What do you use to carry notions to retreats or sewing sessions?
 

I go once a month to sew at someone's house for QOV. I was able to find a Singer Featherweight, so I take that to sew on. I have a rolling tote for that and it's got a little room for the notions. Right now, I just toss the scissors, thread, extra needles, wound bobbins, etc. into a plastic box and put that in the rolling tote. But, there are some lovely ladies that have "cool" notions holders.....fabric "purses" that look like cosmetic bags sewn together to make compartments, cute little tins, etc. I'm just wondering ...for those who take their stuff to sew someplace else.......what do you use? I like to repurpose and don't like to spend lots of money (like to spend on fabric!). So, just looking for ideas. Everyone else seems so organized! Last time, I forgot to put in my seam ripper! Another time, I forgot to put in pins! So, just thought I'd see what you use and how you like it!

We also take food to share, so by the time I carry everything in.....I've made 3 trips! Help!?!

Thanks!

I tend to toss things into a zip lock bag and hope I remembered everything.

I use an old Caboodle make up case left over from my DD's teen years. I have an old train case women use to take on trips and it is really nice for notions. Something that is easy to carry is the key.

I would either purchase duplicates to keep in your tote or make a list of what's needed and keep it in the tote so you know you have everything you need each time.

several years ago I made this. It zips shut and the pocket inside velcros shut. It is about 9x4"
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I have a rolling tote that carries my sewing machine, extension chord and presser foot in the main compartment. I have a small sewing kit that has needles, seam ripper, threads, scissors, rotary cutter, thread clippers, needle threader, small rulers, extra blades, pins and pincushion, small iron and cutting/pressing mat. I am sure there are other things in there that I cannot think of right now. I try to have anything I might need with me when I go out. The small sewing kit goes in one of the larger pockets on my rolling tote and the cutting/pressing mat it bungee corded to the handles. Some times I feel like a 'one man band' when I am taking my sewing out. Of course I have a carry tote bag with my materials or what ever project I am working on.

how cute is that!!

I have a mid-sized Longaburger basket, think it was called a market basket. I keep it constantly supplied with those tools commonly needed. Everything from scissors to needles to thread to 6.5 square template. After a couple of trips outside my quilting room, I was pretty confident that I would have all that I needed. It stays packed and ready to go. This also keeps my little "tools" from hiding under projects and getting "lost" in my quilting room.

Some of my quilting friends use pencil boxes, good time to get them right now, or they use other plastic storage boxes.

It's so easy to forget something. The idea of duplicate items is most appealing.

Reminds me of my Mom who had duplicate everything in her camping trailer. Just wash it and leave it in the trailer. So when Dad said let's go camping, Mom was always ready.

I have duplicates of everything in my rolling tote, even and older cutting mat because that is what I seem to forget the most. I keep everything in a recycled swiffer wet pad container with a rubber band around it. Everything but the rotary cutter and supplies. I keep those in a zippered pillowcase bag.

Look online for the Bionic Bag - it holds a Lot of stuff. And if you keep spare set of everything in it, you can just grab it with your sewing machine, and you're ready to go sew!:thumbup:

"By Annie" has a bunch of patterns to make different notion carriers. Really cute stuff and wonderful directions.

Yes, you can make your own organizers for sewing stuff with patterns from ByAnnie. Her bags are great!

https://www.byannie.com/patterns/lets-get-organized

I've made several of her bags. The "Catch All Caddy" is my favorite for carrying supplies.

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Thank you everyone for all the great ideas! Love that rotary cutter bag.....so cute. I also love the swiffer refill container idea. You all got me thinking it may be time for me to plunge into making something that will work for me. Thanks for the bionic bag suggestion and the "By Annie" option. I may just have to browse the internet today! Thanks!

I have duplicates of most of my sewing notions and basic rulers that stay packed in the case for classes and retreats. I keep the travel case and class machine in rolling tote in the foyer closet so it's ready to go as I go out the front door. All I have to do is toss the fabric needed in a bag. I never have to spend time packing sewing items. I go to a lot of classes and retreats and it's a waste of time to have to pack each time.

It's quite a task to pack for class. It usually takes 3 trips to load up everything. LOL!

I use a double-sided tackle box. It sits next to my machine at home. It travels easily with the locked tabs. I like to see the items and not have to check pockets here and there. This always has bobbins ready, marker, tweezers, small scissors and packs of needles. The bottom layer holds the ruffler foot, q-tips, tapes, and threads.

The only items not in the box are the rotary cutter, mats, or rulers. Those go into the large tote bag.

Be sure to mark your items so that they can be easily identified - - -

I use a rolling tote for machine and lamps.But have a toe bag made to slide over the handle of the rolling tote. It hold project and notions box. All duplicates of my sewing room. The cushion for my chair slides over handle and then the bag. One trip and I am ready to roll
I have seen a hardware store suitcase that had a million pockets and she loaded it up with her entire sewing space. Too much work for me. I like grab and go.

Bionic gear bag

I use a toolbox as it has storage below and a sectioned part on top.

I had this all figured out but it took 2 people to lift it into the car. So I started collecting for weight and size. Sewing machine under 15 pounds. Cutting mat folds in 1/2 so it fits into a smaller tote. A towel for iron mat and small iron. A seat pad ( the towel and seat pad cushion my machine). Electrical cords. Small trash/pin cushion with only 3 tools (scissors, seam ripper & awl). I'm always the hottest person in the room so I always have a fan. It all fits into an office file on wheels that folds up.

Usually I just need to add fabric, tread and 1 template

[ATTACH=CONFIG]616695[/ATTACH]Here is a bag I made has a pocket on the front of the zippered bag, so I can carry my folding ruler, pattern, and small mini coin purse with drivers licence ,etc. This hold everything from my rotary cutter, to my medication, pens, pencils, rulers, rotary blades, etc....

Good idea! I had forgotten all about those crazy cases. Both my daughters had them in their teen years. The years, the teens and the Caboodles are long gone now. One has teens of her own, but not Caboodles. :D

I keep my take along iron in a metal bucket. It protects it and I don't have to wait for cool down to put it up and it has a handle. I found having a handle on anything is so much better. I found a mat carrier years ago and it's been a great tool. The mat slips in the wooden slot and stays there until released. It has a handle. I can carry my biggest mat with ease. The name of it is Mat Holder. That's all it had on the package.

Some years ago small totes made out of placemats were popular. I made one with a zipper and several plastic bags sewn inside the bag. It carries everything I need and then some. I embroidered a little Sunbonnet Sue on the outside and my name. I still use it a lot. It has saved me much frustration over not having all my tools. I keep duplicates of seam rippers, needles, small scissors, etc. in the bag.

I use a hanging toiletries bag. It has 2 zippered vinyl pockets and 2 solid zippered pockets. I keep duplicates of most of my notions in it all the time ready to go along with a spool of neutral thread (yes, I have gone to a retreat and forgotten to take any thread at all!) I can extend the handle on my sewing machine tote and hang the toiletry bag from the top of the handle where it ends just barely above the floor next to my sewing station so everything is handy. Or, if there is room on the table, I just unroll the bag next to my workspace.

My kids got me a folding wagon for Christmas a couple of years ago. It stays in my car all the time and is super handy - I can load everything for a retreat in one trip - including a side table and my sewing chair.

You've all convinced me to have extras so I don't have to repack! Anyone use something like this? It's at Harbor Freight and "matches" my rolling tote I bought for my featherweight. With the 25% off coupon...it might be a deal (original price is $6.99). Anyone use it? Sorry, I can't make the picture come out!

Voyager® ,
11 In. Tool Bag With 3 Pockets

NoraB that looks like a nice solution!!!

I have a type of craft toolbox for years. Love it. It is similar to this one https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Opti...ateway&sr=8-28

Absolutely !

Old cigar box with a rubber band for retreat notions. The graphics are so cool. I made a packing list which I keep in my rolling tote after I neglected to bring an extension cord & had to find a janitor to borrow one.

I used a large pair of jeans and put pockets inside and of course there are pockets in the jeans also.

I keep a folding mat and folding ruler in the roll around cart for my machine. I also have a hanging jewelry holder that has plastic compartments for the other things I need. I have a tote (like grocery tote or larger) for the fabric I need (although I used to have a small under seat type piece of luggage with wheels that worked well but finally gave out.

Try looking at the collapsible wagons at Costco. They run about $60. This is what they look like:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=costco+collapsible+wagon&form=EDNTHT&mkt= en-us&httpsmsn=1&plvar=0&refig=48be5011184446a0a555c6 e048750521&sp=1&ghc=1&qs=SC&pq=costco+colapsa&sk=P RES1&sc=8-14&cvid=48be5011184446a0a555c6e048750521&cc=US&set lang=en-US

I made a tote bag with lots of pockets, I also made little zipper bags to hold the small stuff before I throw it in the tote. I made them out of light colored fabric and wrote on them with a fabric pen so I know what is in them. I put a zipper in the top of the tote bag so nothing spills out and I made long handles for it so I can use it as a shoulder bag. I also have duplicates of my scissors, rotary cutter, bobbins, etc., because I go to sewing club every week. I kept using my JoAnn coupons to buy the duplicates.

I have 2 different travel machines - one is a FW and the other is a small Europro. When I am going somewhere with a swing machine I decide which one is going by what I will be doing. The Europro has a zig zag stitch and the FW does not. So if I don't need the zig zag the FW goes. Both machines have a supply of threat - not a lot, but some basic. And I have a Longaberger cake basket that is my sewing basket. It has the plastic inserts so the needles, pins, scissors, (anything sharp) stays on top. Actually I have several Longaberger baskets that work as sewing baskets. If I am just going somewhere I am taking a project to keep me occupied I take a smaller basket. But if I am going on vacation or to my friend's house for a retreat then I a take the big one. Once my friend and I had met up in Las Vegas for a retreat at our timeshare and the light on her machine went out. My daughter told her to ask me if I had one - and I did. It was pretty funny since I almost thru it out because it came in a package considered a machine cleaning kit. I got it when I was traveling and needed sewing machine oil and it was the only way I could get it. So my friend thought I was really prepared for anything. :-}

Your Catch All bag is wonderful! In fact, I just ordered the pattern to make one for myself. This handled caddy is the perfect size to carry my Noble Notions stacking organizers. I believe that this is a new product on the market (I bought mine at JoAnns). They are 6-1/2" square plastic organizers that each come with their own snap on lid for separate use, but you can also remove lids and snap individual boxes tightly together to become one unit. I bought the foot accessory, bobbin and tool case. There is also a thread case. The 13" length of this caddy ...plus pockets galore ... will allow me plenty of extra space for thread spool, scissors, notions.
By Annies patterns are a bit time consuming to make (I made the backpack!!!), but they are well worth the time investment. As you can see by this caddy made by Sewbizgirl, the end result is a beautiful, professional looking bag. Great for taking to class or quilt retreats.

Bonza bionic gear bag pro. Great for classes and travel just pick up and go