Cover an outdated hat box with fabric.
Hat boxes are useful alternatives to sewing boxes and closet storage. They are more decorative than cardboard boxes, and even the shape is more aesthetic. Historically, hat boxes were used to store hats and came with hats when they were purchased. More often now, people purchase hat boxes specifically for storage, gifts or crafts. People often use fabric to cover and decorate the boxes, especially when they are being used for craft supply storage or sewing boxes.
Instructions
Covering the Box
1. Remove the lid from your box and trace your box's base with a pencil onto a sheet of card stock or poster board.
2. Cut the circle out of the card stock or poster board with scissors.
3. Measure the height of your box and measure around your box with your measuring tape.
4. Cut a piece of fabric 1 inch longer than your box is round and 6 inches wider than the height of your box, with sewing scissors.
5. Fold a 1-inch hem on one edge of the fabric that was cut to the height measurement. Cut a strip of iron-on hem tape to fit the length of the folded edge and place it inside the fold.
6. Iron the hem on a medium setting to activate the tape and seal the hem.
7. Place the edge of the fabric, that is opposite the ironed hem, against the side of the box (up and down) so that 3 inches of fabric extends past the top and bottom of the box. Apply fabric glue along the back of the edge and press fabric into place on the box.
8. Apply fabric glue over the sides of the box and wrap the fabric around the sides, smoothing it over the box as you wrap it around. Apply fabric glue along the back of the hem and press into place over the unhemmed edge.
9. Cut slits every 2 inches into the 3 inches of fabric that hangs over the bottom edge of the box.
10. Fold the 2-inch sections under the box and glue them in place with fabric glue.
11. Cut four evenly spaced slits into the fabric that hangs over the top edge of the box and fold them over into the box. Glue them in place inside the box with fabric glue.
12. Place your card stock or poster board circle over a piece of upside-down fabric and trace it with a fabric marker. Draw another circle around the first one, about an inch from the edges of the original circle. Follow the shape as closely as you can, but it does not need to be perfect. Cut it out with your sewing scissors.
13. Apply a thin layer of fabric glue to one side of your card stock or poster board and lay it onto the center of the upside-down fabric circle. Flip it over and smooth the fabric with your hands to remove any air bubbles. You will have about an inch of fabric hanging over around the edges of the circle.
14. Cut small slits in the overhanging fabric every 2 inches around the circle.
15. Fold the overhanging fabric around to the other side of the card-stock or poster board circle and glue each 2 inch section down with fabric glue.
16. Flip your box upside down and apply hot glue around the edge and in an "X" formation over the center. Place the fabric-covered card-stock or poster board circle in place over the bottom so the fabric-covered side faces up.
Covering the Lid
17.Trace your lid onto a sheet of card stock or poster board and trace it onto a piece of fabric, the same way you did with the box. Draw another circle about 1/2 inch from the edges of the traced circle. It does not need to be perfect.
18. Cut slits along the fabric that overhangs the card stock circle every 2 inches. Fold the 2-inch sections over the circle and glue them in place on the back of the circle.
19. Measure the height of the lid lip and measure around the lid with your measuring tape.
20. Cut a strip of fabric 1 inch longer than the length around your lid and 1 inch wider than the height of the lip.
21. Fold a 1/2 inch hem on one end of the fabric strip and iron it in place with iron-on hem tape the same way you did the fabric for the sides of the box.
22. Glue the edge of the fabric strip, that is opposite the hem, onto the side of the lid so that 1/2 inch of extra fabric extends over the top and bottom of the lip.
23. Apply fabric glue to the side of the lip and smooth the strip of fabric in place over it as you wrap it around. Apply glue to the back of the hem and press it in place over the unhemmed edge.
24. Cut slits in the fabric that overhangs the top of the lid, every 2 inches. Fold them down onto the top of the lid, and glue them in place with fabric glue.
25. Cut four equally spaced slits in the fabric that overhangs the bottom of the lid's lip. Bend them over the lip and glue them in place at the back of the lip with fabric glue.
26
Apply a bead of hot glue around the edge of the lid and in an "X" formation over the center. Press the fabric covered circle (fabric side up) onto the top of the lid.
Tags: fabric glue, fabric that, poster board, card stock, card stock poster, stock poster, stock poster board
