Get Organized! How to Sew Your Own Vinyl File Folders!
Good Morning, Quilters!
Let’s get organized!
Every January I do my best to get my paperwork organized.
This year I think I have a chance with these clear vinyl folders!
SUPPLIES
1 yard of 12 gauge vinyl (makes four large and four small file folders) –available at Joann Fabrics or any sewing/craft store
Scraps from quilt bindings-For each folder: 2-14 x 2 inch strips
Sewing clips or paper clips
Sewing machine with any thread
HOW TO MAKE VINYL FILE FOLDERS
Using a rotary cutter, cut the vinyl 20 x 13″
Cut the folders one at a time. Do not try to layer for cutting.
Remove the paper before or after cutting–whichever is easier for you.
Fold the vinyl to create a 10 x13″ pocket.
Cut two strips of binding 14 inches long and any width.
Fold the trim in half–if it is not already folded.
You should have two unfinished edges on one side and a fold on the other side.
Set up your machine for zig zag sewing. Any foot will work–I used the open toe appliqué foot. BERNINA offers a teflon coated foot that slides better on vinyl, but I found it was not necessary for this project
Using the sewing clips, encase the edge of the vinyl in the trim
Zig zag over the raw edges of the trim. (My setting: Width of zig zag=5 and stitch length =1.75.)
Repeat on the other side and trim the loose threads.
Clip the top edges together. Be sure the right and left edges are even and trim if necessary.
Stitch the sides of the file folder using a zig zag stitch.
That’s it–a beautifully stitched vinyl pouch–EASY!!!
Now comes the hard part–getting the paperwork organized!
Once you get started making these, you will be hooked! Create them in a variety of sizes to hold notecards, stamps, receipts…
Here’s to 2018 being the most organized year ever!!!
MORE VINYL PROJECTS-
If you are buying vinyl…buy a little extra to make a quilt overlay to test your motifs–Read more HERE.
It’s a technique I highly recommend.
What about YOU?
Any tips for organizing in 2018?
We’d LOVE to hear!
This week on Open Line Friday–bring YOUR tips for organizing fabric scraps!
Signed,
The Organized Quilter (LOLOLOLOL)
Lori
PS…If you like these motifs and tips, be sure to check out my book, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 or any of my Craftsy Videos!
PPS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
These are adorable! I can also see using these for holding a recipe while cooking so that IF (and I won’t admit this happening to me) ????????☺️one splotches while cooking, it wouldn’t ruin the card/page! Thank you ????
Great idea!
I love the ease of this project. I am organizing all my fabrics scraps this year. Blue is the color of the month and I’m working on 5 blue scrap drawers. I’ve made 2 huge quilts using lots of the blue and I still have overflowing drawers. I hope that when I lay the pieces flat that it doesn’t overflow anymore.
Have a fun organizing year.
Thank you for this great tip, will definitely give it a try.
I make too many messes, and spend too much time organizing, but I already got my markers for vinyl doodling, so I’ll get extra vinyl and make these. Have to have ’em! Idea: would binding on the edge of the sheet for doodling prevent running off the edge with the marker?
Yes!! I bound the edges of my quilt overlay!
Brilliant! Do you recommend any specific thread type or needle size? I’ve never sewn vinyl. Thank you Lori.
I used Aurifil 50 wt cotton and a Universal needle–it was easy!
Great idea. Have a bunch of double fold bias tape on hand. Plan to use that instead of extra binding.
Lori, not sure if you and your family are football fans, but that Vikings game yesterday was so unbelievably exciting! I’m a NY Giants fan, but yesterday I was cheering for the Vikings while finishing the hand-sewing on a Christmas quilt (yup, a little late). Love that the win is being called the Minnesota Miracle!
I grew up a Bears fan but have learned to love the Vikings. That game was unbelievable!!!!! Most exciting game ever!
Yeah! a Minnesota convert! It is great!
Fantastic game – fantastic folder idea!
I use acid free sleeves that I put in binders for my hand sewing projects. I have one for my Dear Jane quilt and one for the Brimfield block quilt (EPP project) I just started. I can put the binder and hand sewing container in a bag for traveling, For Dear Jane, I use one sleeve per row for completed blocks and one sleeve for the pattern per block. I also use binders with sleeves for other quilting related papers, such as my organizer papers from AQS.
Great ideas!!
Thank you! I will have to make some of these.
Great idea! I even have some of the vinyl left over from a previous project. I’m doing this today!
I’m off to Joanne’s! Love this clever and cute idea – thank you for sharing!
Great idea! I can see organizing all the articles and patterns that I have! Thanks for the idea!
It’s lovely to see all your colourful binding strips laid out in their wee plastic home. I’m Jonesing for colour. I’m still not allowed to my sewingroom on the other floor, post surgery. I have a bunch of those boxes I used to keep thread in, before I came up with a better idea. This will be a good use for them. Loving the plastic sleeve idea as well. Thanks, you’re such a clever bunny.
Get well soon! There’s so much fun upstairs!
Would be nice to have a personal organizer to do it for you but then you may not be able to find things. Well, guess that means we have to do our on work. Ha
the picture of the sides look like they have a little fabric in between them were you zig zagged or is that just the thread? tx!
All I did was zig zag the sides.
Great idea. I will need to make some!
Great idea. I love it.