AGF October Challenge: Mending Kit

I am so, so proud of this project!  Last month I discovered that Art Gallery Fabrics hosts a monthly sewing challenge.  I actually won last month's with my fab laptop sleeve:

This month's challenge was a mending kit.  I despise hand sewing.  But it is a necessary evil.  So I made myself participate in the challenge, hoping to make something that I will love using enough to make hand sewing not so terrible.  I think it worked!

I designed this kit, using fabrics from the Indie line by Pat Bravo (my very favorite, could you tell?), using nothing but the bag-making skills I have learned over the past year and my trusty iPad sketching "pen."  It turned out just as I had hoped--or maybe even a little better.

The outside is lightly gathered, with a fun contrasting strip down the middle.  Inside there are two zippered pockets (with metal zippers to give it a little edge) that can hold buttons, needles, and even my hexie-making templates.   I added a little loop to hold my favorite metal ruler, a pocket for my scissors, and elastic loops for my thread.  I have lots of thread, and always seem to buy the same size spools, so I made the loops to hold this specific size.  The little pin cushion attaches with velcro.  I used DecorBond on both sides for extra stability, and sandwiched a piece of cotton batting in there too.  The whole thing folds in thirds (a requirement of the challenge) and fastens with an elastic loop and fun wooden button.

All folded up, it looks like a fun little clutch.  Did I mention how much I love it?!?!

I wish I had discovered these challenges earlier in the year.  Those who complete them all are in the running to win a new sewing machine.  There's no way I can catch up now, but I'm so glad I found them.  It's always nice to give myself a way to expand on my design skills.