Friday, August 21, 2015

Get ready for winter: Travel Sewing Kits

Here in Maryland, the humidity is high and the temps are even higher! But quilters start thinking about holiday projects around this time.  Our lists are long and the time it takes to get all of those handmade projects is something not to be taken lightly.  You have to be prepared to take projects with you wherever you go and work in small bursts of time to get everything finished. This got me to thinking: what do people do to be able to make their projects portable?

I've looked high and low on the web to gather some good pics to get you inspired and looked for some good tutorials too.

One Orange Giraffe's Blog has one of my favorite ideas.

The idea is simple and cheap.  She bought a "bucket boss" from Hope Depot for $7 (the liners that people use on construction jobs, plumbing, etc) for her craft station.  Those buckets are usually around $6. I can see this stuffed full of fabric, scissors, rulers, thread and all of the other stuff we quilters need.  Blocks could be easily rolled and stored in the center.  What an idea!  And making your own with some cute fabric would take it to the next level.  I see a trip to Cottonseed Glory for some supplies to fill this bucket in your future!

When a bucket isn't your style, you could follow A Place to Roost's lead and convert an adorable vintage suitcase into your traveling craft room.  Think of all of the hexie's you could fit in here...or the appliqué pieces!  Look at the detail of her collection of items: rotary cutters, scissors, thread, marking pens, acrylic rulers, cutting boards, bias makers, seam rippers, needles, pin cushion, fabrics and lots more.  I bet a small, portable iron would fit as well and the bottom of the suitcase could be a small ironing surface.  There are lots of notions (and of course, fabric) available at Cottonseed Glory that could get this kit ready for travel!

I need one of these!
But, maybe your don't have much space for your items and just need the bare minimum for a car trip.  Sew Many Way's TUTORIAL for this mini-travel sewing kit is awesome!
The perfect little sewing station for your car! 
Cottonseed Glory has lots of sewing-themed fabrics that would be perfect for this quick project!

Sometimes a simple little fabric bucket to throw-n-go is all you need.  Craftsy.com offers a free fabric bucket tutorial. 

This pattern calls for 1/2 yard of exterior and a fat quarter of interior fabric (and some interfacing).  Cottonseed Glory has lots to choose from.  You might want to make lots of buckets!

Cottonseed Glory has many patterns for bags that could also be converted into a travel sewing station, and lots of happy fabric that will get you inspired.  Stop in and get ready for the holidays! That list of gifts is piling up and those car trips, cruises and hotel stays are just the place to sit and sew!