Hidden Couch Caddy
This project was born from a need. My husband and I had been "storing" our computer pads in the side of the couch. It was inconvenient and it was messing around with my cover, so I decided to make something to fix the problem.
I'm calling this a hidden couch caddy because I didn't want it to stick out and be really noticeable. Also, my couch already has armrest covers and I didn't want to cover them up or not use them at all. So I made these caddies to be hidden under the covers. Also, I constructed them with a fabric that wasn't going to stick out and draw attention.
(If you don't have armrest covers, this is the opportunity to make them. You can either make the caddy as the armrest cover, or you can make a shortened caddy without pockets which is just an armrest cover.)
I'm calling this a hidden couch caddy because I didn't want it to stick out and be really noticeable. Also, my couch already has armrest covers and I didn't want to cover them up or not use them at all. So I made these caddies to be hidden under the covers. Also, I constructed them with a fabric that wasn't going to stick out and draw attention.
(If you don't have armrest covers, this is the opportunity to make them. You can either make the caddy as the armrest cover, or you can make a shortened caddy without pockets which is just an armrest cover.)
Supplies
Supplies:
Fabric (I used 1 yard and even with experimenting, it was still enough for both caddies and two pockets for each)
Thread that matches the fabric
Sewing Machine
Bobbin (not shown, but necessary to use a sewing machine)
Fabric (I used 1 yard and even with experimenting, it was still enough for both caddies and two pockets for each)
Thread that matches the fabric
Sewing Machine
Bobbin (not shown, but necessary to use a sewing machine)
Cut Your Fabric
To get started, measure where you are going to put the caddy. Measure from the inside of the couch seam where it meets the arm, up over the arm rest and down to however long you want it to hang. I originally did 34" by 16" which ended up being too long. For my second caddy, I did 30.5" by 16", but your measurement will depend on your couch.
To make the front part of the caddy, the semicircle piece, I held up the fabric to the couch and outlined about half an inch bigger all around the half circle. The piece from that is in picture 4. (In case you want to know, it was that weird shape, but 8.5" wide and 7.24" tall.)
One thing to keep in mind, while cutting out your pieces from your yard of fabric, is you are going to want to cut out pockets later. I actually didn't have a big enough piece to cut out my big pocket later because I cut out both rectangles first and they ended up being too big. I was still able to have pockets, I just had to sew two pieces together to get a square big enough; you will see this later. If you cut them the right size right away, I believe you will have enough leftover to make the right size pickets.
To make the front part of the caddy, the semicircle piece, I held up the fabric to the couch and outlined about half an inch bigger all around the half circle. The piece from that is in picture 4. (In case you want to know, it was that weird shape, but 8.5" wide and 7.24" tall.)
One thing to keep in mind, while cutting out your pieces from your yard of fabric, is you are going to want to cut out pockets later. I actually didn't have a big enough piece to cut out my big pocket later because I cut out both rectangles first and they ended up being too big. I was still able to have pockets, I just had to sew two pieces together to get a square big enough; you will see this later. If you cut them the right size right away, I believe you will have enough leftover to make the right size pickets.
Sewing Your Pieces Together
It is a little difficult to pin your pieces together since the circle curves, but it is possible. Try to keep the fabric as lined up and flat as possible to make sure the fabric doesn't bunch or slip while sewing. Remember you are sewing inside out. So the way it looks isn't the way it will sit on the couch, meaning if it looks like it will slip on the right side, it will go on the left.
You will be starting at one end/bottom corner of the semicircle piece and pinning it to the long side of your rectangle. If the long side continues off the left of the semicircle it will be for the right side of the couch and vis versa. What I did before I even sewed the pieces together was, carefully, turn it right-side out with the pins in and put it on the couch, carefully, to see how it was going to fit. Luckily, I seem to get lucky with this method a lot, it fit perfectly.
After sewing it together, check to make sure it will still fit on the couch, such as in picture 4.
Start sewing where the end of the rectangle matches up with the semi circle (where the corners meet). You want to stop about half an inch from the end so you will be able to sew the seam later. Otherwise you will have to use a seam ripper to pull out the last few stitches like I had to for the first one.
You will be starting at one end/bottom corner of the semicircle piece and pinning it to the long side of your rectangle. If the long side continues off the left of the semicircle it will be for the right side of the couch and vis versa. What I did before I even sewed the pieces together was, carefully, turn it right-side out with the pins in and put it on the couch, carefully, to see how it was going to fit. Luckily, I seem to get lucky with this method a lot, it fit perfectly.
After sewing it together, check to make sure it will still fit on the couch, such as in picture 4.
Start sewing where the end of the rectangle matches up with the semi circle (where the corners meet). You want to stop about half an inch from the end so you will be able to sew the seam later. Otherwise you will have to use a seam ripper to pull out the last few stitches like I had to for the first one.
Sew the Seams
Have the caddy inside out; fold over and pin the seams. Then just sew all the way around.
Pockets
Figure out how big you want your first pocket to be. (Since I had room, I made two.) I made the iPad pocket first since that was the main reason for the caddy. I put the iPad pocket at the end of the caddy that was next to the end of the arm. I determined there would be more support there.
Cut out a rectangle that is bigger than the iPad, or whatever you want the pocket for. You will have to fold over the sides so make sure it is bigger than the object. (You can see in the first picture that I didn't have a piece big enough so I just sewed two pieces together which worked out fine.) Then sew the seam for what is going to be the pocket opening.
Pin it in place. You can either fold over all the sides, like you did the top seam, and sew it all the way around and then sew it to the caddy, or you can fold over the sides, as I show in picture three, and sew the seams and sew it to the caddy in one go.
When you go to sew, you need to make sure you are catching the folded over piece that is underneath. You can feel it, but won't really be able to see it. If you don't catch it, it will try to flip back out and you wil have un ugly, unfinished seam.
Sew it on. I double back on all the corners to try to give it some extra support. Remember not to sew the top of the pocket shut or it will defeat the purpose of a pocket :)
Now that you know how to do the pockets. Do as many as you want. I did two: one for the iPad and one for the remotes. Even if the remotes don't fit into the flat caddy, they will fit when the caddy is hanging over the side of the couch.
Cut out a rectangle that is bigger than the iPad, or whatever you want the pocket for. You will have to fold over the sides so make sure it is bigger than the object. (You can see in the first picture that I didn't have a piece big enough so I just sewed two pieces together which worked out fine.) Then sew the seam for what is going to be the pocket opening.
Pin it in place. You can either fold over all the sides, like you did the top seam, and sew it all the way around and then sew it to the caddy, or you can fold over the sides, as I show in picture three, and sew the seams and sew it to the caddy in one go.
When you go to sew, you need to make sure you are catching the folded over piece that is underneath. You can feel it, but won't really be able to see it. If you don't catch it, it will try to flip back out and you wil have un ugly, unfinished seam.
Sew it on. I double back on all the corners to try to give it some extra support. Remember not to sew the top of the pocket shut or it will defeat the purpose of a pocket :)
Now that you know how to do the pockets. Do as many as you want. I did two: one for the iPad and one for the remotes. Even if the remotes don't fit into the flat caddy, they will fit when the caddy is hanging over the side of the couch.
Done
Take the armrest cover off and slip on your caddy. Then you can put the cover back on and your hidden couch caddy is complete!
What If It Is Too Long?
So my first one was too long, which can happen.
If that does happen, here is a way to shorten it and add pockets.
My first one was touching the floor, so when you put your iPad in it, it hit the floor too, which is bad. So I went to above the pocket and folded it up so it went to where the semicircle met the rectangle. Sew the two sides. This isn't enough, though, because it will sag. My solution was to sew up the middle of the pocket.
If that does happen, here is a way to shorten it and add pockets.
My first one was touching the floor, so when you put your iPad in it, it hit the floor too, which is bad. So I went to above the pocket and folded it up so it went to where the semicircle met the rectangle. Sew the two sides. This isn't enough, though, because it will sag. My solution was to sew up the middle of the pocket.