Stitch a sewing caddy

1. Prepare a dressing table stool by unscrewing the seat from the base and removing all old fabric and foam if necessary. Clean and paint the woodwork. Replace the foam block and hold it in position with a tight covering of plain cotton. Fix to the underside of the seat with a staple gun.

2. Measure from the base of the seat, over the dome of the padding and down the other side in both directions. Add 10cm to both dimensions to give you an indication of the size of patchwork panel you will need to make.

3. Divide each measurement by six, then multiply the two results to work out the number of patches needed. Cut this number of 7cm squares from patterned fabric. For example, if your measurements are 54cm x 66cm, divide each by six to get nine by 11. Multiplied together, this makes 99 squares.

4. Arrange the squares into a panel ensuring no two pieces of the same pattern are next to each other. Stitch them together in rows with a 5mm seam allowance, then sew the rows together, matching seams to create a neat patchwork panel. Press on the reverse to flatten all seams.

5. Place the patchwork panel centrally over the foam pad and pin it in place. Smooth down the fabric in both directions, pinning at the sides and corners. Flip the seat over so the edges of the fabric can be pulled taut and stapled to the underside. Mitre the corners neatly but avoid pulling the material too tight as this could distort the lines of patchwork. Mark the position of the screw holes as you cover them.

6. Cut a panel of plain cotton slightly larger than the underside of the seat, fold under 1cm on each edge and staple or sew over the raw edges of patchwork to neaten. Find the position of the screw holes and replace the base of the stool.

7. Measure the distance around the base of the seat and cut a piece of plain cotton 2cm longer x 30cm. Fold it in half lengthways and sew down the long side and one short side. Turn out and press. Fold in 1cm on the raw edge and pin. Top stitch this edge and the other seamed edges.

8. Pin the skirt around the stool so the two ends sit at the centre front (where your legs might tuck under the stool). Mark the position of each corner with more pins and then remove from the stool.

9. Cut several 15cm square pockets from leftover patterned fabric. Turn under the top edge of a pocket and hem. Turn in the remaining three sides and tack. Pin to the skirt in the desired position and topstitch in place through all layers of fabric. Remove the pins and tacking.

10. Repeat for the remaining pockets, avoiding placing one over a corner. Ensure that all the pockets are the right way up. Re-pin the skirt to the stool and adjust the positioning before fixing it permanently with upholstery pins hammered through the fabric into the wood base.