my new sewing box!
Someone on this board told me about a LQS in my general area, and mentioned fun classes. (I wish I could find that thread-I'd say thanks!!) I checked it out, and signed up for Cindy's Sewing Box. The class was a lot of fun, and the box is brilliant! I made one in class, then came home and made another this weekend. It's got a ton of pockets that you can customize to suit yourself and your stuff, and elastic loops for things like pencils and shorty rulers. The spool and bobbin holders are thin hair elastics, sewn down on one end and hooked over buttons. I still have to do this part to the purple one, but I ordered fancy sewing themed buttons (from Nancy's Notions, I think) and they need to get here first.
There's supposed to be a divider-you can see it on the left in the red one-but I'm waffling about putting it in. It's only tacked in, and it's the very last thing sewn, so I still have time to make up my mind. The bottom has a hidden pocket for a piece of plastic canvas for stiffening and sturdiness. I'm amazed at how much you can get in these things-the instructor's was packed! The batting is Soft & Stable, which I've never worked with before. I like it, but more than about three layers chokes my walking foot, and the stuff eats needles-this was a three-needle project. (Dull, not broken.) The binding is 1" grosgrain ribbon, although you could be ambitious and make your own to match.
The pattern comes in three sizes (these are the largest) and I can see why the instructor had a half-dozen or so in her bag-they're addictive to make and handy to have around! I'm already thinking about another one as a tatting bag. I've got one, like a bucket, but it doesn't have a lid, which would be nice.
The purple one will go with my Featherweight, and the Professional Tote I plan on making to match after I've waded through my Christmas to-do list. The red one will probably end up living on the end table by the couch, with pieces of whatever project I've got going in it.