Rubik's Storage Cube

The last one!
I made all my Rubik's projects, all spread out over the past six months or so. Here's the final project I have to share this week:


A Rubik's Storage Cube!
I made it just after my obsession with my Storage Cube Tutorial, when I made a bunch of them all in a row. This one is a little different, in that the seams are all enclosed inside -- rather than having that decorative binding on the outside. Didn't want to mess with the integrity of the cube, of course!

It still folds up nice and flat, although I was careful not to cross any of the stitching for the folded sides over the colored squares -- it's all in between them.

Perfect for storing all sorts of geekery!

Rubik's Cube -- The Ottoman!

Project #2 in my Rubik's Cube series!

Yes! It's true! I upsized my Squishy Rubik's Cube into a 16" ottoman! I created it for my brother J. Clark's birthday. (He can actually SOLVE The Cube! Well, not this one -- a functional one!)


What You Need:

~ Rubik's cube (for reference)
~ stickers (for labeling your cube)
~ 14.5" ottoman (you can adjust measurements to fit any cube ottoman)
~ 1 yard black cotton duck cloth -- prewashed, dried, and pressed!
~ 1/8 yard fleece in each of the colors: red, yellow, green, blue, orange, and white
~ 1 1/2 yards fusible webbing (I used the "light" version)
~ glue stick
~ clear monofilament thread


STEP ONE: Cut your duck cloth. I cut five 15.75" squares.
Here's the breakdown: Sewing on all the colored squares takes up some of the give in your fabric. I added a total of 1.25" to the original measurement of my ottoman, which was 14.5". For my ottoman, this was the perfect amount to end up with 1/2" seam allowances. Please note that you may need to adjust these measurements.

STEP TWO: Label your cube! Find an interesting configuration of the cube, then label five sides. You will not be creating the sixth side -- the bottom of the cube.

STEP THREE: Figure out how many squares of each color you need to cut. This is easy -- look at your sixth side and for each color subtract those squares from the original nine you would have if you were doing the entire cube.

STEP FOUR: Cut your fusible webbing into strips 4.5" wide. Fuse the appropriate amount (do a little math after figuring out how many squares of each color you need) to your fleece.

STEP FIVE: Using a ruler and a pencil, draw lines to create 4" squares on your fusible webbing.

STEP SIX: Cut them out!

STEP SEVEN: (I sewed four of my black squares into a row using a 1/2" seam allowance before laying out and fusing my colored squares, but you can do what makes the most sense to you.) I created a paper template to make my layout as accurate as possible. To fuse: After peeling the paper backing from each square, use a glue stick to temporarily hold the squares in place.

Gently remove the paper template,

carefully turn the whole thing over, and press from the BACK. (You cannot get enough heat to the fusible webbing when pressing from the front of the fleece.)

STEP EIGHT: Using monofilament thread, sew along the edges of the squares. I simply sewed a series of straight lines all the way through each row. Since the thread is clear, there is no need to stop and start at the end of each fleece square.


STEP NINE: Complete construction of your ottoman cover much the same way as the I-Spy Blocks/Storytelling Dice, steps 6 and 7 -- except you are adding the top, not the bottom.

STEP TEN: Put your cover on your ottoman and pin the hem. Carefully press around the pins.

STEP ELEVEN: Tuck the raw edge in all the way to your pressed edge and sew close to the upper fold.

Your cube is complete! Kick your feet up on it, bust out your original Cube, and let the geekiness begin!

Squishy Rubik's Cubes -- TUTORIAL

Yeah, so I guess I'm geeky enough to fill the rest of this week with Rubik's Cube projects! Stay tuned for a few goodies!

Just in time for Father's Day...
Here is a tutorial for a soft and squishy Rubik's Cube!
It could be used as a stress-relief squeezer, desktop decor at the office, a pincushion, or -- the ultimate --


a pair of Fuzzy Rubik's Cubes for Dad's rearview mirror!!

What You Need:

~ Rubik's Cube (for reference)
~ Stickers (for labeling your cube)
~ Six 4" squares black fabric per cube (I used quilt-weight cotton)
~ Nine 7/8" squares each of red, yellow, green, blue, orange, and white felt per cube
~ 3" cube of high-density foam OR polyester stuffing per cube
~ black shoelace (if making rearview mirror cubes)
~ freezer paper
~ clear monofilament thread


STEP ONE: Mix up your cube until you like the pattern/color combination for each side. Using your stickers, label each side. (If we're going to make a Rubik's Cube, we are going to do it ACCURATELY!) I labeled my sides 1-4, the top 5, and the bottom 6.

STEP TWO: Cut out a 4" square of freezer paper, with a 3" window centered inside -- each side of your freezer paper square should be 1/2" wide.

STEP THREE: Using your iron, press your freezer paper template shiny side down to the right side of one black square. Your freezer paper is now covering the seam allowances of your square.

STEP FOUR: Using your cube as a guide, lay out the appropriate-colored felt squares on your
black square. Center them carefully to achieve those Rubik's-esque black lines in between the colored squares.

STEP FIVE: Load your machine with monofilament thread and sew your squares down.

I simply sewed a series of straight lines all the way through each row. Since the thread is clear, there is no need to stop and start at the end of each felt square.

STEP SIX: Peel away your freezer paper template, press it to your next black square, and continue until you have completed all six squares.

It helps to keep your squares configured the way they will need to be put together to preserve accuracy of your Cube.

STEP SEVEN: Construct your cube!! You are sewing with 1/2" seam allowances.
For (very!) detailed instructions on sewing your cube together, see steps 4-12 in my I-Spy Blocks/Storytelling Dice Tutorial.


If you are making a pair of rearview mirror cubes, simply cut a length of shoelace (mine was about 8"), knotting each end to avoid unraveling, and poke one end into the corner of each of your cubes before you finish sewing it closed. Sew through the knot in the shoelace to secure it.


Even though they aren't functional as actual Rubik's Cubes, they are actually a LOT of fun to play with -- especially the high-density foam version. I love to chuck them as hard as possible at the floor and watch them bounce!

And they are GREAT stress squeezers as well -- no matter how much you squish them, they still pop back into shape!