A little sewing kit

Remember these Sew Stitchy fabric pieces that Aneela kindly gave me for my birthday back in April?  Well, just before the FQ Retreat I decided I needed a sewing kit. Blogland was covered with Zakka style kits all made with greige linen (sorry, I know this is heresy, but it really doesn't do it for me and it was everywhere!) So I decided in my contrary way, to look for an alternative.

Firstly, the tutorial, and I found this one by Amy at Lots of Pink Here.  It seemed to have all the necessary and desirable bits of a sewing kit, and so I decided to cut into my Heather Ross campers fabric and make one up to take to retreat.  After about an hour I was looking for something on the top shelf in my sewing room, when an envelope fell down and hit me on the head.

Talk about a eureka moment!  This was the envelope of fabric I'd placed there for safe keeping, as I was saving the Sew Stitchy to make myself a sewing machine cover in due course. It's kamikaze leap from the shelf and assault of me between the eyes seemed to be a sign however, and with a blinding flash I realised that was just the fabric from which to make a sewing kit!  Quick aren't I??? 

So I started with the pins for the outside cover, and quilted with a lime green thread in random lines to match the random pin placement. I really enjoyed that bit - the freedom of just sewing wherever I wanted!

I then chose the chain stitch for the lining and the turquoise robins for the pockets.  The lime green french knots then offered the perfect binding.  I decided not to add the strip for thread spools, mainly because to be honest I was running out of time!  But I did add the scissors pocket and the needle book.  I used a scrap of wadding for the needls as for the life of me I couldn't find the white felt I was sure I had!

Last was the bit to make to tie it closed.  I could have made it from some of the fabric, but I realised there was something far more perfect.... 

One of the things I love about buying fabric on the internet is when it arrives tied up in a bundle with white twill tape - like a little present.  For some reason I'm sure I can't understand I seem to have quite a few of these parcels (!) and I thought if I used some of the tape it would be like opening a present every time I use the kit.  

Here's the finished article, and it did the trick a treat at Retreat, as well as causing quite a few envious glances!

I've got a couple of other bits of the fabric too, and I have two particular projects in mind for when the full line is released.  One is the afore-mentioned sewing machine cover, which I want to use the super-cute hexagon print for, and the other is a quilt for my niece's 3rd birthday....  But I can't tell you more about that yet, as that's going to be using a very special fabric in the range and I think that is still a secret at the moment.  I can't wait!