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Sewing kit | Tutorial and free pattern

16.04.2016 by Sabine Schmidt

Näh-Set nähen | Anleitung und gratis Schnittmuster

Perhaps the cutest sewing project and a gorgeous gift for all sewing enthusiasts: a sewing kit! With my instructions, you can easily sew your own sewing kit! Including a free pattern.

Because I work with Decovil light* here, the sewing kit is nice and dimensionally stable and also resists needle pricks. So you don't have to worry about "accidents" with sewing pins.

I use my sewing kit (which also stores my darning needles) almost every day – and it still looks as good as new.

The most important things at a glance

  • The sewing kit is a great project for sewing beginners
  • You can wonderfully use up your fabric scraps to sew the sewing kit
  • You can sew the sewing kit entirely according to your own ideas and wishes
  • Sewing kits are wonderful and individual gifts for your sewing friends
  • The sewing kit is also great as a travel sewing kit
  • You can find another version of the sewing kit here

Important supplies for sewing the sewing kit:

Sewing the sewing kit - here's how!

  • Cut the fabric for the exterior and interior using the pattern
  • Transfer the markings with a fabric marker
  • Iron the fusible batting onto the wrong side of the outer fabric
Sewing the sewing kit
Sewing the sewing kit
  • Place the fabric for the appliqué and a white cotton fabric* right sides together, use a glass to measure out a circle, and sew along the line
  • Snip the seam allowance all around up to the seam so that the fabric lays nicely after turning and does not ripple
  • Cut a small hole in the middle of the white fabric and turn the circle; now you can press it
Sewing the sewing kit
  • Iron Vliesofix onto the back of the fabric you want to use for the bird appliqué
  • Cut out the bird body using the pattern and iron the appliqué onto the desired spot on the outer fabric
  • Now sew the appliqué in place with a satin stitch. Remember to also fix the beak with a few stitches
  • Iron the stiffener onto the wrong side of the interior fabric
  • For the pincushion, cut a rectangle with edges of 6 by 7 cm and fold and press the edges in by 1 cm. Cut two pieces of batting with edges of 5 by 6 cm and "stuff" them into the pincushion. Sew the pincushion in place with a straight stitch at the marked spot
Sewing the sewing kit
  • Iron the stiffener onto the wrong side of the interior fabric
  • Using the markings on the pattern, cut the pocket on the fold - you can choose between two pocket sizes
  • Fix the pocket in place and sew it lightly with a wide zigzag stitch so that nothing slips later when adding the binding
Sewing the sewing kit
  • Decorate the pocket with ribbons, a bit of lace, or buttons
  • Attach the snap fastener at the marked spot
  • Make a quilt sandwich: place the exterior and interior pieces wrong sides together and sew them together with bias tape
Sewing the sewing kit
Sewing the sewing kit

Thanks to the firm stiffener*, the bias tape wraps nicely and accurately around the edge. I like to use anatomical tweezers* to nudge the bias tape into position while topstitching. I show you how to do this in the instructions for the lovely Portobella cosmetic bag.

Sewing the sewing kit
Sewing the sewing kit
Sewing the sewing kit

Do you like my tutorial and would you like to sew a sewing kit now too?

Feel free to leave me a comment!

Happy sewing and

happy simple sewing

your Sabine

The most frequent questions at a glance

Is the sewing kit a suitable project for beginners?

Of course! I explain the individual steps for you one by one, and in the end, you will be happy with a beautiful result.

Where can I get the appliqué for the little bird on the sewing kit?

You can find the appliqué to download in this post, and I also explain how appliquéing works in this sewing tutorial.

Can the sewing kit be sewn in different versions?

Definitely - there are no limits to your imagination and creativity:). On my blog, you can also find a completely different version of the sewing kit.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Sew a sewing kit - here's how!

Tutorial for a handmade sewing kit with a bird appliqué, pincushion and small pouch – including a free sewing pattern.

  1. Step

    Cut the fabrics and iron on the fleece

    • Cut the fabric for the outside and inside using the sewing pattern
    • Transfer the markings with a fabric marker
    • Iron the fusible fleece onto the wrong side of the outer fabric
    Cut the fabrics and iron on the fleece
  2. Step

    Prepare the circle appliqué

    • Place the appliqué fabric and a white cotton fabric right sides together, trace a circle using a glass and sew along the line
    • Clip the seam allowance all around up to the seam so the fabric lies nicely after turning and doesn't ripple
    • Cut a small hole in the centre of the white fabric and turn the circle right side out; now you can press it
    Prepare the circle appliqué
  3. Step

    Bird appliqué and pincushion

    • Iron Vliesofix onto the back of the fabric for the bird appliqué
    • Cut out the bird's body using the sewing pattern and iron the appliqué onto the desired spot on the outer fabric
    • Sew the appliqué down with a satin stitch. Remember to secure the beak with a few stitches too
    • Iron the pelmet interfacing onto the wrong side of the lining fabric
    • For the pincushion, cut a rectangle measuring 6 by 7 cm and press the edges under by 1 cm. Cut two pieces of fusible fleece (5 by 6 cm) and "stuff" them into the pincushion. Sew the pincushion in place at the marked spot with a straight stitch
    Bird appliqué and pincushion
  4. Step

    Cut out and secure the pocket

    • Iron the pelmet interfacing onto the wrong side of the lining fabric
    • Using the markings on the sewing pattern, cut the pocket on the fold – you can choose between two pocket sizes
    • Secure the pocket and tack it down with a wide zigzag stitch so nothing shifts during binding later
    Cut out and secure the pocket
  5. Step

    Decorate the pocket and make the quilt sandwich

    • Decorate the pocket with woven ribbons, a little lace or buttons
    • Attach the snap at the marked spot
    • Make a quilt sandwich: place the outside and inside wrong sides together and sew them together with bias binding
    Decorate the pocket and make the quilt sandwich
  6. Step

    Stitch the bias binding down neatly

    Thanks to the firm pelmet interfacing, the bias binding wraps very neatly around the edge.

    Tip: Anatomical tweezers help you tweak the bias binding into position as you stitch it down.

    Stitch the bias binding down neatly

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.