Travel Sewing Case Tutorial
We ended up with a mini-travel theme this week! Japan yesterday, Europe tomorrow and today Dawn from UK lass in US joins us with a cute travel sewing case project. Be sure to check out her introduction too. Enjoy!
From Dawn: One of my New Year’s resolutions is to become more organized. A travel sewing case probably shouldn’t have been a priority on that end, but I can fool myself that it is helping me keep my resolution.
So here is my wee travel sewing case that I can tuck in my bag when I am taking some sewing on the road.
I just wanted room for the essentials: a spool of thread, thimble, mini tape measure, folding scissors, needles and pins. Here’s how to make one for yourself:
Materials:
- 1 plastic canvas sheet 3” x 7”
- 2 plastic canvas circles
- 1 small elastic hairband/loop of elastic
- 1 button
- Felt:
- rectangle 2¾” x 4¾”
- 2 circles 1” in diameter - Exterior fabric:
- rectangle 4” x 7”
- 2 rectangles 2½” x 2½” - Interior fabric:
- rectangle 4” x 7”
- 4 rectangles 2½” x 2” - Matching thread
- Scissors
(Note: I used the same fabric for the interior and exterior.)
How to:
1. Cut the plastic canvas circles to measure 1½” in diameter.
2. For each of the four 2 1/2″ x 2 interior fabric rectangles fold back one of the 2 1/2″ edges about and press.
3. Sew a circle 1 5/8 in diameter so that the creases on the interior fabric pieces fall at the half way point of the circle, as shown in the picture:
(Note: I cut the small plastic spikes off the excess plastic circle and drew the circle using that as my template.) You should have an opening like this:
4. Trim off the excess fabric and cut notches towards the stitching.
Turn the circle right sides out through the opening.
Insert the plastic canvas circle through the opening and hand stitch the opening closed.
5. Hand stitch one of the felt circles on, covering the opening. This will be an end of the sewing case.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 to make the other end.
7. Pin the 4” x 7” rectangles of interior and exterior fabrics right sides facing. Sew two lines up the long edges 3 1/16” apart.
8. Place the elastic loop between the two fabrics and pin in place halfway along the top edge, so that the edge of the elastic loop will be caught in the stitching when the top edge is sewn.
Sew along the top edge, trim the corners then turn right sides out through the open end.
9. Slide the 3” x 7” plastic canvas sheet in through the open end and hand stitch the opening closed.
Hand stitch the felt rectangle onto the interior fabric side.
10. Hand stitch one of the ends to the long edge of the rectangle. Stop stitching when there is 2¼” left along the rectangle edge.
11. Repeat step 10 for the other end.
12. Sew the button onto the outside, so that the case can be fastened using the elastic loop.
You’re done. Now all you have to do is put in your sewing needles, pins, thread etc.
35 Responses to “Travel Sewing Case Tutorial”
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Perfect! Can’t wait to make one of these.
That is so clever! I love it!!
What a great idea – I love this!
Thank you Dawn
I like this and tutorial is easy to follow. Thanks.
So cute!
Fantastic.These will be great gifts for my guild friends.
its marvellos AND MY KIDS LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK …..WOW…..My mind just went all sorts of places. 1 great stocking stuffer for next year or even a Valentine gift. 2 different sizes to “organize” when I pack and 3 using up all that scrap fabric. I am looking forward to more (I bookmarked your blog) Have a great day.
What a wonderful sewing kit! Love it! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
I have a long car ride coming up and I really need to make this! Thanks!
Awesome little sewing case and great photos ….. so helpful! Thanks for sharing!
What a lovely project, great fabric print too. I have blogged about my knitting roll, but it is not quite as well engineered as this.
C x
Must get some scissors like that. Cute case!
This is awesome! I did my first sewing in months on Monday night, and this would have made it much more enjoyable. I see a trip to Michaels for the plastic canvas in my future!
I think I just figured out what I want to make myself next! Well, after the fifty OTHER things I want to make myself.
But I think making my mom one for her birthday (in October) is reasonable. What a lovely project and very clear tutorial.
Very neat idea! I think that this concept could also be used for us knitters who want to make a case store our knitting needles in. Thanks for sharing!
So clever and cute! I love little travel sewing kits. This one looks a little more practical than some. (I’m forever picking up the little ones that used to be given out by businesses and such at thrift stores and yard sales.)
This would also be nice for the desk drawer at work.
That is soo cute. Great job! I can’t wait to make one. Thanks for the tutorial.
This is stinking cute! I can’t wait to make one – and then a bit larger one to hold my knitting notions, too.
cute – great tutorial!
That is amazingly clever. What a great tutorial!
This is so cool! I need to make me one.
I LOVE this! I want to make them with my girls.
So pretty, I can think of a few friends who would love one of these, too. Quick question, could you take a second look at step two? I think you’re missing a few words, it says to “fold back one of the 2 1/2″ edges about and press…” Should that be about 1/4″ or 1/2″ or something like that? Thanks for the clarification, and the great tutorial!
Too cute! Adding this to Christmas gift list!
Question: I love your blog, but I can’t seem to figure out how to scroll from one post to the next. I’m not seeing any “next post, previous post” arrows. Am I missing something?? Thanks.
What a darling little sewing case! I always love seeing the sewn creations on UK Lass in the US!
This is great! Definitely going on my list for sure. Would make a great little gift too.
Cute little travel sewing kit. I try to keep one in my desk at work. I think I can make some from the great tutorial.
Can’t wait to try this!
Clever tutorial for the sewing kit.
I love this! Gotta make one!
I love it! So adorable. And handy, too!
very nice!
thank you for sharing your idea and for the tutorial!
greatings from Austria and good luck!
elenor
lovely little project!