SUB Tutorial

I had mentioned in a few previous posts that I would be providing a tutorial on the bed runner I had made as Christmas gifts for my nephews, so here it is:

 SUB (Sports Utility Bed-Runner)

 Multi-Pocket

 

Finished dimensions:  76" x 22"

Diagram of Finished Layout - With Dimensions

Materials Needed

sewing machine

thread for piecing and construction

thread for applique

rotary cutter

cutting mat

letters - purchased or die-cut -  4 1/2" or larger

sewing machine foot for applique

1/4" sewing machine foot - optional

walking foot

Steam-A-Seam 2 Double Stick Fusible Web for applique 

chalk pencil

sharp tip scissors

Fabric Needed (45'' wide)

1/2 yd.        beige or neutral solid cotton - 1 center panel

1 1/4 yds.    baseball novelty cotton (or any sports related theme you desire) - 2 long side panels

1 1/2 yds.    scraps - select pieces no less than 12" in length - 2 end 3-pocket panels

1 yd.           denim - 2 end large pocket tops

1 7/8 yds     solid cotton - 2 end panel bases for sides pocket plus applique lettering

2 1/4 yds.    low loft cotton batting
2 1/4 yds.    solid, print, or pieced backing

Directions

1) Rotary cut the following fabric pieces:

 beige solid for center panel:  11.5" x 46.5"  (cut 2)

 novelty fabric for long side panels:  6" x 46.5"  (cut 2)

 solid color - end panel base: 15.5" x 22.5"  (cut 2)

 various solids - pieced pocket top half:  scrap fabrics cut various widths until you have an all combined

 width of 11.5" by 15.5 (2 sets)

 denim - pocket top other half: cut 11.5" x 15.5" for large pocket - (cut 2)

    

2) Cut batting to 76.5" x 22.5"

3) Cut backing to 76.5 x 22.5

4) Applique Lettering -

Cut or purchase lettering to be used. Trace lettering being careful to reverse directional letters (such as an E or a P) on to one side of Steam-A-Seam.  Pull paper off bottom side of Steam-A-Seam and then place on fabric chosen for letters, press to fuse. Allow fabric to cool. Cut out letters with sharp, fine tip scissors.

 Remove Steam-A-Seam paper from opposite side of letters and place letters in middle of center panel.  Tip:  to determine center, fold center panel in half (side to side), then finger press the fold; fold in half again (top to bottom), then finger press that fold.  You should see an impression of the folds when you open up panel.  Place letters across center of panel.  Press to fuse.  Allow to cool - letters should be fused to fabric. 

Place applique foot on sewing machine and adjust your machine according to your user's manual.  Applique letters onto center panel using thread color desired and type of stitch you prefer.

Fuse

Applique

  5)  Piece -

Change to 1/4" sewing foot and change to neutral color thread on your sewing machine.  Sew long side panels to long sides of center panel - right sides together.  (Use 1/4" inch seam allowance unless otherwise indicated from this point forward.)   Press.            

 

                                       

6)  With right sides together, sew 11.5" x 22.5" end panels to both short ends of pieced center panel.  Press.

End panel sewn on

7)  With right sides together piece pocket tops:  Sew large blue panel half to pieced panel half.  When combined you should have one large piece at 11.5" x 22.5".  Repeat for other pocket top.  Now turn pocket tops wrong side up and press upper edge under 1/4"; fold again 1/4".  Press. Fold over and top stitch close to edge. 

Pieced Pocket Top Panel - Pressing Seams

 

8)  Construction -

Place pocket top right side up on end panel base - placing top slightly above seam line where end panel base and center panel joins.  Pin in place across pocket top and pocket top at sides. Stitch from top of pocket panel at side and continue until you reach corner, pivot, and continue stitching until you have stitched the entire pocket in place, leaving the top of pocket open.  As you approach the end of your stitching be sure to back stitch at the pocket top edge to reinforce.  Next remove pins at top of pocket, smooth fabric layers and begin stitching at top center of pocket top panel.  If you've selected a different color for the large pocket, stitch where the large pocket and the pieced pocket meet (in the center of both halves).  Anyway, this should be your center or approximate center of entire pocket panel.  Again, be sure to back stitch at the beginning of stitching to reinforce. Smooth pieced top pocket side, divide and mark 2 vertical lines with chalk pencil to determine stitching area for smaller pockets.  Stitch, reinforce and continue stitching to edge.  You will have 3 small pockets as a result.  Repeat Step 8 (pocket construction) on opposite end panel.

 

9)  Lay entire pieced top with pockets on top of batting right side up, baste around the entire runner.  Lay backing on top of top--rights sides together, stitch around entire runner, leaving an 8 inch opening on one side.  Clip corners, trim excess if any, turn inside out.  Push out corners, smooth with iron lightly (to help fabric relax).  Hand stitch opening closed.  Take runner back to machine, change to quilting foot, and top stitch 1/2" from outer edge around entire runner.  Move to inside center panel and top stitch (quilt) 1/2" from edge within center panel.

Pocket tops stitched on & Runner stitched around perimeter - Completed Project

10) Optional:  sew quilt label on backing using sports motif such as basketball, baseball, football, etc.  Then date and autograph.

Baseball quilt label added with message to nephew from me.

I might add that my nephews: TyJ, Cole, and Nick loved their SUB's and are on their beds while storing all sorts of things in their utility pockets.  Books, pens, you name it.   

Please let me know if you have any questions or post a message to post pictures after you've made one.  I'd love to see it.

Denise