Tutorial: Embroidery Floss Travel Box

Organized embroidery floss. On the go. No knots, no tangles—even if it's bouncing around all day in your bag. (No, seriously.)

Inspired by a conversation with fellow CRAFT writer (and embroidery goddess) Rachel of Average Jane Crafter, I designed this project specifically for needlework geeks who like to stitch on the go. Each embroidery floss travel box holds up to two different colors, has a front pocket to hold floss color tags, and has a bobbin feeding system for quick floss access with no tangles. (Huzzah, no knots on the subway!)

Are you a yarn crafter too? Check out my modular colorwork yarn holders on CRAFT to keep multiple colors of yarn organized and untangled when knitting or crocheting on the go!

Supplies:
* High quality felt, ½ sheet of the primary box color, ¼ sheet each of two contrasting colors
* 1 bamboo skewer or chopstick
* Embroidery floss, at least 2 colors (for box construction)
* Embroidery floss, 1 or 2 colors (to load onto bobbins for projects)
* 2 plastic sewing machine bobbins
* 1 Velcro closure, ½ " circle or square (or cut to size)
* Fabric-friendly adhesive (I used Amazing E-6000)

Tools:
* Hand-sewing or embroidery needle
* Small steel crochet hook, size 12
* Paper hole punch
* Fabric scissors with detail tip
* Paper or kitchen scissors/clippers (to cut bamboo)
* Sandpaper

The following tutorial creates ONE box. Gather additional materials to make multiple boxes.

Step 1
Using fabric scissors, cut the following shapes out of the primary felt color: seven 1¼" felt squares and one 1¼" x ¾" rectangle. In the contrasting felt colors, use a paper punch to punch six small felt circles for flower petals and one small felt circle for the center.


Step 2
Begin constructing the box by attaching the sides to the bottom.

To do this, select a felt square for the bottom of the box, then attach the first side by laying a second felt square on top of it and whipstitching the squares together along ONE of the outside edges using 2-ply embroidery floss. Once stitched in place, open the attached side to get it out of the way, then line up the next side with the bottom of the box and repeat the same process. When the first three sides have been attached, stack the the 1¼" x ¾" rectangle on top of the fourth side, lining up the bottom of the rectangle with the edge that will be stitched to the bottom of the box. Whipstitch through all three felt layers to attach the fourth side to the bottom of the box.

When you're finished, all four sides should be attached to the bottom of the box. Knot off on the inside of the box and trim any extra floss length.

Tutorial: Sewing Kit Valentine Card

Last week, I shared a Valentine's Day paper craft made especially for sewing geeks over on CRAFT!

Project: Sewing Kit Valentines Card

Get cute and crafty this Valentine's Day by sending your pals, lady-friends, and gentlemen callers a handy sewing kit valentine!

Step 1: Make a symmetrical heart pattern by folding a piece of paper in half width-wise, then drawing half of a heart at the fold. My heart is about 6" tall. Cut out the pattern and open it.

Step 2: To create the card, fold a full sheet of colored paper in half width-wise then line up the heart pattern so that the top edges of each side meet the fold. Trace the shape onto the paper with a pencil then cut out the card. Take care to leave the tops of each side connected at the fold...

Want to see more? Head over to CRAFT to get the full tutorial!

Sunday Snapshot: Vintage Metal Tapewriter

There is certainly a learning curve for using a vintage Dymo-Mite Tapewriter, but I'm making a little bit of progress. I'm especially proud of myself for figuring out how to engage the punch feature. (Seeing as how I'm currently in the throes of my requisite post-trade show head cold, the fact that I've figured out anything at all constitutes a minor miracle.)

Video Friday Internet Crushes: Jenny Wants Bug Art

If you've ever been to a trade show, you know how loopy things can get toward the end: you're tired, you've met a million awesome people, and you haven't slept in days. So, on the last day of CHA, when the show lights had been turned down and the closing announcements had been made, things got a little, well, weird.

During a discussion of creepy/gross-tastic—yet somehow still cool—crafts, my pal Jenny from Craft Test Dummies enthusiastically declared her love of bug art. Now, we may have all been a little post-show slaphappy, but I can confirm without question that her excitement is 100% real. (I, on the other hand, am a big fan of Victorian mourning hair wreaths and brooches.) I'm pretty sure that no crafts are too strange for Team CTD, and that's just the way I like it!

What are your favorite offbeat crafts?


Upping my game in DIY videos is one of my goals for 2012. Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see what new forms of crafty hijinks I get up to next!