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Quilted Storage Tub Pattern | Confetti Fabric Technique

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Download Debbie Shore's storage tub pattern, which uses the fabric confetti technique.

Confetti quilting uses shreds of fabric in the same way as paint, so you can create your own designs for quilting, bag making or homewares. You don’t need to be an artist – my first few tries simply involved laying strips of colour onto fabric to create abstract designs. Your main project is a simple storage pot with an abstract beach-coloured design – a handy place to store pens and pencils, make-up brushes and cosmetics or small sewing notions and tools.

Before we get into the project (see steps 18–28), we’ll start off by experimenting with a few techniques – these are tulle and machine quilting (see steps 1–4), tulle and free-motion embroidery (see steps 5–7), iron-on vinyl (see steps 8–11) and wash-away stabilizer and embroidery (see steps 12–17). If you make these examples, don’t throw them away: they make interesting pictures if framed, or can be used as place mats or coasters.

Here a few tips to bear in mind before we dive in.

• The shreds will need to be kept in place on the fabric, so I’ve come up with a few ways to do this – and be warned, your sewing area will be covered in colourful confetti as you work!
• Try to use cotton fabric that is dyed all the way through – some printed fabrics have a very pale backing and can cause white flecks in your work. Cut off any selvedges/selvages, too, as these can make the pieces tough to sew through.
• I used my rotary cutter to shred the fabrics, as it’s much quicker than scissors. Whichever you choose, make sure you have a sharp blade to make cutting easier.
• A temporary fixing glue or tacking/basting spray, such as Odif 505, will help keep the confetti in place over the fabric base.
• If you’re making a few projects, it’s a good idea to store the confetti pieces in separate containers so that the colours don’t get mixed up. This can be a little like using playdough with the kids: mixing too many colours produces a muddy look!

Note: Use a ½in (1.25cm) seam allowance throughout.

Finished size of storage tub: approx. 5½ x 6in. (14 x 15cm)

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You will need:

Equipment

• Rotary cutter and cutting mat or fabric scissors
• One 6in (15cm) and one 7in (18cm) circle template; try the crockery drawer for plates or bowls the right size!
• Card and pencil to make the templates
• Tacking/basting spray; I used Odif 505
• Sewing machine and darning foot
• Hand-sewing needle
• Optional: walking (even-/dual-feed) foot

Materials

Note: these are for the main project, not the experiments/samples

Gather:

• 18½ x 12in (47 x 30.5cm) fusible foam stabilizer
• 20 x 16in (50 x 40cm) outer fabric
• 20 x 16in (50 x 40cm) lining fabric
• Scraps of sea green and navy blue for the sea, sky blue, yellow for the sand, orange for the sun, and sky blue and white for the sky and clouds
• 18 x 6in (45 x 15cm) black tulle

Cut:

• One 6in (15cm) circle and one 18½ x 5½ in (47 x 14cm) rectangle from fusible foam stabilizer
• One 7in (18cm) circle and one 20 x 7in (50 x 18cm) rectangle from outer fabric; this is cut a little larger than needed to allow for shrinkage when quilted
• One 7in (18cm) circle and one 19½ x 6½ in (49.5 x 16.5cm) rectangle from lining fabric
• Shreds from all your fabric scraps

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