I used to have this lovely little travel jewelry case that my sister made for me when we were teenagers. She used to make a lot of them and sell them at craft fairs, and they were a great design that kept all your necklaces tangle free in your luggage. I lost that original one somewhere along the way, so I thought I’d try to make a replacement for an upcoming trip.
And it turned out so well that I thought I’d share with you how to make your own!
What you’ll need is:
One twelve inch square and one nine inch square each of two different fabrics
One of each same sized muslin or pattern paper
Two pieces of 18 inch ribbon
To start, measure your pattern circles. You could do this directly onto your main fabrics, but I felt better having a template to work from. Fold the square into a triangle, and then fold over on itself two more times. Using a measuring tape, mark out a 6 inch arc from the tip of your triangle. This will give you a 12 inch circle.
Cut along the arc you’ve drawn and then unfold into a circle. Repeat with the 9 inch circle, marking your arc at 4.5 inches from the point.
Now you have two circles!
Next use your pattern circles to cut one of each from your two fabrics. This is what you’ll have:
With the outside fabric, sew a button hole about an inch and a half from the edge. Sew a second button hole directly opposite on the other side of the circle. These will be where you thread the ribbon through to gather the pouch at the end.
With right sides of the two large circles together, stitch them together 1/4 inch from the edge, leaving a one inch gap to turn it right side out. I top stitched around the edge after I turned it right side out, but that’s optional. You could just slip stitch the gap closed. Repeat for the smaller circle.
Now we make the casing. Stitch all the way around the larger circle about 1 inch from the edge. Then stitch around again, about 1/4 inch from your first round. Make sure your button holes are between your casing lines.
With the two circles lined up together with lining fabrics facing each other, mark the very centre of your circles and sew a three inch circle around the middle through both layers. Leave a small hole to put some stuffing between the two layers. This will be the bottom of the pouch and gives it some structure to sit on. Once its stuffed, sew the gap closed, so it looks like this:
Divide your circle up with four “spokes” which will make your eight pockets and stitch along these spokes (but not all the way through the middle), through both layers.
Then, using a safety pin as a guide, thread your first ribbon through your button hole and pull it around and out the other button hole. Do the same on the other side. Knot the ends of the ribbons together on each side and pull them to gather it closed.
And you’re done! Hopefully that all makes sense, but if anything needs clarifying let me know!
Posts
This is great – thanks for sharing!
2/12/2010 @ 12:19 am
This would make a great knitting project basket, too. The wee pockets could hold yarn cutters, darning needles, stitch markers, chart tape, crochet hook… and the yarn and project could go in the middle.
Great little project!
2/12/2010 @ 8:10 am
This is a Great tutorial, I will definitely be giving it a try.
I was thinking they would make a lovely Easter gift. Thanks for posting it.
2/13/2010 @ 7:19 am
Nice work, pretty fabric! With all the dozens I made, assembly line style, I don’t even own one of these anymore. I have quite a few times thought it would be handy to have one but the thought of making another makes me shudder. But I guess making one would be much quicker than making 10 at a time.
2/14/2010 @ 1:44 am
Oh how cool! Happy Valentine’s!
Jan
2/14/2010 @ 4:02 pm
Cool. Now thats what i call creativity. I could never imagine myself doing something like that. Its really pretty too. I love the finishing touches you have put on it. Im going to give this a try with the instructions you have given. Wish me best of luck. I was never very good at art and craft.
2/17/2010 @ 5:34 am
Hi: I may be in a brain fog, but I’m confused. Doesn’t the button hole prevent access to the channel? I can’t figure out how to do that part. I’d love to make one of these for my sister-in-law, the glitzy world traveler. Thanks, Judi
2/18/2010 @ 4:10 pm
Love your combo of patterns and colors.
Just a side note- I received one of these for Christmas and didn’t have a clue what it was. A candleholder? A bowl holder of some sort? I’ve been guessing for two months! Finally! I know it is a jewelry organizer!
2/21/2010 @ 6:48 pm
Thanks everyone, I hope you have success with your versions!
Mandy – that’s too funny! Glad I could help you figure out the mystery : )
Judi – the button hole is done only on the first layer, so when you sew the two layers together into the casing, it keeps the channel open. I’ll admit, it took me awhile to think about how that would work as well!
Leanne – knitting project holder is a great idea. This is pretty small though, I would at least double the measurements to be able to hold yarn.
3/3/2010 @ 7:35 am
OMG, Laural – great idea! I love the fabric choice, but the pockets inside is such a wonderful idea!
3/10/2010 @ 7:39 pm
Thanks so much for posting this, I’ve just made one for me, and my mum has asked for one too because she liked it so much
3/13/2010 @ 1:04 pm
This is exactly the one I wanted. Several other patterns have made available at other sites but this IS THE ONE. I know they are simple to make and thought they would be a great and easy item to make for our bazaar. Mine was given to me over 40 years ago and I still use it.
Thanks so much.
5/17/2010 @ 4:20 pm
I am hosting a jewelry party in a few weeks and was looking for a party favor for my guests. Something with jewelry, something cute, and easy. I was so happy to find this! I think my guests will love it!
Thank you for the step-by-step pictures! It makes it that much easier!
7/11/2010 @ 10:28 pm