Sew with Me Saturdays: By Tammy

I like to call this the

Roll-it-All Cube

I know it looks simple and that’s because it is!

I see soft cubes all of the time, but I haven’t seen one where you can change what is on the cube. I love choices and options–just imagine the possibilities with this cube. You can insert cards for virtually whatever you want on a roll of the die. Toss a little clutter from other board games by using just this cube with your own interchangeable cards. Just choose and insert the appropriate cards and you are good to go. Plus, there are a ton of ways to use the cube all on its own.

Some ideas:

Numbers (not pictured) or Number words

Color words/Colors

(I forgot to take a picture of the pink card, but you can kind of see it glowing at the bottom in this picture!)

Pictures

How fun–especially for non-readers! This is a good way to teach taking turns. Or, you could use pictures of chores or things to do when you are getting ready for bed or whatever you can think up!
It makes an easy way to choose people (for chores!) or choose activities.

You could give this as a gift with family photos in each space. The recipient can just insert the updated family photo each year!? Grandmas and Grandpas everywhere will cheer!

Games
This would be perfect for song time at church with young children–roll a way to practice singing a song!
Or, roll the way to clean up—pick up the puzzles fast or maybe pick up the puzzles wiggly.

Want one? Are the ideas for using it overflowing?

I made a chore cube HERE and will be using some of the same instructions for this cube.

Materials

fabric

polyester filling or square foam insert

12 gauge clear vinyl

cardstock

Instructions

Cut 6 squares from fabric. Each square should be 4.5 inches on each side.

Cut 6 squares of vinyl. Each square will be 3.25 inches on each side.

Tape the vinyl in place using masking tape on each side. Leave a space where you will start sewing. (Difficult to see since the vinyl is clear, but you get the idea.)

Stitch along the edge of the vinyl (sides and bottom – not the top) using a zig zag stitch for maximum hold. The stitch length should be fairly small so the stitches are close together. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and ending of your stitching. Also, start your stitch a bit off the edge of the vinyl to hold the vinyl even more securely especially since you are pulling cards in and out of the pockets.

After you have made 6 squares with 6 vinyl pockets, continue putting your soft cube together. Sew two squares with a 1/4 inch seam allowance right sides together (RST). Be sure the top of the pocket is at the top of both squares. Zig zag or serge the edge to reinforce it. Chore Cube1

Sew on two more squares so you have the four squares that make up the sides.

Sew the bottom on by putting right sides together along one edge and sewing one edge at a time. The corners just kind of work themselves out as you sew one edge at a time. Do not try to sew around it all at once. Zig zag or serge to reinforce the seams.

Repeat this process for the top of your cube, but only sew three sides.

I actually sewed a little bit of the fourth side because I do not like hand sewing very much and it makes the corners easier to deal with.

If you are using a foam square for this part, you may need to leave 2 or 3 sides open to insert it. If using foam, Insert it after you turn the fabric right side out and hand sew the sides closed.

Turn your cube right side out very carefully. The vinyl will be stiff and get a little wrinkled up as you turn, but it will smooth out once you stuff it. Stuff cube with polyester filling. Use small chunks of filling so more can be stuffed in and it doesn’t glob all together. It takes a lot more than you might think it will take. Stuff it pretty tightly because it will pack and shift when you start using it.

You will have a gaping area where you left the opening to turn it.

Carefully fold the edges in 1/4 of an inch. Cotton fabric will hold the fold pretty well just by pressing it together with your fingers. Using matching thread, stitch the opening closed. You can also do this carefully on the sewing machine, but mine always seems to work better by hand. And, I know it can be done more nicely by hand, too–hand sewing really isn’t one of my strengths.