Round Casserole Carrier
Needed materials
½ yard of per quilted cotton fabric (or make a rectangular quilted sandwich from 2 cotton fabrics ½ yard each and batting slightly wider and longer)
1-- package of 1 inch wide double fold bias tape (Wrights brand calls it Quilt Binding, stock number PC 706) or make your own bias tape… you will need 40 + inches
1 yard minimum of cord (shoe lace, rat tail ribbon, macramé cord etc ) to use as draw string
Thread to match fabrics
If you make your own quilt sandwich for the project you might find a jeans , top stitching, or other sewing machine needle handy for the thicker sewing.
Helpful tips…
Check these resources for some sewing basics that might make the bias tape sewing easier.
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fEv3VXPUEs
Good print tutorial on how to make bias tape (binding) as well as how to attach to various edges…
http://sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/344-bias-tape-how-to-make-it-a-attach-it
Casserole Carrier instructions…
1/4th seam allowance through out.
Making you template… for this project you will need a paper template that is a 17 wide circle; you can make this by any means you wish, compose, large bowl etc. From the center of the template cut a 7 inch circle, your template should now look like a large donut.
Handles… from the short end of your rectangular quilted sandwich cut two strips that are 3-1/2 inches wide. Pin with right sides together longwise and pin along the long edge. Stitch with a ¼ inch seam and turn right side out. (or use your favorite method to make handles). Press the handles so that the seam is in the center. Between the center seam and edge of the handle sew a line of stitches and do this to both sides of the seams. This will stabilize the handle a nd keep it from rolling. The side with the seam is now the down side and should end up facing the top of the carrier.
Main Body of Carrier… cut two 17 inch circles from your quilted rectangle
Top… fold the template in half so that it resembles a large “C“ and fold the circle for the top of the carrier so that it resembles a large “D“. Pin the template on top of the folded fabric circle so that the straight edges of the “C“ line up with the straight edge of the “D“, also check to make sure that the rounded edges match.
With your rotary cutter or scissors follow the inner edge of the “C“ template and cut out the 7 inch circle. This will be attached to the bottom of the carrier in a moment.
With the template still attached cut the 2 folded edges of the fabric circle circle. Remove the template, you will now have two fabric “C“.
Attach bias tape to the four short straight edges of the fabric “ C “s leaving a little extra tape at each end. After turning and sewing down the second side of the bias tape trim the ends to match the edges.
Attach bias tape to the curved edges of the “ C “ leaving at least one inch extra on each end, this will be turned to the inside of the tape before sewing it down to the back side… this will provide a finished end plus form the opening for the draw string casing.
Attaching the handles to the top pieces. Cut both of the handles the same length… to anywhere between 14-1/2 to 16-1/2 inches long. Try the shorter length first.
Each “ C “ gets a handle. Place it so that it lays parallel to the straight edges. Adjust the distance till you like what you see…. Anywhere from 2 inches from the two straight edge sections, to no more than 3 inches. Pin the handles in place and do a quick stay stitch (less than ¼ inch
from the curved edge).
Put the finished top pieces aside.
Bottom…
Take the 7 inch circle that was cut from the first quilted circle…. Use pinking shears to trim around the circle then place it in the center of remaining fabric circle. Either zig-zag around the edge once or straight stitch around the circle a couple of times there by finishing the edge as well as attaching it to the bottom circle. This marks the center of the bottom plus gives it an extra layer of cushion.
Assembling…
You now have two top pieces each with a handle and one circular bottom piece.
Place the bottom so that the small circle of fabric is down and place the top pieces so that the handles are touching the bottom circle, in other words the carriers outside pieces are on the inside. Through the hole in the center of the top pieces you might be able to the see the stitching that attached the small circle. Adjust the pieces so that everything is aligned correctly… the four straight edges of the two “C”s are just touching and the outside edges are equal. Pin in place then stitch around the outer edge several times… once at ¼ inch and maybe two times around slightly to the left of that. If your machine has a zig-zag run around the edge at least twice with a ¼ seam.
Turn your carrier right side out. The handles should be on the top. Run your hand around the inside along the sewn edge to ease out the shape.
Now using your favorite method run the cord through the bias tape casing that is around the curved edges… tie knots in the ends or attach beads etc to keep the ends from slipping back inside the casing. Do this to both casings… now you can tie a bow across the opening that exists between the two top halves…
To use your new carrier untie the bows and spread the top halves open to place you dish on the small circle on the bottom. Pull the strings tight and tie there by keeping the dish in place. This makes your casserole easier to carry but might still need stabilization while in transport to the party or dinner.
