comfortstitching

make and go pouch

I recently decided to add a few new more basic pouch designs to my repertoire.  I feel like I have lots of options for more advanced pouches but sometimes I just want to sew something fast and useful using materials I have on hand.  The idea is to make things that complement and work well with the patterns I already have.  They will also be perfect for those of you who can make a basic pouch but want to work on building up your skill level.

I made up a couple of samples that I think fit this bill perfectly.  The Make And Go Pouch is a simple design which has three zippered pockets.  Two of these are clear vinyl for maximum visibility of contents.  There are also a handy pincushion and needle pages attached.  I decided to keep all pockets zippered because although slip pockets look useful on this type of pouch, in practice they don't keep contents secure when opening and closing.  Items can fly out easily and when those items are seam rippers and scissors, you don't really want that happening.

I wanted a relaxed easy going style for this one and decided on a simple wraparound tie feature to close the pouch.  This is nice and easy to make with no additional hardware required but also works perfectly whether your pouch is empty or full.

With summer on the way, I'm hoping that this will be the perfect pouch to take with you whilst out and about.  It will also work very nicely for when you need to make a quick gift.  If you want to use it as a non sewing pouch, just leave out the pincushion and felt and you have a handy travel pouch.  Kids would also love one for pens and small toys too.

I used up some of the new Ruby Star Society fabric lines for these samples.  For the top one (with the bird pincushion) I used a mix of Social and Spark by Melody Miller, Speckled by Rashida Coleman Hale and Add It Up by Alexia Marcelle Abegg.  I used all Anagram and Grid fabrics by Kimberly Kight for the bottom one.

I get asked a lot about where I buy my zippers.  The ones in these pouches are all from Zipit on Etsy which is where I purchase almost all of mine.  The metal ones at the top are the ones with donut shaped pulls.

You can find the pattern for the Make And Go Pouch here.  

I hope you make one and use it all summer (and beyond).

 

Just In Case Pouch

Today I'm releasing my newest sewing pattern, this one is called the Just In Case Pouch.  It's a nice sturdy case shaped pouch, perfect for keeping a small toolkit together for whatever you are working on.  It features a swing lid that stays fully open whilst in use but zips up securely for storage. I've also included a carrying handle on top.  There will be so many end uses that it will be perfect for.  Sewing and knitting obviously but also ideal for kids toys and travel.  

As with all my patterns its been in development for a long while, at least the last 8 months (and that is likely an underestimate).  There has been so much making of multiple prototypes, problem solving and editing that I feel hugely relieved that all is finally finished and ready.  It's a release in more ways than one.

Here you can see how the lid opens up..

And here is an aerial view of the open and closed pouches.

You can find the pattern here,  I hope you make one (or maybe more)!

all new double zip box pouch pattern

Last year I made a new smaller version of my Double Zip Box Pouch pattern which I've found myself using a lot.  Since I'd worked out all the measurements anyway, I decided to add the new size option to the existing pattern.  Once I finally got around to it, I found myself making a few more adjustments including a leather handle option and new finishing instructions.  What should have taken me a few weeks has ended up taking several months.  I could probably have written a whole new pattern in that time....ah well.

The good news is that even though there weren't any problems with the older version the all new version is definitely much improved.  Things I love about this pattern are that it really does hold a lot and the pockets sit very neatly inside.  I use mine for keeping sewing tools and spools of Aurifil and have also found them handy for keeping pens and drawing tools in.

Recently I've been adding bits of leather here and there into my projects, I love the finish when using it for the handles here along with my favourite metals zips with donut shaped pulls.

Anyhow if you've never tried this pattern before (or even if you have,) I hope you decide to give it a try.  You can find the pattern here.

Happy sewing!

zippered basket pouch

I have a new sewing pattern to share today - This one is called the Zippered Basket Pouch.

The design allows the pouch to open out in a basket shape, making it easy to see what's inside and grab what you need.  When not in use, it zips up securely for storage or travel.  It's a handy one for both sewing and knitting projects as well as kids toys and whatever else you might like to keep in pouches..

The best thing about it is, it's all done in straight seams making this a great choice if you are new to intermediate pouch patterns.

I hope you make one (or six).  Trust me you'll find a use for them all.

You can find the pattern here.

speedy vinyl pouches

I have a new pattern to share with you today - Speedy Vinyl Pouches

I've been on a big organizing kick lately and have been making stacks of these.  They're fast to sew up and speedy sewing means speedy organizing!  The clear vinyl front lets you can see what's inside each pouch at a glance.  Even when everything's tidied away, I can find what I'm looking for quickly and easily.

I've made plenty of vinyl pouches before but I wanted to keep the construction of these as quick and simple as possible.  You can easily make your first one in under an hour and you can sew up a huge pile of these in a couple of hours. They are great to make for gifts or swaps.  You can use them for sewing, travel, kids toys and more.

Pattern includes instructions for three sizes.

I've found the medium size perfect for keeping exactly 10 spools of Aurifloss (or small spools of Aurifil thread).  Great for keeping colours together for a project you are working on.

You'll also find that these are great for using up scraps of both fabric and vinyl, leftover from other projects.  The small size is made from a couple of charm squares plus binding.  The medium can be made from one layer cake square plus binding :)

You can find more pattern details here

I hope you make one (or more).  I promise it will become your new favourite basic pouch!

3-in-1 pouch

It's been a while but I finally have a new pattern to share with you today.  I've called this one the 3-In-1 Pouch.  It opens up nice and wide and has 3 pocket compartments to keep the contents nice and organized.  The construction involved is completely new and unique.  I have to admit it's taken me months to get it all figured out but now that I have it's all wonderfully straightforward to put together.  

Although I've written a couple of patterns for multiple pocket pouches before, the construction of this one is entirely different to anything I've done previously.  This is much simpler to put together (no head scratching or origami involved).  It's also very sturdy and can hold a lot whilst keeping its shape (very important when you actually put it to use).  It works perfectly for organizing your sewing tools or Aurifil thread.  I have a feeling it will be just right for EPP projects too.  I made several prototypes whilst I was writing the pattern and I knew I was on to a winner when all my prototypes were in use on my sewing desk before I'd finished them entirely.  Always a good sign!

I was in a nostalgic mood when I made the sample for these pictures and used a few of my older fabric prints from my lines for Moda Fabrics - Sherbet Pips for the exterior and Posy for the lining.  I really need to dig into the stash and use my hoarded favourites more because I love how it turned out.

You can find a copy of the new pattern here.

I hope you enjoy making this one!

 

booklet pouch

I have a new pattern release to share with you today.  This one is called the Booklet Pouch.  It came into being last year when I was realised that I seemed to be using numerous different vinyl pouches of mine to store threads whilst working on an embroidery project.  I thought it might be an idea to combine several see-through pouches in one. 

It took me a few prototypes to get right because I wanted to be able to fill the pockets up without the pouch losing its shape.  The construction of the pouch allows the pockets to expand when filled without things taking on a bulging appearance.  In short it looks as good filled up as it does empty.  I've been using both of mine for around 6 months now, the small one holds threads and the larger one keeps everything else I need for the project I'm working on.  They make a good team!

You can find a copy of the pattern here.

I hope you enjoy making it!

 

all new all in one box pouch

I recently made up a few new samples of my All In One Box Pouch pattern.  This one has always been one of my best selling patterns, since I launched it three years ago. I've been getting a few requests for printed copies of the pattern and thought it would be worth reviving and updating the instructions a little.  What started out as a minor edit soon turned into a major overhaul of the instructions and complete redo's of all the illustrations.  The reasons behind this are more to do with the skills I have developed in writing patterns and drawing up illustrations over the past few years than anything else.  I ended up putting as much into rewriting this pattern as I would for writing a new one!

It was all worth it though because this pouch is such a useful one to have around.  The front pocket unzips to reveal two vinyl zippered pockets - great for keeping smaller items, where you can see them.  The main body is a box shaped pouch with lots of room for holding larger items.  You can also keep the small size box from my Nesting Boxes pattern inside the main pouch to organize the contents.

What I do want to stress however is that if you have a copy of the original pattern, this will continue to work perfectly well as it always has :)  This facelift is more to do with formatting the pattern so that it will also work better when transformed into a printed booklet.

I hope you enjoy making the pattern :)

 

Inside-Outside Pouch

I'm kicking off the New Year with a brand new pattern release.  This one is called the Inside-Outside Pouch and it comes with a very roomy box-shaped interior AND two super useful vinyl exterior pockets.  This means that you can keep plenty inside the main compartment and everything you want to have handy in the outer pockets.  

It's a great way to use up some of those pretty fabrics in your stash.  Prints you want to sew into something that both shows them off and is perfect for organizing all your bits and pieces too.  I've been finding so many uses for the ones I've made so far, they are perfect for sewing, knitting, stationary, kids, travel or anything else you can think of.

The long zipper allows the pouch to open fully wide so you can see all contents inside.  

In a bid to use up my stash, I've dug out some of my favourite fabrics and enjoyed grouping them into fun combinations.  I used prints from Menagerie by Rifle Paper Co, Mustang by Melody Miller and Zephyr by Rashida Coleman-Hale along with some basic prints.  All fabrics are by Cotton And Steel.

I hope you have fun sewing up the pattern!

If you are a shop interested in stocking a paper version of this pattern, please get in touch.

boxy clear pouch

Today I'm introducing my newest pattern, the Boxy Clear Pouch.  

The pattern comes with instructions for two handy sizes.  It features a see through pouch front and a sturdy box shaped base.  This makes it a great storage pouch for keeping threads, notions, hexagons etc. in a way that you can quickly see what's inside.  No more trying to remember which pouch you left a particular shade of thread in or where your bias tape maker is.

It zips up securely to keep all contents together until you need them, great for sewing on the go, travelling, kids bits and pieces, knitting, stationary and anything else you can think of utilizing it for.

The zipper also allows for the pouch to open fully wide.  The aerial view above gives an idea of the storage depth within each pouch.

Again, I used fabric from my stash in a bid to use it up and sew with the fabric I love.  Here I used some prints from Trinket and Basics by Cotton And Steel, along with a little Friedlander by Carolyn Friedlander and my favourite Essex yarn dyed linens by Robert Kaufman fabrics for the binding.  I used Aurifil 2600 for the small pouch and 5015 for the large, both in 50 WT.

You can find further details about finished sizes and material requirements here.

I hope you enjoy sewing this one up!