Handmade Gifts for Boys Day 1: Lego Minifig Carrier Tutorial
Welcome to day one of the third annual Handmade Gifts for Boys series! Stacey and I have a week full of tutorials and giveaways to help with your boy gift giving! (Or for girls too ;) So make sure you come back every day this week to see all the fun we have in store!
My boys spend about 95% percent of their time playing with Legos, and they have a particular fondness for the Lego Minifigures (affiliate link). I decided to make them a carrier so that they can cart them around the house – or even take them in the car – easily!
Supplies needed:
- less than 1/4 yard of non-stretchy fabric (I used quilting cotton)
- fusible interfacing
- fold over elastic (affiliate link)
- KAM snaps (affiliate link) or buttons
- basic sewing supplies
1. Cut two rectangles of fabric and one of interfacing. Mine were 8×11, but you can adjust your size to fit your needs. Iron the interfacing onto the wrong side of the inside fabric.
2. Cut two pieces of fold over elastic the length of the fabric (in my case that was 11 inches. Pin them across the fabric.
3. Sew the ends of the elastic down first, then a vertical line one inch from the edge. This will leave a space for the mini figures to slide in. You will want to either use a straight stitch or a very narrow zig-zag stitch and then stitch back and forth a couple times.
4. Continue in one inch intervals all the way across the elastic. Repeat with the second elastic and trim all your loose threads.
5. Cut a 3.5 x 6inch rectangle for the carrier’s handle.
6. Fold it in half with right sides together and sew along two sides with a 1/4 seam allowance (or trim the seam allowance when you’re finished if you use a larger seam allowance). Clip the corner.
7. Turn this inside out and fold the raw edge under 1/4 inch. Press and topstitch the open end closed.
8. Pin it in the middle of the outside fabric.
9. Sew the ends of the handle with a small rectangle. You can also sew an X in the middle.
10. Put the two fabrics right sides together with 1/4 inch seam allowance and sew around the edges, leaving a two inch opening.
11. Clip the corners and turn right side out. Press the raw edge of the opening under (and press the rest of the fabric). Topstitch around all four sides.
12. Attach snaps or buttons/buttonholes to both ends.
Now slide the minifigs in, and your littles can carry their toys wherever they go!
When snapped closed, the handle is perfect for little hands.
The elastic keeps everything securely in place, and there’s room for plenty of them! You could make your carrier a little larger if your boys have lots of “Lego guys” (as we call them in our house) and you need to make room for more.
For us, though, this size is perfect. It will also hopefully prevent all the frustration that comes from trying to carry too many minifigs around the house, but your hands are too small. A familiar scenario in our home…
But wait, there’s more! We have a fabulous giveaway! We’ve put together an amazing bundle of fabric and patterns for a lucky winner!
Click here to enter the giveaway!
Now make sure you head over to Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts and check out her awesome DIY Dragon Poncho tutorial!
And don’t forget, my Bottoms Up Pants Pattern is on sale for 22% off, but only through today! So grab your copy! (If you purchase it and then win the giveaway, I will happily refund you)
This is genius, my friend. I need to make one ASAP!
I will need to make these perhaps with an added accessories pocket.
Love this!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this evening that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-lego-minifig-carrier/2014/12/03/
–Anne
Reblogged this on HattieLu and commented:
What an excellent idea for boys!
I would love to make this for all the lego lovers in my house! One question…in #2 Do you mean to elastic not interfacing?
yes! great catch! thanks so much, jenny, i just changed it :)
Love this! I can’t wait to make it with my grandson, James (7) who has a definite need for mini-figure storage! This is absolutely great! A marketable item for you! I think folks would buy these! Thanks so very much for your generosity in sharing your great idea and talent!
Thank you for this fun tutorial! I just made one for each of my Lego loving boys.
Just finished making this for a birthday present tomorrow! Thank you! #lifesaver
Made one today. . My son asked me to put a little pocket in for all the wands and weapons. He is a happy boy! Sadly I do not know how to add a photo