Refresh a Vintage Sewing Box

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Liv's recovered vintage sewing box

Last year, Liv asked Kelly to pick 5 of her favourite prints from Judy Newman's Milkwood collection, but wouldn't tell her why. Come Christmas time and Kelly is gifted this beautiful vintage sewing box, painstakingly recovered by Liv in the gorgeous fabrics. Can you believe this was Liv's first go at recovering a vintage box? 😮 It is so detailed, with 5 removable compartments, padding, vintage lace trim... so clever!

If you are feeling inspired by Livs work, why not give it a go yourself? With a few materials and a bit of time, you’ll have a beautifully refreshed sewing box to enjoy for years to come. The vintage sewing box that Liv picked was quite complicated for a first attempt - we would recommend going for a simple one or two compartment box if it's your first try!

Here's a quick little guide to help you get started - you can find heaps of tutorials on Pinterest as well.

How to Recover a Vintage Fabric Sewing Box

Materials:

• Vintage sewing box
• Fabric (cotton, linen, or upholstery)
• Wadding or padding if the lids are cushioned
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Cardboard for lining
• Fabric adhesive - depending on the size of the box, the fabric you are using and also personal preference - you may need super glue, a hot glue gun or even a staple gun. Liv used Tacky Glue for most of her box, as well as some super glue for the padding and lace on the lids.
• Needle and thread (optional)
• Screwdriver (to remove hardware)

Step 1: Prepare the Box

Remove any old fabric carefully and clean the box, removing glue residue/dust/dirt. Remove any hardware (handles, hinges, etc.) with a screwdriver. Lightly sand the surface if needed, (i.e for wood or plastic boxes).

Liv's box had layers of cardboard lining - she carefully took these apart and cut new cardboard to the same sizes for her lining pieces. If your box doesn't have lining, you may consider adding it as a way to hide fabric tucks and reinforce the box. Take note of how your layers come apart as you will want to put them back the same way!

Step 2: Measure and Cut Fabric

Measure each side, bottom, and lid of the box. Cut the fabric based on these measurements, adding 1–2 inches for wrapping. For irregular shapes, you may need to trim or adjust as you go.

Step 3: Attach the Fabric

1. Compartments: If the inside has a tray or smaller compartments, you may want to recover those first, as it's easier to work with smaller sections before covering the whole box.
2. Sides: Apply fabric to the sides, ensuring it's taut. Use fabric adhesive to secure the fabric underneath.
3. Bottom: Repeat the process for the bottom, wrapping the fabric neatly around the edges and securing it.
4. Lining: Liv picked a contrasting solid colour for her base lining, and matching fabric for the side inner linings.
5. Lid: If the box has a lid, measure and attach fabric similarly, adding batting for padding if desired.

Step 4: Reassemble

Once the fabric is secured, reattach the hardware. Trim any excess fabric for a clean finish.

Optional: Add Decorative Touches

To personalise your box, add decorative trim (like piping or ribbon) around the edges or recover the interior compartments for a cohesive look.

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Shop the look

Explore the Milkwood Collection - these are the fabrics Liv used for her box. The vintage feel of this beautiful collection really enhances this type of project, and they are all designed to work well together! Have fun.