3. Use this piece as a pattern to cut the same in the 2nd piece of fabric and the wadding.

4. Quilt these pieces together any way you like - just as you would if you were making a little quilt.

5. Make a tie 1 1/2" x 30". Sew along the long edges and turn through. Find the centre of the tie and the centre of the curved side and pin to the edge as above.

6. Make enough binding to go around 3 edges of the mini quilt. The short straight edge is glued to the tube, so you don't have to bind it.

7. Bind the edges, catching in the ties.

8. Handstitch binding to the inside.

9. Now comes the fun part.... Take the plastic ends off the tube and place the tube onto the fabric, making sure it is straight and edges line up. Using a hot golue gun, glue all the way down the raw edge of the quilt. Roll the tube back onto the glue and hold in place until it dries.

10. Now roll the fabric around the tube and glue along the edge again, enclosing the raw edges.

11. Once the glue dries I slip stitch the fabrics together. This neatens it up and makes it stronger so it won't come off the tube.

12. Roll it all up and use the ties to keep it all together.

13. If you want to cover up the plastic ends, you can either make 2 suffolk puffs or you can make 2 little pincushions. Just hot glue them to the plastic ends when you're done.

All you have to do now is put your blocks on the quilt and roll it all up.... Too easy!!!

Hope you can follow my instructions, and I would love to know how you go making one for yourself.

Teresa xx