The Sewing Place

The Emporia => Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside => Current Projects => Topic started by: BrendaP on December 05, 2018, 23:09:26 PM

Title: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: BrendaP on December 05, 2018, 23:09:26 PM
Having seen the (very different) pincushion and thread holder which I made for a friend DD hinted that she would like something similar but wouldn't need so many different colours of thread!  At craft club on Saturday one of the ladies had a nifty little kit and so I've just finished making a couple of similar kits; one for DD and one for her twin sister - the eldest DD sews curtains and surely doesn't need such a basic kit which contains:
a mixed packet of needles
an assortment of safety pins
a few berry head pins
embroidery scissors - ( @Lowena   only £4-50 each but they cut well)
tape measure
4 spools decent thread, black, white and school uniform colours.


Two squares of fabric 12" x 12" and a square of wadding slightly bigger.
Place fabrics RS to RS and then the wadding.
Sew all around with 1/4 inch seam allowance, leaving about 2 inches unsewn.
Trim wadding away, turn so that the two RS are outside, close the opening by hand.
Press then quilt as you wish - I did all over FMQ squiggles, but anything you like.

Fold in half diagonally with lining fabric to the outside.
Fold corners over and adjust to get a pleasing envelope shape.
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Mark the fold lines, open out and machine stitch.  (This needs to be accurate!)
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Fold the corners back on themselves - should look like an open envelope on both sides with a pocket in the middle.
(I stitched the overlapping corners down but not strictly necessary)
Sew a length of ribbon to each point.
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Fill with whatever, fold the flaps down and tie the ribbons.
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Made with 15" squares it would be about the right size for travel size toiletries.
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: toileandtrouble on December 06, 2018, 08:00:12 AM
Don't they look beautiful! I am thinking of pinching this design to make some travel cases for delicates. I don't like my tights snagging on my hairbrush when I go visiting. Thhank you Brenda.
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: SkoutSews on December 06, 2018, 09:32:57 AM
They're lovely!  Thank you for sharing that idea and the construction method. It's a clever and useful way of using up scraps and they'll make sweet little gifts.
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: Nevis5 on December 06, 2018, 13:50:01 PM
Thank you @BrendaP !  They look perfect for slipping a voucher into - both DD and DS are getting those this year and these will pretty them up a bit. 

Off to my SR to find some scraps, hmm, wade through the pile of scraps more likely ......
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: BrendaP on December 06, 2018, 17:57:52 PM
@Iminei has asked me to clarify how to fold the corners back, so here is the folding on a bit of striped paper bag.  I hope it makes it a bit clearer.
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It's very easy to do before the seams are stitched, but once stitched you have to scrunch it up a bit and use something to poke the corners right out
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: Sheilago on December 06, 2018, 19:23:16 PM
Great idea. I’ll save that idea to my ‘things to make’ file. So simple, but pretty.
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: Sheilago on December 08, 2018, 23:57:00 PM
@BrendaP did you stitch along the bottom? I’m thinking about maybe doing this with 2 triangles of fabric, so you just have one envelope, but you’d need to stitch along the bottom, I think. I was going to put a few knitting accessories in them for a couple of friends and perhaps make one like yours as a sewing kit for a niece.
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: BrendaP on December 09, 2018, 12:01:52 PM
Hi @Sheilago
No I didn't sew across the bottom; only the two side seams.

I'm not 100% sure without trying it, but I think that if you used triangles for a single pocket you would need to fold the corners to the front and stitch the bottom seam by hand.

Another possibility would be to open up a paper envelope to see how it's folded and use two squares to do something similar.

Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: Sheilago on December 16, 2018, 14:49:39 PM
Just thought I’d let @ BrendaP and others see the 4 kits made from my African fabric stash with Malawi buttons. I made 2 knitting accessories kits for my mother and sister and 2 basic sewing kits for my nephews who have both worked in Africa and recently moved into new homes with their partners. Thanks Brenda,  for the idea! Perfect ( I hope) little Christmas extras.
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: Ploshkin on December 16, 2018, 14:55:34 PM
Lovely @Sheilago   I'm eyeing up that green fabric, does it have bees on it?
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: Sheilago on December 16, 2018, 14:57:48 PM
Hi, @ Ploshkin. No, no bees, just a geometric pattern.
Title: Re: Sewing kits for non sewists
Post by: Nevis5 on December 17, 2018, 12:51:44 PM
They are lovely @Sheilago !  So neat!  Mine are, erm, not so neat.  But I still likes 'em and they are doing a grand job of secreting a couple of hotel vouchers for DS and DD.  Thanks, again, for the idea, @BrendaP !