Baby Blue Corduroy Embroidery Kit Clutch

 

I loved making the embroidery tool pouch yesterday, and I think it will serve my purposes just fine, but I kept thinking all night last night about how I could make it better and cuter.  I just couldn't let it go, so today I went back to the craft room and tried again. I wanted to make it smaller, and more secure, a one handed grab and go clutch.

This is my first idea sketch.

 

I drew it out putting in measurements that I estimated and then calculated with seam allowances and hem allowances.  I even wrote out the order of the steps in the sewing process. Yes, that is my horrible handwriting.  Don't worry if you can't read it. No one can read it but me.

 

I made pattern pieces because I wanted to make the curves and corners precise. I used my new drafting ruler, which I love.

This is how the first one turned out.  I have it posted on Etsy for sale, but I have a pattern so I can whip up as many more as I would like.  It turned out pretty well.

The next one will have shorter pockets so that they don't reach right up to the edge of the clutch and the marker and ruler don't disappear inside their slots, but otherwise it worked just great.

Here it is with all of the supplies taken out of the pockets.

My favorite part was making this expandable pocket for the round things like a thread spool and thimble. The button flap is longer so I can cram this pocket full if I want.

 

If you like this, check it out on Etsy at this link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122900305/embroidery-or-hand-sewing-kit-clutch-sew

 

Have a great day!

Baby Blue Corduroy Embroidery Kit

Man, I was bored today, or at least I would have been if I didn't have an unlimited supply of odd fabrics and ample crafting space in my attic crafting room.  I decided to make a folding wrap to put my hand sewing/embroidery tools and supplies into when I take my hand sewing with me on the go.

Here it is.  I finally found a use for a couple of my odd colored bright green large buttons. I think they fit perfectly.  I had to borrow my aunt's sewing machine to make the button holes. They turned out rather nice.

Here is the inside.  I probably could make it a bit shorter and use less fabric, but I was just making it up as I went.  For embroidery you need floss, scissors, needles, a thimble, and a transfer pencil or water erasable marker.  I also think I will keep a folded piece of tracing paper, just in case.  With the large size it would also be possible to fold an embroidery project in progress and enclose it within the wrap to protect it and keep it with the supplies.

A closer look with neat bows.

Here is everything laid out of its pocket.  If I were taking hand sewing with me I could put a spool of thread in the thimble pocket, even a large spool fits, or tie one or two spools in with the ribbons.  I would also need sewing needles instead of embroidery needles, and could want a chalk pencil rather than a transfer pencil. This is not the  thimble that I actually use, but was god enough for a photo prop.

This is what the back looks like.  I could have avoided the seams showing on the back if I would have sewed the pockets on before I sewed the layers together, but I am not too picky.  If I were to make these for selling on Etsy, then I would be more careful with things like that.  I also would try to make the seams a little straighter.

 

I have a color theme going on in my craft room.  It was totally unintentional, but almost everything, from plastic bins and baskets to the projects in progress are light blue, bright light green and white or cream.  I had a whole bolt of this light blue corduroy just sitting there, so I thought it would look nice and be very functional. I got the bolt of fabric at the community yard sale at the Toyota Center in town last year.  I think I paid 5 dollars for the entire thing.  There is at least 15 yards on it.  Carrying it around the sale afterward was a bit heavy.  I was with my aunt and she got a bolt of very heavy dark blue denim.  That was even heavier.  They were too good a deal to pass up, even with the heavy load we had to carry with us the rest of the trip and all the way back to our car afterward.