Make a Simple Sewing Kit...

It's easy to make a small sewing kit that contains all of your essential sewing accessories. A zippered pouch makes it easy to take your bits and pieces to a sewing day, or just to keep them neat and tidy at home.

I recently made up a sewing kit for someone who's relatively new to sewing. I've been so happy with the Open Wide Pouches I've made in the last couple of months... 

• Free Motion Embroidered Pouches
• Felt Houses Zippered Pouch
• Crazy Patchwork Zippered Pouches

... and so, once again, I've used Noodlehead's Open Wide Pouch Tutorial.

Each time I make an open wide pouch, I vary the dimensions to alter the shape of the finished bag. This time I started with two rectangles 10" x 8" and made the boxed corners 3½". When making the bag measure 1¾" from each corner.

Making the boxed corners 3½" wide makes for a zippered pouch that is almost like a fabric basket when opened. This was exactly what I wanted - fabric basket when in use and zippered pouch when finished.

For added structure, I added Vilene H640 fusible fleece, so it can stand by itself, whether open or closed.

Every new sewist has to have a needle case or needle book. It's been a long time since I've made a needle book - too many to count, but my needle book was made in the 60s. It's most definitely seen better days, but it's still in use. My Mum has the needle case I hand stitched at school and I have an even older one that Mum made at school.

Having totally forgotten how I made mine, I looked around for free tutorials, adding them to my Sewing Accessories Pinterest board...

• Folk Art Needle Case - Mini Tutorial
• Needle Book Tutorial
• Quilted Needle Case Tutorial
• Needle Keeper
• Needle Book
• Scrappy Needle Keeper Tutorial
• Felt Needle Case Tutorial

... and ended up not using any of them. Most of them had soft covers, whereas I wanted one with a hardish cover, like my original. I used a cardboard like interfacing to achieve the effect I was after. If I make another one, I'll take photos along the way.

The pages were originally a woollen jumper (sweater), which I felted a couple of years ago.

I totally forgot about a closure for the needle case until it was too late. I'd rather start again, than unpick when I've finished, so I improvised with a strap from an old aerobics costume. It does the job.

A pin cushion is a must for a sewing kit. Again, I looked for free tutorials...

• Selvedge Pin Cushion
• Strawberry Stitches Pin Cushion Tutorial
• Scrappy Valentines Pin Cushion Tutorial
• Two Sided Magnetic Pin Cushion Tutorial
• Quick Pieced Pin Cushion Tutorial
• Pretty Pin Cushion
• Patchwork Pin Cushion
• Embroidered Patchwork Pin Cushion Tutorial

... but decided I'd do quick and simple - Two pieces of fabric sewn together, filled with polyester filling. I came across lots of discussions as to the best stuffing for a pin cushion. Many people believe polyester blunts the pins, but that's what I ended up going with. My existing pin cushion is 25 + years old and has polyester filling and I can't say I've encountered any problems. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Of course I bought a container of pins for the sewing kit - glass headed. I also added sewing needles, various threads and a small pair of sharp scissors.

Thanks to Margie, for telling me about Alan's Pen Making. As well as pens, they make beautiful seam rippers. I bought two - one for the sewing kit and one for me. One end is a regular seam ripper and the second is a large blade - perfect for unpicking jeans.

Of course I could have added more sewing accessories, such as a tape measure (the recipient already has one) and Clover Wonder Clips. What would you add to a sewing kit for someone new to sewing?

As the Felt Houses fabric comes from Spoonflower, I thought it ideal for making a sewing kit. When she was 12 years old, Julia Monroe created an art work, comprising felt houses on burlap (hessian), glued to a laundry detergent box. 40 years later, she scanned the original artwork and had it printed at Spoonflower. How cool is that?

Looking for custom made sewing kits...

• Sewing Case Tutorial
• Travel Sewing Kit
• Sewing Class Roll
• Sewing Portfolio Organiser
• Simple Sewing Companion
• Sewing Organiser for Needlework

When I attend a three day quilting retreat later this month, I'll be using my Free Motion Embroidered Open Wide Pouches as a way to carry my sewing bits and pieces. Mine won't stand up like a fabric basket, though.

... Pam

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