Sewing Caddy

Nima over at Made to Treasure inspired me to get off my duff and make this.  I have seen it around magazines over the years and finally jumped in.

I can do a tutorial of my own as I took step by step photos and still screwed it up! I learned tough, ladies, as usually when I screw up anything crafty, I lovingly set it aside and forget about it. I percevered on this puppy and am pleased with it but it is too small for my sewing supplies. This can only mean I will have to make another one. When I do, I vow, VOW to use matching thread! I am usually too freaking lazy to change the thread. I tell myself I like the 'handmade bohemian' look but it would be just that much better if it all matched, I know!

I must mention Nima over at Made to Treasure for inspiring me and on her site, I must mention and thank all these three ladies, Penny at Penny's Hands and Tommy at The Material Girl and Nima being the third, for their tutorials.  I still struggled as I realized that I am a by the 'book' person, if you will. When you leave a measurement up to me, I make a mistake! THINK ALIA, THINK! It was fun and here are the pics...

First I tried to cut out a 14" circle.  I couldn't get my protractor to go that far so settled for a 12" circle.

Ok.  I'm not the brightest nail in the tool box but this way worked for me.  I needed a little bit more than the two ladies' tutorials gave.  So, I made a circle almost 8" or 2" smaller.  I labeled everything like a good girl only to have to cut it out!

These were my fabric choices but in the end; I omitted the light purple.  I did not like it with the green.

I had to iron my fabrics! You can see some of my larger scraps folded and waiting to be used.

Here I traced the circle from the template. I doubled up the fabric once I omitted the light purple and needed another fabric for the lining of the pockets.

I marked the six pockets.  Then I cut them out with scissors.

Here is Uki under my sewing table having a snooze in her Build A Bear bed!  You can see her Soft Paws on her claws.  Those things are life savers on our person and furniture!

I then pinned all around the pocket pieces and even drew 1/8" marks.  I went ahead and left that but on the bigger circles I sewed in at 1/4" and it was easier and I think sturdier. I had forgotten about right sides together but lucked out here as this was the same fabric on both sides and a solid.

Yep, I got myself and one can't have to much fun in her studio without bleedin' a bit!

The green turned out gloomy and dull.  You'll see how bright it really is!  I did the same here as above.

This fabric lining came out blue!  BLUE!!  It is meant to be a dark purple like below!  Strange!  I made slits in the middle and turned out the right sides.

I then folded and ironed to get the center and six compartments.

Aw man, I realized that I did not turn these fabrics around and had to rip out the seams. I turned the fabric right sides together and then sewed in at 1/4".  Then I realized that I forgot the buttonhole.  I couldn't figure it out and therefore made two eyelets they were T I N Y!

This is when I realized that I should use matching threads.  I could not figure out how to make a buttonhole and had spent too much time so I chose an eyelet. I sewed two lines to make a channel for the ribbon.

 I cut three layers of Dream cotton batting and realized that my pockets were not deep enough so I took it all apart.  I only put two back in. I also found some darker purple thread that really made a difference!  

See, you can really see the white thread.  It is ok but would have been better with a more blending in type of color!  Here it is pulled together and I was disappointed that it was too small!  Nevermind, I will be giving it to my daughter for a stocking stuffer!  Now, to come up with something for my son...

This is the inside, empty!

Thanks for having the patience for this long post!

EDITED TO ADD THIS PHOTO THIS MORNING!

I filled my little 'jewelry caddy' with the jewels I had sitting around.  On the top left I have my two black heart earrings from St. Louis and way back in my Siouxsie and the Banshees days and then I have three gold rings below that and then you can see my kick butt gold bangle and the silver necklace is my Brighton purchase for myself over the summer in Cleveland, OH!  I'm still gonna give it to my girl!