Make a Remote Control Holder for Father’s Day

This is a fun gift for the dad who rules over the TV remotes. This Father’s Day, help him rule in style. This TV remotes holder holder fits over his favorite armchair or sofa, making it a gift that he'll use and really enjoy.

This remotes holder will fit over the arm of most sofas or armchairs, it has three pockets and includes a quilt block that features the colors of Dad’s favorite sports team. It’s subtle and won’t clash with anyone’s home décor. And it is very likely you won’t need to buy new fabric because most sports teams colors are white and a second color. If you are like me, then I bet you have those colors in your fabric stash right now.  

Have I piqued your interest? Then, let me show you how to make this fast and easy Father’s Day project.

Be prepared for this project. See “Supplies”, “Fabric” and “Getting Ready To Sew”.

These are the tools and supplies that I used to make the TV remotes holder.

• Quarter Inch Quilting Foot (With Guide) for the half square triangles

• And for piecing the half square triangle to the main holder fabric

• Applique Foot for topstitching the holder pocket

• Walking Foot for hemming the TV holder perimeter

• A 90/14 Sewing Machine Needle

• Wool Pressing Mat

• Sewing Stiletto and Rolling Seam Presser

• Coordinating Cotton Threads

• Long Flower Pins or Sewing Clips

• Thread Snips

• Rotary Cutter, 6 X 24 inch Ruler, 6-inch Square Ruler and a Rotating Cutting Mat

• Chalk Fabric Marker

• Heat Erasable Pens

The finished TV remotes holder will measure 12-inches wide by 50-inches deep. You’ll need the following fabrics to make it:

• One 15.5-inch square of white fabric. This will be used to make the half square triangle quilt block.

• One 15.5-inch square of a second sports team color fabric. This will be used to make the half square triangle block. (I used navy to represent the New York Yankees.)

• One 14.5-inch wide by 6-inches deep rectangle of fabric for the holder pocket.

• One 14.5-inch wide by 2-inches deep strip of fabric for the holder pocket’s binding.

• One 14.5-inch wide by 37.5-inch deep rectangle of fabric for the main fabric of the holder.

• Optional: 14-inches deep by 50-inches deep rectangle of coordinating fleece or flannel fabric. (If you know your TV remotes holder will get heavy usage, then use this fabric as a backing.

Tip: If you use solid fabric colors, then you can choose the wrong or right side of the pre-sewn fabric. Once you make that choice, you have to stick with it.

Let’s start with a super easy way to make half-square triangles. You’ll make two but you will only need one.

I will show you how we will make the 14.5-inch square sports-themed half-square triangle that will be used in this project.Assemble the sports colors fabrics for the half-square triangles fabrics on your work area.

• Place your 15.5-inch square of the second sports color in your work area with the right side facing you.

• Place the white 15.5-inch square of fabric on top of the first square.

• The wrong side should be facing you. Pin the two squares together to keep them aligned.

• Draw a diagonal line to divide the squares in half.

Stitch a quarter-inch seam along one side of the diagonal line. Then turn the squares so that you can stitch a quarter-inch on the other side of the diagonal line.

Cut the squares on the diagonal line. This will create two half-square triangles. You’ll only need one.

Get one half-square triangle and steam press the seam flat. Trim it to 14.5-inches square.

Your sports-themed quilt block is complete. Sew it to the main holder fabric. I told you this was easy!

The TV remotes holder consists of two sections, the main holder fabric and the remotes pocket. Sew the half-square triangle to the main holder fabric. Once sewn, the two pieces will be referred to as the holder fabric.

The pocket is the hero of this project. It will hold the TV remotes securely in a location where Dad can easily use them. We’ll invest most of our time on this part of the project. Let’s start with preparing the binding of the holder pocket.

• Fold the 14.5-inch by 2-inch strip of fabric in half. It is the binding of the holder pocket.

• Steam press the binding to give the fold a sharp crease.

Align the raw edge of the binding to the top raw edge of the holder pocket. (The wrong side of the pocket should face you)

Like sewing binding on a quilt, you must sew a quarter-inch seam along the raw edge of the pocket. The wrong side of the pocket should face you.

Steam press the quarter-inch seam flat on both sides.

Flip over the binding and topstitch it to the pocket along the seam. Move the needle position two spots to the left, this will allow you to topstitch next to the seam.

There are no raw edges in this project. To accomplish this, you’ll hem the holder’s raw edges. We will start by hemming two sides of the holder.

• Hem the long raw edges of the holder fabric by double folding the raw edges and topstitching. (The wrong side of the holder should face you.)

• The other two raw edges will be hemmed later.

We’ll position the pocket on the holder fabric next. Then we’ll topstitch the pocket to keep it in place.

• Position the holder fabric in your work area so that the wrong side is facing you.

• Fold the holder fabric in half lengthwise.

• The raw edges should be aligned to your left.

• Steam press the fold to give it a sharp crease. You will use this crease to align the pocket on the holder fabric.

Open the holder fabric so that the crease is clearly visible.

• Center the raw edge of the pocket along that crease. The wrong side of the pocket should face you. (A half-inch of the pocket will extend at the top and bottom of the holder. You’ll address this extra fabric shortly.)

• Align your presser foot so that your needle is a quarter-inch away from the crease.

• Topstitch the pocket on the holder fabric with a quarter-inch seam

Next, you’ll hold the shape of the pocket seam by steam pressing the seam flat. This will make it easier to do more topstitching of the pocket later.

Fold the extended top and bottom pocket raw edges so they align with the main holder fabric.

Tip: There is extra fabric at the top and bottom of the pocket because the holder fabric has been hemmed.

Steam press each fold.

Topstitching will complete the process of covering all the raw edges of the pocket and it will secure the pocket to the holder fabric.

Fold over the pocket on the holder. The right side of the should face you.

Clip or pin the pocket to maintain its alignment with the holder fabric.

Topstitch the pocket on three sides. (We are leaving the fourth side open for the remotes to slip in.)

The pocket is now secured to the holder fabric

The final topstitching secures the custom-fit TV remotes in the holder pocket, giving the entire project a professional look.

Custom-fit the holder for your TV remotes. (I have three remotes; therefore, I measured their width and made three pockets.)

Tip: Add a quarter inch to each measurement so that the remotes can easily slip in and out of its pocket.

Mark the pocket to evenly space the TV remotes in the pocket.

Draw a line at the marks and topstitch along the lines.

Align and double fold under the remaining raw edges of the main holder fabric and pin them in position. This is the same method used on the long raw edges in Step Four.

Topstitching the folded edge completes this project. Test your project out on your Dad’s favorite sofa arm or his armchair.

Optional:

Give your TV remotes holder endurance during heavy use by adding a fleece or flannel back. Simply make a blanket ‘sandwich’ and turn the project inside out.

• Place the fleece or flannel in your work area.

• Position the TV remotes holder on top. It should be wrong side up.

• Sew the perimeter but leave a fist size opening so that you can turn it right side out.

• Topstitch the perimeter and your TV remotes holder has upgraded for heavy usage.

• Fold in half and it is ready for use.

• Your Father’s Day Sports Themed TV Remotes Holder is finished. Dad will love it! No more search quests to find the remotes for your father! Isn’t this a perfect father’s day craft?

Remember that extra half-square triangle block? Keep it handy, you might be using it for a second project. Did you know you can use a square quilters’ ruler to trim half square triangles down to the size you need for any quilt project? Take a look at these popular Madam Sew blogs for inspiration:

• Father’s Day Project Ideas

• Feathered Star Block Two Ways: Traditional or Techy

• Madam Sew’s Free Quilt Blocks And Quilted Projects

May your quilting always bring you joy!

Ernie Grant
Guest Blogger For Madam Sew

Ernestine “Ernie” Grant is an avid quilter with over 17 years experience and is the owner of the custom baby quilt business kalibabyquilts.com

As an African American living in Harlem, NY her view of quilting is shaped by her heritage and the elders who taught her–Quilting is not just thread, fabric and stitches. It is art, it is love, it is community.