Sewing Kit Tutorial and Giveaway!

A little while ago I put together a little sewing package for a friend that was learning to sew. Inside a sewing kit very similar to this. I thought it might be fun to do a little tutorial on hoe to make it. I'm sure you'll have everything you need in your stash to make one. ;)

What you'll need:

For the body:

 9 strips of fabric1.5" wide or 1 piece of fabric 10.5" x 7.5"

1 piece of contrast fabric 10.5" x 7.5" (for lining) 

1 piece of batting about 12" x 9"

For the pockets:

2 pieces of fabric 3.5" x 7.5" (I just used more of my lining fabric)

1 piece of fabric 3 3/4" x 5"  (your choice of colour)

Needle book:

2 pieces of fabric 3" x 4" (I used a scrap piece from my front panel)

1 piece of felt 3.5" x 2.5"

Extra:

about 40" of binding.

a piece of elastic. I've used a new hair tie

a contrasting button.

Please dont be alarmed at all those numbers. These are the most numbers you'll see for the rest of the post. I promise. These are the fabrics I've chosen to create my "rainbow" front panel. If you don't want this style or effect by all means skip to step 2.

Step 1.  Sew all your strips together and press.

Trim your panel to measure 10.5" x 7.5". 

Tip: Square your ruler from a seam not from the edge of the fabric. This will guarantee that your seams are vertical and not wonky. 

This is what you should have at this point. (Unless your using one piece of fabric in which case you'r ready for step 2)

Step 2. Place your panel on your batting and smooth out. I haven't basted this but if your more comfortable basting go for it. Quilt the 2 layers as you choose. I've gone with a wave line in a matching thread to keep the focus on the fabric. Trim the batting to the fabric. 

Step 3. Now its time to create the inside pockets. Hem the 7.5" side of your 2 pieces. I just press the edge over twice at 1/2" each fold then stitch. finished measurement is 2.5" x 7.5"

Place one piece of pocket over each end as pictured. On one side I've made 2 pockets by stitching a line in the centre of the panel only to the edge of the hem. It's really up to you how many pockets you would like to make.

For the other side I'm putting in 4 pockets for smaller things like scissors and an seem ripper. To get the 4 pockets I ironed my piece of fabric in half and then half again. (as shown below)
Tip: Double back on the hem edge for durability. 

Step 4. For the centre pocket you'll need your contrasting piece of fabric that measures 3 3/4" x 5".

Hem the 5" sides with one fold and stitch just the top edge only. 

You'll need to press a pleat on either side. (Image 1) Pin the pocket in position on your lining centred between your pockets. (Image 2) Stitch the sides down (Image 3) and then lastly the bottom. (Image 4) 

This gives you a pleated pocket perfect for your thimble or a large spool of thread.

Step 5. Last component of the sewing kit is the needle book. I picked out 2 pieces of fabric at 3" x 4". With right sides facing, sew all the way around with a 1/4" seem, leaving about an inch open to turn right side out.  Clip the corners and then turn right side out. Press.

Your flap and felt pieces should fit together as pictured here. With the top piece just covering the felt. Any adjustments to the felt sizing should be fixed here.

Step 6. Sew the felt piece into position by sewing as close to the edge as you can all the way around.

Then place your flap piece with the open end on top. Stitch this in place, only on the top, the same way as the felt. This is what you should end up with.

Step 6. Before you add the binding you need to add the elastic loop for your button to create a closer. Attach as pictured below on what will be the back of your kit.  You'll want to backstitch over this. I've done it oh... about 5 times just to be safe. Now your front and back pieces are done. It's time to join the whole thing together with your binding. Head over HERE for an awesome tute if your not sure how this is done. 

Absolute last step is to add your button and your done. 

This is what you should have...

and fully loaded. The large pocket is perfect for my thimble although a spool of thread also fits and those 2 side pockets fit my hexies perfectly. ;)

It's completely up to you how you use this in the end.

Soooo here comes the best part... the give-away. Yup you guessed it, this one is up for grabs. If you would like to win this sewing kit then all you have to do is this...

Comment below. OR

Become a follower and let me know with a comment. If you already are a follower leave a comment. OR

Blog about this post. 

Giveaway is now closed. For the winner visit this post

Thanks so much for lasting this long and if i've missed anything or you have anyquestions please don't hesitate to ask.

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Made by me Wednesdays @ Jaqs Studio

In progress

I was never the one to cave to peer pressure but I tell ya... this is getting harder to resist. First it was the farmers wife block, I was almost going to start on the swoon along, (which I am planning to make one day but not just yet) but these granny squares are too adorable to resist. I cut up a whole stack of scrapps yesterday and put these together just this morning. They are so quick and easy to do and I LOVE that I've got a project going to keep my scraps in check.

Finally got this baby basted and personalised for my M. She was sitting on the lounge cheering me on as I was working and every time she sees me pull this out she jumps up and down with excitement. If that doesn't get me motivated to finish this up than there is no hope. 

Here is the little panel I did for the back. It was bitter-sweet starting this quilt. I guess I just didn't expect her to grow up so fast. But she's been in her big girl bed for a few months, and not a moment to soon. She had about 20cm of leg room left in her cot by the time we bought her mattress. She loves her new bed though... she thinks it makes a great indoor trampoline. :)

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Scrap-tacular!!

What to do with so many scrap squares? 

Blue elephant stitches

Pshhhhh as if I needed to ask. ;)

Fabric Friday

Ahhh I'm in heaven. 

The results of being up at 3 in the morning armed with an etsy account and money burning a hole in my paypal account. 

So pretty! Your looking at Peach Weekends by Erin Mcmorris. I haven't come across this fabric before so I'm not sure if it's old or new but I saw it and loved it.

Grabbed this half yard bundle from Cotton Thread Fabrics on Etsy. I think I'll have to buy from there again. The postage was pretty fast from America.

And these adorable bicycles with baskets are the icing on the cake I think. Soooo adorable!!

A Finished Quilt

Oh I am on a roll this week. I don't even know how long it's taken me to finish this quilt. So embarrassing. But there's no use dragging all that back up. It's done now!!!

It's my off-centred-squares quilt.

I've used Ruby by Bonnie & Camille 

For the back I put all the pieces I had left together for a panel which is also of centred. 

These colours are so sweet. It's just so adorable and very girly with out being too pink. Do I say that a lot?? Let's just say pink isn't my favourite colour. So when I get to play with a fabric collection like Ruby I get a big silly grin on my face.

I used 100% cotton batting and backing. The backing fabric has small white polka dots. It measures 42" (107cm) x 42" (107cm). Perfect cot size quilt. 

I have listed this quilt in my shop  so if your interested head on over. :)

For the love of clips.

Here is a quick tutorial I wanted to share with you. Remember this mirror from my Little M's bedroom. Well a while back it got a new lease on life as a very VERY handy clip holder. I know I'm not the only mum that has been taken over by hair accessories and I sure wont be the last. So here is my solution.

I opened up the frame. All you'll need is the frame and backing board,  so get rid of the glass. (or in my case the mirror)

Pulled out a piece of fabric and batting from my stash.

Covered the backing board.

Yes that's masking tape. The backing boards are usually too thin for a staple gun so I used tape but a hot glue gun would have been better. (I had the thought to do this early on a Saturday morning and I really wasn't in the mood for hot glue.)  There is nothing actually hanging off the fabric so it doesn't need to be attached with anything too serious.

You'll need some assorted ribbon.

Now these will need to be stapled. I did this on the back of the frame in a spot that was thick enough. Check the size of your staples against the edge of the frame before starting. It's completely up to you how far apart you want them.

Put the whole thing back together and your done.

Now you can play around with the placement of all those gorgeous clips that should be shown off!!!

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A bag for Little Miss

I'm slowly getting back on the sewing machine. I don't really know what has kept me away but yesterday I decided I needed a change of scenery so I moved my sewing machine out onto the kitchen table. Oh boy did I have  a productive day. Because I was in sight of Little Miss I was able to sew while she watched her fav shows and played. I think I might be out there until I get my to-do list under control. 

One thing I did get to make is this messenger bag for Little Miss. It was reasonably quick and very easy to put together for her. I had to add a little personalised appliqué. Perfect for all her colouring gear and easily washed in the washing machine which is always a pro in my books.

I used a pattern from this book which I've had for over a year now. Still pull it out to make things every now and then. 

Sewing machine is still out so I better get back to reducing my WIP's 

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