Embroidery Library - Machine Embroidery Designs Inspired Project Page

Travel Sewing Kit

It never fails to happen! Miles and miles from home, and a button pops off, a seam falls apart, or a hem lets loose.

Shaped like a book, with felt pages, this little traveling kit will secure notions and supplies to take along for all those little "mending emergencies." It's so handy to slip into a suitcase or briefcase. Make another to stash in your car's glove compartment.

A perfectly pack-able gift for people who travel for work...and for pleasure!

Supplies needed:

** 14-1/2 x 9-inch fabric for outer shell

** 14-1/2 x 9-inch fabric for lining
** 12 x 6-3/4-inch piece of felt

** Cut-away stabilizer
** Spray adhesive
** Air-erase pen
** Metal snaps (or Velcro or a button closure)

** Sewing notions (needle, thread, straight pins, safety pins, scissors, buttons, etc.)

Designs Used:

** Rosemaling Diamond

First, cut a piece of 14-1/2 x 9- inch fabric for the outer shell. We are using a sturdy denim fabric.

Measure the width of the fabric and divide by two. Draw a line down the center of the fabric.

For a design on the front cover of the kit, embroider the right section.

Print a full-size paper template of the design using embroidery software. Trim around the design for easier placement.

Mark the center of the right section by measuring the width and the height and dividing both by two.

Poke a hole in the center of the template and align it with the center on the fabric. Rotate and position the template. Mark the horizontal and vertical axis lines.

Remove the template and draw lines connecting the horizontal and vertical axis points. These lines will be used for hooping.

Spray a piece of cut-away stabilizer with adhesive and hoop it with the fabric. Align the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design, and align the needle directly over the center point on the fabric.

Embroider the design.

After the design has finished stitching, trim around the stabilizer so it is even with the edges of the fabric and the centerline.

The cut-away stabilizer will add extra stability to the cover of the kit.

Cut a 14-1/2 x 9-inch piece of fabric for the lining of the kit. We chose craft felt for the lining.

Lay the outer (embroidered) fabric and the lining fabric right sides together. Pin in place.

Sew a 1/4-inch seam around the long edges and the embroidered end -- leave the non-embroidered end open for turning.

Turn the cover right sides out and press the seamed edges.

Turn the open end in 1/4 inch and press in place.

We used craft felt to create a tab closure.

Cut a 3-1/2 x 1-1/2 inch strip of fabric. Trim the corners to create a round shape.

Add a snap to the round end of the tab, 1/2 inch from the tip.

Velcro or buttons may also be used for this closure.

If you want to use a button, sew a button hole on the rounded end of the tab now.

Lay the cover, lining side up. Insert the tab in the center of the open end, between the two layers of fabric. Lay the tab with the snap facing up, and extend it out 1-1/2 inch from the edge of the fabric. Pin in place.

Sew a 1/4-inch seam along the open end. This closes the end and secures the tab.

Fold the cover closed and wrap the tab around to the front. Mark and add the other snap (or button or Velcro).

You can add as many pages to the kit as you'd like. Just keep in mind that the kit will be come thicker with each page and with each notion you add.

Cut a 12 x 6-3/4 inch piece of craft felt. Measure the width and divide by two to find the center. Mark the centerline.

Fold the felt in half along the centerline to create pages. Align the fold of the page with the center of the kit. Add all the pages you want to the inside of the kit.

Fold the kit closed, and sew a 1/4-inch seam along the fold of the cover. This secures the pages to the inside of the kit.

Now it's time to add the notions!

Add pins and needles to the pages. For a thread-keeper, cut a small piece of thin cardboard or tag board, and cut small slits on both sides. Wrap thread around using the slits as guides. Attach the thread to the page with a safety pin.

Cut two small slits in the page and lace through a ribbon. Tie a pair of scissors in place. Sew a variety of buttons, hooks, or snaps to a page.

Fold it together, and, with the click of the snap, you're ready to go!

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.

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