Pattern for sewing kit/tool holder?
 

Now that I am getting more hooked no quilting I was thinking that I should probably have a holder for the essentials rather than having to keep root around in my drawer. I also have a my first class at the end of March and so a holder of sorts might be a good idea.

Does anyone have any tried and tested patterns/links to ones to make? i would rather make one that I can personalise rather than buy a ready-done holder

I love my bionic gear bag, you can get the pattern on craftsy

perhaps you can make something like this one https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...t-t286568.html

I made this brush roll up kit for my granddaughter, but I plan to make it for my quilting tools I commonly take to a sewing day - by adjusting the divisions in the brush section. I left out the lace. Next time I would do the zipper in the traditional manner as well.This is a pattern that could be easily made larger to accommodate "taller" tools. My only words of caution are to look at the pattern before you print it, as it prints something like 30+ pages due to all the advertising.

https://sew4home.com/projects/storag...eup-brush-case

Thanks. I love the look of the bionic gear bag but I think it is a bit beyond my technical skills at the moment - especially with an 80 page+ pattern. The brush roll up kit is probably much more within my skill level!

Not sure what you're looking for but I've made these and they are very handy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=LLd...&v=3bN2oNZFKng

Thanks Tartan. The machine mat wouldn't really work for me (the desk I use is a big one so it couldn't hang off the side). Using a shaving bag is an interesting idea if I don't get one made in time!

I just took a large chunk of fabric that I had leftover from a project and laid out the things I wanted to be able to take places. Mat; ruler; cutter; pins and made appropriate sized pockets on the inside. I made handles and incorporated those in the edge then quilted the large piece of fabric and lastly attached the pockets. Used matching thread so that it didn't show off my horrible machine quilting or the excess stitching for the pockets. It's handy and works for me.

The bionic gear bag really isn't that hard to make. I did mine when she first released the pattern and it definitely wasn't 80 pages. I have one for my traveling sewing bag and another for my bathroom essentials that just lives in my suitcase. The Crafty Gemini is doing an organizer of the month tutorials, but $95 was a little too steep for me, even for 7 cool looking totes.

I have a pattern for a bucket organizer (that I cannot find right now- of course!) I found a free tutorial that is similar. The one I made has vinyl pockets with scrappy binding on the top of the pockets. I use it at home and to take to class/sewing group.
http://www.doodlecraftblog.com/2013/...e-buckets.html

I purchased a "kit" to make the "Beatle Bag" by Abby Lane Quilt. Query it and you will see what it is...has multiple clear plastic inserts to put stuff in. I have all of the quilting things I usually use in it and when I sew at home I just grab it and take it to the room where I will be sewing (no quilting room for me :( ) and when I go to retreats it's all ready to go. There is a woman on Face Book clearancing them out at $14.00 I believe, plus shipping. Check it out under Quilting & Sewing Items Selling Buying & Sharing.

My suggestion can be adapted to using either a pattern or making your own. If making your own, lay a large piece of paper on the table (the finished size of your storage roll). Then lay your tools on this mat so that you get the correct size for each slot (this you can also do with an existing pattern). Then lay a paper over the tools and add a bit for any pleats necessary for thick items (such as scissors). Now you have your basic pattern that is custom fit to your preferred tools. If making your own pattern, simply lay 2 fabrics together (maybe with a bit of flannel or thin batting) for the outside roll and fold over another fabric for the pocket. Topstitch the folded edge for strength (maybe even a slot for elastic?) and pin it to the bottom of big piece (taking in account any folds or pleats necessary). Then bind the whole outer edge. Add a tie to the roll and you are done - Custom fitted tool carrier. I would make some notes along the way of what you have done or may want to do differently because you are probably going to be asked about it at the class!

Thanks everyone! Going to give it some real thought this weekend. Feathers - I only said the pattern was 80 pages because that was what 2 reviews on craftsy had said but perhaps they were exaggerating - I will look again.

I love my bionic gear bag. I don't usually sew from patterns, so it was a bit challenging for me to follow but by reading through the whole thing and then carefully following step by step I managed to produce one. It did take me two entire days. But well worth it, that thing holds a lot and takes up very little space, plus it is organized in a way that makes it very easy to see what you need and grab it while sewing.

Rob

You might take a look at the Puppet Mother Bag on Craftsy. It is a lot like the bionic gear bag, but is only $5.

tool tote
 

My absolute favorite tool tote is called a Tooly. The pattern is on Craftsy. Lots of pockets that hold tools in a nice visible array, plus it stands up so my so my tools are very conveniently located. It folds up to about the size of a moderately sized hard-back book. I changed the closure system slightly, using velcro rather than the elastic loop.

This is a free pattern from Moda. I would probably add a zipper to the top just to keep things in and make the front pockets from clear viny. https://sew4home.com/projects/storag...om-task-basket

I did a search for Sewing Tool Caddy. Found this website. http://www.sewingsupport.com/sewing-...rganizers.html

I am a big fan of sewing baskets - my great grandmother had one, my grandmother had one, and my mother had one. So for me it was just what everyone had. Actually I have two - one for home and one that travels - because i would fall apart if I lost it while traveling and it annoys me when I didn't have a separate travel basket and forgot something at home. (So I would go out buy another - so suddenly I had one to keep in the travel sewing basket.) My friend was shocked when I bought a second set of Kai scissor just to keep with my travel machine. But I need good scissors when I am sewing and I love the Kai brand. Back in the 90's I was collecting Longabeger baskets I bought their cake basket with the sewing insert and it has taken care of me. The one that travels with me is not as big - but it gave me an excuse to buy another basket.

The Tooly looks great! I have just bought the pattern so wish me luck! Being an American pattern it took me a while to work out what it meant by mat board but I think it is our mounting board.

Do not know if this is of interest to you but many moons ago I posted a picture of a travel case I made for my sewing tools. The picture is here:

https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...te-t38717.html

Several asked for the pattern so I did a tutorial and that is here:

https://www.quiltingboard.com/tutori...al-t38958.html

Betty, Thanks for this tutorial. It looks great. I am going to have to make this.