Taking your Treasures
 

Every month my guild offers a class on a specific technique/pattern or a chance to bring your own project to work on. I had a sewing basket I got at JAF but the latch broke off 2 months ago (spilling EVERYTHING). I drive 30 minutes to get there so doing a quick turnaround for a forgotten notion is not really feasible. I've been eyeing this aluminum case with foldout shelves but I'm REALLY wondering what YOU use when you go to a class or daylong retreat? If you didn't use what you currently have, what treasure box is it that you long for? Pictures would be awesome & greatly appreciated! Thank you
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Creative-O...-Case/32173331

Think about a fishing tackle box,with the containers that are for fishing lures. You might look at Harbor Freight for tool boxes. The stuff sold ar quilting/fabric stores is usually much more expensive.

Yes, the cost is always a factor. My question would be then, what have you found that is both quality & effective for portable storage?

Perhaps make a amy butler sweet traveler. I like the whole idea of the zippered pockets and the way it can be hung over the back of your seat at a retreat.

https://www.google.com/search?q=amy+...UIBigB#imgrc=_

Thank you, do you use one like this?

When I haul my stuff to teach a class, it's very helpful to have a shoulder strap. I can carry more things with my shoulder, than with my hands. I even made a portable ironing board with a shoulder strap.

A co-worker gave each of us a plastic tote with a handle on top. Inside, it has a sectioned tray in the top and lots of room in the bottom. Even though it doesn't have a shoulder strap, I really love it!

I have a case very similar to the one you linked to. I got mine at a thrift store. Depends what all you want to carry. It's small (look at the dimensions) scissors, measuring tape, rotary cutter. Would not carry even a small ruler or mini cutting mat. There are no 'tall' compartments in this case, so nothing taller than 2" will fit, not even a pincushion. It's sturdy, but heavy. This style is called a train case. If you look on amazon, they have lots of options, larger sizes etc. I don't carry it anywhere just use it to keep some of my small notions together at the cottage.
When I was going back and for various classes, I used the 6X9 snapware cases:
https://www.amazon.com/Snapware-6-In...SYG8PWJ8YGYHNK
The link has the one with a divided section. Joanns carries compatible ones without the dividers, also deeper versions pretty inexpensively. I got a couple sets. I put rotary cutter, extra blades, scissors in one, measuring tools in another, thread in another etc. The nice thing is depending on the project, I could just grab the containers that I would need for that project. I didn't rely on the handle, just snapped them together & put it in an open tote. Worked well for me.
If you could provide a list of what you want to bring, we could provide better direction.
I second the idea of going to a hardware store or harbor freight.

I use a vintage Caboodle from my DD's teen years. Anyone remember those? Every teengirl had one. The original ones are much better then the plastic ones sold now. Also I have a vintage train small overnight case that I take when I need a lot. It holds my travel iron and other larger items.

My DD was selling "Thirty One" bags and i bought some and then when she stopped selling she gave me several. One is big enough to carry my sewing machine and have a crafts bag to carry my rotary cutter, cutting mat, rulers and my small notions are in a plastic pencil box and that box fits in the side pockets of the Thirty One bag.

No sadly I almost never go to sewing related events anymore. I have made sets for people that I know do though. It is very fun to do and such a nice gift for a quilter. There are at least three gals on the board I have gifted different sets to.

I use a small tackle box. It is stocked with a duplicate set of all my necessary small notions. I never unpack it, so I never forget anything. I sew "away from home" at least four times a month, so it is well worth the $.

Bionic gear bag

Onebyone, I remember the Caboodle. In fact I have 2 that I still use. One sits by my floor frame and holds my quilting supplies and the other depends on where I want to set up my hand piecing or sewing.

I believe in lugging along as little as I can, so everything I really need to use fits in a bank deposit bag I've had since the shop ownership days.
http://www.nordisco.com/products/sec..._term=PMC04620

My rulers fit into the rotary mat carrier I made.

Do you like the case? Does it handle well? I'm worried about its construction... thank you!

thank you!

thank you! Doubling up is what I'm looking forward to.

Something like this?
http://pin.it/XBRgj4e

For years i collected Longaberger baskets. First I got what they called a large purse to use as a sewing basket, but then as time went by and they came out with what they call the cake basket with inserts to make 2 layers and a divided top insert which makes a wonderful sewing basket. And then there was a small picnic basket, it's the same size and shape as the cake basket but the lid is attached where the cake basket's lid is not. I use one for hand embroidery, the other is just for machine sewing or EPP. If I am going to take my travel machine then my extras (mat, scissors, and rulers) are already in with the machine case. When I travel out of town with a suitcase then I take a larger mat and it fits in the top of the suitcase.

I have a mat bag that has inside pockets for other items--that is what I use for mats, notions, etc. When I go to a retreat I hae a large plastic tote with a sturdy handled that I use to haul projects.

would you mind posting some pics? Thanks!

I hope this link comes through, I got one and enjoy it tremendous.

http://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=D...QzzkIIQ&adurl=

Years ago, I bought a fishing tackle box with a removable tray. It has served me well and I can lock it. It holds all my necessary tools, and I love its fire-engine red color.

Yes, it's called the bionic gear bag and the pattern is sold on Craftsy by ripstitcher, the woman who designed it. If you go to the Craftsy platform and click on Patterns you can find it there. The pattern is $13, and worth every penny. That bag holds everything except your sewing machine, cutting mat, iron and fabric. I keep mine loaded up with all the tools I use every day. When it's open you can easily grab whatever you might need, and it also closes securely for travel to classes etc. I love mine. It sits open beside whichever sewing machine I'm using in my studio and all I need to do to have all my tools ready to take to a class is zip it closed. It holds a lot and is a very well thought out design. Much better than any of the tools boxes I used to use.

It looks a little daunting, but the designer has several excellent video tutorials that walk you through each step of the construction.


Rob

not sure which case you are referring to. If it's the one you provided the link to, the one I have is very sturdy. If you get it at WM just return it if you think it's too flimsy. Again, it is very small: (L x W x H): 11.80 x 7.30 x 10.20 Inches. The trays fold in to fill the entire area, so you have 3 levels of storage in 10.2 inches of height. as long as you are looking to tote small notions, you should be good to go.

I've used both a tackle bag (Bass Pro/Cabela's/Plano/etc. brands) which is a heavy duty nylon bag with zippered pockets. Plastic trays fit inside (to hold lures and hooks) which I use for small notions. I only use one tray (my bag holds 3) and the rest of the space I use for larger notions. I've also used a tackle box, but like the bags better as they are flexible and you can basically "stuff" them full (think fabric). The bags (and boxes) come in multiple sizes, so choose the size that works best for you.

I've also used: plastic (Tupperware) containers, lunch boxes (both metal and plastic - minus the thermos bottle), tote bags, cosmetic bags, even grocery bags...haven't really found the "perfect" schlep bag yet. (Schlep is the Yiddish word for carry). I will stick with my tackle bag for now.

Neauras: I would definitely take your box back to Walmart. They know their merchandise and if it broke after only a couple of months, they should (and probably will) give you your $$$ back (or at least a merchandise credit for the amount of the box).

I use a recycled razor case from my DH. It is a firm plastic and has a zipper that allows the case to fully open. I'm able to fit: small fiscars scissors, needle threader, spool of thread, a few post-it notes, a needle case and even lunch money.

I use one of my Snapware cases when I attend a quilting/sewing meeting outside of my home. It is packed with everything I need. At times I take everything out and decide if I need to add something or delete something. The Snapware cases have worked for me.

Bought all of my Snapware cases at JoAnn's with a coupon and/or on Sale.

When I read your post, it reminded me of the year we were all jungled up on our way to retreat one February. It was snowing and slushy, and we HAD to stop at JoAnn's before we got to the town where retreat was. We opened up the back of the SUV (which was packed like a clown car), and out fell my bag with all my notions! After freezing my fingers sifting through slush to retrieve them all, I went inside and found a solution. There was a bag for sale that almost looked like a book that zippered. There were several zippered "pages" inside. It fit all my stuff, and I've carried it ever since. I've not seen it again for sale, but this is a link to a pattern that's close: http://www.byannie.com/shop/product/hold-everything/

They have great storage and totes at the hardware store. I have two. One for quilting and one for hand stitching of all kinds. They are open which is best for me because I have to see my tools. I spent around $10 for each. They are black and will last forever. Grab and go and I have everything I need.

I got an art tote from an art supply store for big mat and rulers. Has a handle and shoulder strap.

I love your idea. It is lightweight and practical. My notions fit easily into a zippered bag much like yours which I slip into a tote bag with my fabric no pattern. The mat and rulers are the most awkward. I once had a case for my mat with pockets, but it was bulky and inconvenient for my tools. When I go to retreats, I am concerned with the weight of my stuff. I want to stack everything onto my rolling sewing machine case and one shoulder if possible.

I have one similar to the Snap and Store that I got at JoAnns when they were 1/2 price. It's smaller and has 4 tiers and a carrying handle. I like it because it fits on a shelf for storage and doesn't take up much space in my Thirty-one utility tote. My only concern is that over time the tabs will break, but I've had it for four years and so far so good.

When we got our new dishwasher, the company that was delivering our new one and taking away our old one, told us if there was anything inside the old one we wanted to keep, to go ahead and do so. The cutlery rack had a nice handle on it, and I thought I might have a use for it. Sure enough, I can put a ton of sewing stuff in it, and it fits nicely in my rolling sewing machine case, right along with my sewing machine. When I get home I just need to pull it out of the case and set it beside my sewing machine. No matter where I am, everything's right beside me. I've had more people at sewing retreats oohing and aahing over it!

It drove me crazy to find a bag or box to carry everything I needed or thought I would need during a class. I've tried all types of things and ideas, but would finally find them not suitable or would outgrow them. Since I go to a Senior Center every Tuesday, I wanted something that could carry everything all at once. I don't have a picture I can send, but I finally came up with this idea and is has been the best thing possible for me. My biggest criteria was I wanted to be able to see everything without having to unzip a bunch of zippered compartments to see what was in it. A tackle box came close, but really wasn't big enough. Finally I remembered a hint a lady gave me.

I got an office supply 2-drawer caddy. You can get them for about $10 at Walmart, but I actually went to an office supply store for a little sturdier one. At one time Walmart was selling a grocery bag/box for $2.99. It collapsed into a flat thing when not in use. To set it up, you spread it open and a flap goes down and turns it into a square box. I put most everything I needed into those two drawers and then put it into the bag/box to carry it in. It works perfectly. It is not too heavy.

The drawers fit most everything I needed. Any thing bigger than the drawer size, I put in my traveling roller bag with my sewing machine. The supply bag fits over my traveling roller bag and I just roll the whole thing as one unit.

This wasn't my original idea, it came from talking to a lady in line in front of me at Jo-Ann's. She was buying a lot of quilted fabric and when asked what she was planning on making with it she said that she makes it for her drawers that she takes to class. She just puts in 2 zippers, one on each side of the front of the drawers and then just has to unzip the flap in front and her drawers open easily. When finished, she zips it up and puts in on her rolling machine trolley. It was a great idea. It only took me 10 years to get around to doing what she described. I just wish I hadn't waited so long to do it.

[QUOTE=SooBDo;7725642]When I read your post, it reminded me of the year we were all jungled up on our way to retreat one February. It was snowing and slushy, and we HAD to stop at JoAnn's before we got to the town where retreat was. We opened up the back of the SUV (which was packed like a clown car), and out fell my bag with all my notions! After freezing my fingers sifting through slush to retrieve them all, I went inside and found a solution. There was a bag for sale that almost looked like a book that zippered. There were several zippered "pages" inside. It fit all my stuff, and I've carried it ever since. I've not seen it again for sale, but this is a link to a pattern that's close: [url]http://www.byannie.com/shop/product/hold

Oh, gosh, I just imagine your fingers freezing trying to pick up all that stuff. Hopefully, it was in the daytime and at night that this happened.

I, too, purchased two of those cases that you described on sale and I really loved them. I only wish I would have purchased a few more for some of my other projects. I've never seen them again, either. Too bad.

What a great idea! I checked online and found a plethora of cutlery basket models. Some are quite reasonable. I'll have to start looking for them at thrift stores too.

Im sorry this happened to you & can totally relate! But I'm glad you were able to find a better solution

[QUOTE=mac;7725839]Mac, I'd love to see some pictures. Would you mind posting some? Thanks!

I have a bucket liner that has pockets for the outside and inside of a generic bucket. I found a pattern but they sell those liners near the tool boxes at the hardware stores. PM if you want to me to find the pattern/name. I am pretty sure I know where it is, but I am just about to fall asleep...ZZZZZZ (day after Christmas nap!)