Oilcloth storage box

Home Decor, Techniques

Today I made a lined oilcloth storage box. A friend had asked if I could make something spill-proof to sit on a coffee table and contain the TV remote controls. I used up some leftover tablecloth fabric and lined it with a navy polka dot cotton. Sewing the fabric on the reverse side was straightforward, using a jeans needle in the sewing machine. Getting the lining in was a big challenge as you can’t pin the oilcloth so I used paper-clips but they liked to slide out. The top stitching was hard to get neat, because you have to add a layer of tissue or baking paper (also paper-clipped in) to help the coated fabric run through the machine.