Tutorial Tuesday: Visor CD Holder

Thanks to the serious lack of good radio stations around here and the sweet futuristic sound system in my new older car, I needed to burn several CDs to keep myself entertained while I drive. Not mp3 CDs, like 70 minute regular CDs. And if you want to get technical, I could have made cassette tapes because, ladies and gentlemen, my car has a tape deck. I look forward to the day C asks from the back, "What is that?"

In my frugal fashion (and laziness to shop), I decided to try my hand at making a CD holder for my visor instead of buying one. Turns out, it wasn't all that hard once I got the measurements down.

For this project, you'll need:

Front and back cut from a cereal box
Various fabric scraps
Velcro
Hot glue gun

And the basiscs...scissors, rotary cutter and mat, pins, and iron

First start by cutting out all of your pieces. I chose a main print and then three complimentary (sort of) prints to mix in.

Cut two 10 3/4" x 5 3/4" rectangles out of the main color. This will be the backing and base for the front. Then, cut out five 9" x 5 3/4" rectangles out of the complimentary/main colors. These will be the pockets on the front that hold the CDs. Fold each of the pocket pieces in half and press.

Take one of the larger rectangles and a pocket piece. Place the pocket piece 1 1/2" from the right most edge (folded side towards the edge) and pin. Sew the inner side of the pocket about 3/8" from the edge. Don't worry about the side edges - they will be taken care of when you sew the front and the back together.

Place the next pocket over the first one leaving a 1 1/4" space from the top edge of the previous pocket. Sew a 3/8" seam along the inner edge like with the first pocket. Do this for the rest of the pockets. The last pocket should line up with the edge of the main rectangle.

Once all of the pockets are sewn onto the front piece, its time for Velcro! You'll need two sets of Velcro strips at 6" each. Place one side of the Velcro, face up, on top of the pockets about 2 1/2" from one edge with 1/2" sticking off the fabric. Pin in place. Stick the coordinating strip on top with 1/2" sticking off the other edge right over the pin. This will ensure the right sides of Velcro touch when you wrap it around your car's visor. Repeat with the other set of Velcro strips 2 1/2" from the other edge.

When all of the Velcro is pinned to the pocket layer, create a sandwich with the backing -- right sides facing. Pin in place.

For the sake of communication ease, lets call the end on the right the "top" and the end on the left the "bottom." Make sense?

<------------------ "Bottom"                 "Top"--------------------->

Starting at one side of the "top," sew around the edges of your fabric sandwich with a 3/8" seam allowance. Leave the "top" edge completely open to insert your cardboard backing. If you don't have a heavy duty machine needle, this would be a good reason to get one. With all these layers and the Velcro, a regular needle might not do well.

IMPORTANT: Make sure when you go over the Velcro that you aren't sewing through both strips. Only sew through the strip that is sticking 1/2" out of the sandwich. Peel back the strip from across the holder to keep it out of the way.

After sewing around the 3 sides, turn inside right and poke the corners out. Press. Cut your cereal box cardboard into two 10 1/4" x 4 3/4" rectangles. Stack them together and slide them into the fabric. I had to trim mine a little bit to make it fit, but it should be very snug, so don't worry if its tough to slide in.

There should be approximately 1/2" extra at the top past the cardboard. Top stitch very close to the edge of the cardboard being careful not to hit the cardboard. With a hot glue gun, glue the extra flap of fabric towards the back. Super professional? Not really, but its easy and won't ever be seen.

Now go burn yourself five sweet mix CDs because you're done! Here's my CD holder in my fancy new car making it all colorful and stuff. And yes, I have a Taylor Swift CD next to a Lady Gaga CD. You don't even want to know what the other three are. Don't judge.