sewing book prototype
February 7th, 2008
I’ve been thinking about this project for a while. All my hand sewing supplies are jammed into a crappy bag my husband got at some conference and it’s gotten so bad that I can’t even bear to look at it much less sort it out. I wanted something where everything I needed would be there when I had a minute to sew (and most of the time it is literally a minute). I just wanted to open it up and sew. Immediately a book came to mind and then I thought of these reader’s digest books. We have a couple (back to basics is my favorite) and you can get them at any thrift store. And low and behold next time I went there was this DIY one waiting for me. I was a little nervous at first because it looked like there might be a ridiculous amount of measuring involved, but there really wasn’t and it came together pretty quickly.
On the left there is one removable embroidery floss card, with spots for 4 more (it was getting late) and a big wonky pocket underneath. In the middle there is a little ribbon to tie a small scissors. On the right there are some pockets for pencils and a big scissors or glasses, a pincushion, and under the pincushion is a needle book. I think I may make a few more of these just so I can get it right and maybe even to sell (if you think there are people who would buy them). I think the big pocket should be two pockets that snap close and the needle book needs a snap or some kind of closure too. I have to totally redo the embroidery floss cards because they were a pain the the butt, but I like that they are removable. Is there something you would add? It is too matchy matchy? Should I use different fabrics for everything? I need some feedback over here.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I think it looks great! What a fun idea! I don’t think it is too matchy, and I love the fabric. Maybe it needs some kind of snap strap to hold the big scissors in. I have messed up a few pair of good scissors by dropping them accidentally!
FUN!!!
February 7th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
very cool! a similar “book” would be really great for bookmaking supplies! all of my supplies are in a toolbox. to have everything in a pocket or “spot” (the awls, the bone folders, brushes, threads, needles…) and easily accessible would be fabulous. i don’t have a sewing machine, and i have a backlog of projects (mobile swap being one!), but it’s something i can add to the list!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Love it change nothing! Now I have to go make one myself!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
This is so rad!! A snap or velcro on the needle book is a good idea, and I like the way the removable floss cards will overlap. Is the pincushion removable? This book is brilliant!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I love it! What a great idea! My first thought was that you should definitely sell these, but then I thought maybe most of the sewers out there would rather try to make it themselves? I know that when I saw it I thought it would be fun to try for myself. Maybe you could sell a pattern/tutorial for it? I can think of endless uses for this sort of thing though, maybe as an art supply book for children.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Great idea - I would probably add in a few other fabrics but I tend to be a bit OTT at times. keep us updated as you make changes, I love seeing how things evolve.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
the book cover idea is great. i really need something like this. my desk is a jungle. I’m not a great matchy person myself, but this almost has a “camoflague” flowery comando effect! The floss bars a useful. Does the pin cushion detach? I bet as you use it you’ll realise what’s functional for you, and it will evolve, and be patched and added to, and grow old gracefully. :-) I’m off to hunt some more head-lice!
February 7th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Fab! I love the tied on scissors best - because mine will never stay where I put them.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Now that my friend is BRILLIANT!
I mean it.
I want one.
PLEASE! Xxx
February 8th, 2008 at 2:46 am
What a great idea, I NEED one of these, my sewing box is such a mess and I can never find anything.
I love the retro fabric, wel done you:)
February 8th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I love the fabric, and I don’t think that it is to matchy. I think that two pockets would be better than one, but I’m a woman who loves a lot of pockets.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Please make them to sell - you have a customer right here!!!!!!!!
February 8th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Ooohh! I like. Not too matchy matchy. I’m envisioning one for knitting paraphenalia.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Genius! I absolutely love this!
February 8th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
This is so perfect! I love the way everything it matches, the one tranquil thing in the chaos of craft supplies. :-)
February 8th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Very nice. I am thinking that my children would turn it upside down and shake it until those giant scissors fell out and stabbed their toes. Perhaps I would need to make another tie for the scissors or some type of box closure that would keep everything contained? Hmm.
Great idea and I love the book cover and fabric you chose.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I like how the pincushion is part of this book. I agree with some sort of enclosures. How about a ‘flap’ that runs along the long side and covers the entire book - then roll it up and tie. Looks great.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Oops - didn’t mean roll it up. Just FOLD book in half.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I love this project! I am kinda obsessed with needle cases right now. One thing that I would want would be a large enough pocket to fit some small embroidery projects. I’d want them to lay flat, so maybe a large pocket on one side that was situated behind one of the panels? It is so easy to suggest–but there is no way I could sew it up without a ton of hair pulling. I would definately be a customer if you were to make more for selling.
February 9th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
that is the coolest thing i have ever seen! you NEED to sell those in your etsy shop.
February 10th, 2008 at 2:30 am
you’re so clever… but then we knew that already…
February 10th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
brilliant!!!love the matchy matchy but differnt pockets/fabrics would look great to!like the idea of securing the scissors.absoulutly sell them!!
February 10th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
this is such a crazy good idea. nice!
February 11th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Fantastic idea, love the retro fabric. I think that just one contrasting fabric would be nice for the pockets… and you should definitely sell them.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:36 am
thank you everyone! securing the scissors is a must–mine have fallen out a bunch already.
Jen S. I think a bookbinding kit is a great idea! But I don’t know what all the supplies are.
Carrie–the big pocket was supposed to be for small embroidery projects, but I feel like smaller pockets would just be more useful. If I could figure out how to add another “page” I would.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
What a fun idea - I love it! My daughter made this bag last year with an old book cover http://nzfloss.blogspot.com/2007/10/im-not-only-one.html
but you’ve really taken it to the next level. Brilliant!
February 12th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Clever - I’d buy one!
Please make at least one with mixed-up fabrics. :-)
February 13th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I LOVE it!!!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I love the whole take it with you book feel. What an appropriate book as well.
I would also add a snap-tie to the scissors as I am always picking things up upside-down oops!
Maybe a plastic (see-thru) pouch that is closed pocket style to hold bigger floss cards?
I have made an organizer thingy for our airplane but never thought to put it in a book. Great idea!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Totally freaking cool (ingenius, actually!) but I will admit, it’s giving me a kind of camouflage vibe. A smaller print might help get rid of that sewing-in-a-yellow-jungle kind of thing. : )
February 14th, 2008 at 11:33 am
This sewing book is brilliant!! I’ve never seen anything like it!! And just leave that interior alone- it looks perfect as-is. Now I’m looking at some neat old books at my house with a totally fresh perspective… Cool!!
February 19th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I think it’s an amazing idea and you would most certainly get these sold.
I think it is ok with one fabric, but it would also be fun in different fabrics - patterned + plain etc.
I don’t like the floss card. I would make a row of buttons and a strap… There would be either a loop or a strap with buttonhole on the upper edge of the book, and you’d fasten the ready-cut embroidery floss with the loops/straps and hold them in place with a long vertical strap… It would also be easier to make than the floss cards.
I also think I’d like more pockets and closable pockets… perhaps with a zipper.
It would also be nice if the whole book had a zipper all around, so that one doesn’t need to worry about things falling from the book while moving it from place A to place B… but then it starts evolving into an ordinary sewing caddy, and that kind of takes out the fresh, original feeling of your invention :-)
All in all it’s great as it is :-) Well done :-)
February 19th, 2008 at 6:39 am
[...] sewing book is a really cool idea. You could take the idea to the next level and make a book making book. [...]
February 20th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Wow! What a fantastic idea! I think you could definitely sell those. I’d buy one!
March 5th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I am amazed that no one has a problem with gutting a perfectly readable and useful book. I am an admitted “librophile,” and know I could not bring myself to re-use or recyle in this fashion, in spite of the clever play on the DIY title. That said, it is a lovely way to hold supplies, and if you can do/learn bookbinding, you could make your own (matching) covers for it.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
That is so clever! From the scissors tie, to the pincushion–and don’t even get be started on the cover selection! You will absolutely be able to sell those.
:) Tanya
March 6th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Love this! I’ve always wanted to try making something with some of the great book covers that you can find at thrift shops. You’ve come up with a super idea!
March 6th, 2008 at 5:10 am
….so adorable!! There are soooooo many books just languishing around thrift stores without homes….if not purchased, into a landfill they go to sit unused, unread for all eternity. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!!! Love the sewing kit!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Very Cool! I’m going to have to try to make this. If you make them for sale, I’d add a loop that snaps, to attach my measuring tape and a spot for a little notepad. I’d also add tons of safty pins….I do a lot of fitting, and this “book” would be great to cart around.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Uncannily Clever Idea! Guess I could come up with ideas for improving/embellishing but overall this is the absolute CUTEST idea! A tall book might allow for bigger projects. Another “page” could be sewn on at the middle prior to adhering to the book back. Two pencil slots could become one slot to house a 6″ ruler. An additional row of tiny pockets atop the lower part of the existing pockets would expand storage. A magnetic strip for needle threaders would be useful. I’d LOVE to see photos of the next generation as I’m sure this project will evolve. Congratulations on an awsome creation!!!
March 8th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
what a fantastic project - i love it!
March 16th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
This is a great idea! I have been tossing around trying to come up with something similar for my various project needs (sewing, knitting, etc). This would work nicely. I was thinking something like this would be great for keeping my purse organized too. Great job.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Quote:
Lindsey Says:
March 5th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I am amazed that no one has a problem with gutting a perfectly readable and useful book. I am an admitted “librophile,” and know I could not bring myself to re-use or recyle in this fashion, in spite of the clever play on the DIY title.
I purchased a book yesterday at an antique shop in Salt Lake City, and felt okay about knowing I was going to gut it, because it is a yearbook from way back when. It has a cool cover, though. Any other books that seemed like they would make cool covers also seemed like a book I would read…or that would make me sad to pull the pages out of. My husband is also a “librophile” and is having to look the other way. :) At least it’s a yearbook…
I can’t wait to see what I come up with to finally organize my embroidery supplies!!!
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:30 am
I think this is a great idea! It is so cute, and I think there are definitely people that would buy them. Put one up on Etsy and see what happens :)
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I love this!! Very clever and useful!
April 27th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
This is the best idea for hiding your good scissors from your kids so they won’t use them on paper! Plus have everything in a compact portable carrier for taking to classes and quilting get togethers.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Oh my!!!! This is fantastic!
July 4th, 2008 at 3:46 am
I made an apron for work (I make costumes) that carries many of the same things that you’ve included in your clever book design, and I’d like to offer a few suggestions that have really helped me out. You might make some extra room for safety pins–perhaps a flap for them on top of the pockets. I personally hate to be without lots of safety pins when I’m fitting things and such. A nifty little special pocket for a thimble (or two) would be awesome. You might also consider adding a small pair of needle-nosed pliers to the collection. I find them invaluable for dealing with recalcitrant zippers, bent hooks, pulling needles through difficult fabrics, etc. And for that really professional touch, a v-shaped pocket for the scissors with a snap flap so that they don’t fall out and get damaged if the book is turned upside down. The book idea is awesome, and I like the bold print. Wouldn’t it be cool to make the book out of, like, some old hard-bound clothing pattern catalogue book, or maybe a fabric swatch book? Love the creativity.
January 20th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
wow! what a fabulous repurp for an unused book!
<3E
tootsweethandbags.etsy.com