Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

File Cabinet Covers

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Aren't these purple batiks yummy?  I had a Bali Pop of 2 1/2 inch strips and made this over the weekend.  It looks like a quilt for a monk's cell cot, but it isn't.  The monks and I are on good terms, but are not that close.  What it really is, is a cover for my beat up file cabinets in my office at work. 

My husband popped his head in my sewing room door and said "Wow.  That sure is purple".  Which I am pretty sure was not a compliment.  Then he inquired what it was.  I explained that I had two tall file cabinets in my office which were kind of beat up and that this was going to be a cover for them.  He was so confused.  "How will you be able to open the drawers if the cabinets are covered up?" he wanted to know.  Honestly, you would think a man with as much education and experience as he has had in his life would have a better grasp of things.  "It goes on the TOP, with the overhang on the SIDES", I patiently explained. 

I don't plan to quilt this, but I will back it with some more batik so it has a nice weight and finished edges.  This pattern was great.  It is called Boxed In from Heather Mulder Petersen's book "Let the Good Times Roll".  Fantastic pattern, and I will be making it again, you can bet on that.  The pattern is for a bed sized quilt, using jelly rolls.  I just made it narrower to suit my purpose.  You can add more blocks to make this any size you like.  It turned out to be a perfect use for the Bali Pop I had on hand, and I highly recommend it to any of you who have some of those fun batik jelly roll treats on hand.  Of course any collection of jelly rolls would work, it doesn't have to be batiks.  I thoroughly enjoyed making all the different fabric combinations for the blocks, and the construction took no time at all.  You could make a quilt in a weekend.

Tuesday Sale tomorrow.  Don't know how much longer I can keep this up!  My shelves are starting to look slightly more empty!  Tomorrow I have 14 items.  8:00 AM Pacific Time.

30 responses to “File Cabinet Covers”

  1. Sorry, but I think it is just way to gorgeous to be sitting on top of some filing cabinets.

  2. Sorry, but I think it is just way to gorgeous to be sitting on top of some filing cabinets.

  3. Well, it truly “sure is purple” but I mean that as a most sincere compliment. It is beautiful Nicole…absolutely beautilful.

  4. Well, it truly “sure is purple” but I mean that as a most sincere compliment. It is beautiful Nicole…absolutely beautilful.

  5. I love it . . . definitely going to try this one for sure . . . thanks . . .

  6. I love it . . . definitely going to try this one for sure . . . thanks . . .

  7. I think a file cabinet cover is a great idea. Having worked in offices before (where I was the sole occupant), I think this makes perfect sense. You get to see and enjoy it ALL the time… In fact, I bought a fat quarter of fabric that I couldn’t use for its intended purpose so hung it on my bulletin board. I saw and admired that for a long time. It was my “art.”
    By the way, that is a very pretty cover. There’s your million dollars. 🙂

  8. I think a file cabinet cover is a great idea. Having worked in offices before (where I was the sole occupant), I think this makes perfect sense. You get to see and enjoy it ALL the time… In fact, I bought a fat quarter of fabric that I couldn’t use for its intended purpose so hung it on my bulletin board. I saw and admired that for a long time. It was my “art.”
    By the way, that is a very pretty cover. There’s your million dollars. 🙂

  9. I love the colors — it’s gorgeous. It will surely make your beat up file cabinets look beautiful.
    Please post a picture of your office when you get the cover on.
    Hugs

  10. I love the colors — it’s gorgeous. It will surely make your beat up file cabinets look beautiful.
    Please post a picture of your office when you get the cover on.
    Hugs

  13. Yes, it is purple…many gorgeous purples! You are going to love brightening your corner. I’ve been making small scrap mats to put under computers,etc. Cut fabric sewn back together in quilts makes everything better. Lovely idea for your file cabinet!

  14. Yes, it is purple…many gorgeous purples! You are going to love brightening your corner. I’ve been making small scrap mats to put under computers,etc. Cut fabric sewn back together in quilts makes everything better. Lovely idea for your file cabinet!

  15. OK, I have to admit that I was thinking along the same lines as your husband! Figured you’d just flip it back to get to the drawers! Very nice job and great idea no matter how you drape it.

  16. OK, I have to admit that I was thinking along the same lines as your husband! Figured you’d just flip it back to get to the drawers! Very nice job and great idea no matter how you drape it.

  17. I agree. Don’t use them for file cabinets, please. They’re stunning and should be displayed as art. Maybe on the wall behind the cabinets?

  18. I agree. Don’t use them for file cabinets, please. They’re stunning and should be displayed as art. Maybe on the wall behind the cabinets?

  19. I made covers to go on my file cabinets in my classroom several years ago. I sewed magnets into the bindings…..they were so easy to put up and to take down for laundering. My file cabinet sides face the doorway and everyone can see them from the hallway. Even my students say they like how dressed-up the file cabinets are!!!
    (I have way too many books and file baskets on top…..cover would never have been seen!!!)
    Hugs, Barb

  20. I made covers to go on my file cabinets in my classroom several years ago. I sewed magnets into the bindings…..they were so easy to put up and to take down for laundering. My file cabinet sides face the doorway and everyone can see them from the hallway. Even my students say they like how dressed-up the file cabinets are!!!
    (I have way too many books and file baskets on top…..cover would never have been seen!!!)
    Hugs, Barb

  23. What a great idea. Wish I had thought of it when I was still working. I would probably quilt it, just because I love quilting, but otherwise, it is beautiful. And, yes, it is really purple, one great color.

  24. What a great idea. Wish I had thought of it when I was still working. I would probably quilt it, just because I love quilting, but otherwise, it is beautiful. And, yes, it is really purple, one great color.

  29. Nicole, If you ever have a big scrap pile to sell, let me know. I am trying to gather good sized scraps for a local school group that are going to make quilts for the elderly in a care home here. They are 6th graders. xo Pam in Chico

  30. Nicole, If you ever have a big scrap pile to sell, let me know. I am trying to gather good sized scraps for a local school group that are going to make quilts for the elderly in a care home here. They are 6th graders. xo Pam in Chico