Monday, 19 January 2009

Toilet Roll Hanger Tutorial

Toilet Roll Hanger Tutorial




I didn't plan to write this tutorial. I was trying to design an organiser for my grocery bags. And the toilet roll hanger came to mind. Mary, a dear friend from Tennant Creek, showed me one of these toilet roll hangers years ago. She never did show me how to make one, I worked that out for myself.

I'm thinking of how to use the same sort of design to make an organizer to keep all my groceries bags in when not in use.

Requirements
  • Calico or any firmly woven fabric
  • Interlining or batting scraps.
  • A rotary cutter and ruler makes it easy to cut a straight line
  • Sewing machine threads

Cutting

  • 1 strip of fabric 9 inches by 44 inches (the length of the fabric)
  • 1 strip of wadding or medium to heavy weight interfacing 4 inches by 44 inches. ( you can make them without the wadding but I think they are better with)


I started by measuring a toilet roll. This one is 4 inches wide.
I think they are all that wide so you probably don't need to do this.
I doubled the measurement and added 2 x .5 inches = an inch for seam allowances.


I folded over the long edges .5 of an inch, these are the seam allowances.
I pressed them well with the iron.
I butted the wadding up against the fold of the seam allowance.
My wadding has a lot of cling so I didn't need to baste it.
You could use an iron on pellon or medium to heavy weight iron on interfacing.


I folded the two long edges together, sandwiching the batting between the fabric.


I top stitches both long edges


Next I did a little trial and error pinning in my toilet rolls
You need to leave at least 3 inches at the top to make the hanging sleeve.
Use the photo above as a guide.


Next I pinned in the second toilet roll. This one is at the bottom.
Use the photo above as the guide.


Take the toilet rolls out and use the pins as a guide to the sewing lines.


Sew with a straight stitch across the first pin marked line.
i eyeballed it straight, you could mark it with chalk if you aren't as confident.
Being a quilter I often forget to backstitch but you need to do it here.


At the next pin I turned under the raw edge.



I then did a double row of stitching.
The first close to the edge then next a quarter of an inch away.
This encases the seam I turned under.
I probably didn't need to turn under the seam as it was a selvedge but it looked neater.


Put your toilet rolls back in to hanger to check the fit.


Turn down the top edge 1.5 inches to the back.
And stitch it down, creating a loop for the hanger.
You can use a simple piece of dowel or a fancy bag handle like mine.


Tie some ric rac, ribbon or cord to the wooden hanger and you're done.

Variations..
  • Make it longer so you can hang more rolls.
  • Sew some ric rac down the center before you sew up the pockets.
  • Make the hanger wider and use it to hang magazines or other items.

You are welcome to make and sell.

12 comments:

Vickie said...

wow seing that is like a trip down memory lane -have not seen a pettern or a toilet roll fabric holder for amny a years now..well done
cheers vickie

willow and moo said...

Wow, Tracy, you're on a roll with these tutes! ;-)

Debra Dixon said...

You need to compile a booklet with your tutorials and sell it.

Amanda W said...

Oh I wish I lived in an old country shack as I think this toilet roll holder yes can suit any house but would really be at home somewhere old country.

Toria said...

Now that is what I need to make!

I've been trying to think how you could store your shopping bags. Have you seen the Trolley Dolly? I saw it on a UK site a few months back, I've just googled now to get a link to a picture & have found it's available here now as well - http://www.zpm.com/products/living/trolley-dolly/default.aspx . There's a video on the UK site showing all the parts to it.

I don't think I could justify buying one when I already have a stack of reusable bags, but I love the concept of everything needed for grocery shopping being stored together.

Anonymous said...

I made this yesterday and it came out great, thanks for the tute! I even went one step further and embroidered "Yours" and "Mine" on the front and now my hubby thinks I'm stuffing the cheap stuff in his!

sandyandcosmo@yahoo.com

Talia said...

Hey, thanks so much for this tutorial! I'm out to buy some calico now so that I can make my own!!

I'll post a photo on my own blog when I'm done to show you!

Thanks again!!

keren said...

thank you for your cool post!
I've just finished making my hanger and it's great :)

Anonymous said...

Nice brief and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Say thank you you on your information.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Fantastic..easy instructions. Do you have a tutorial to make easy gingham aprons
Lauraine from Sydney

bidet seat said...

A nice and artistic type of tutorial I would say.