I realised yesterday that one of my posts for Minerva has gone live, so I can tell you a bit about what I made now. Back in the summer I chose three things from their website and duly got a lovely parcel in the post containing some Anchor variegated threads (you know I’m a sucker for anything variegated!) a length of aida braid and a gorgeous fat quarter by Timeless Treasures. I just love those birds!
I decided to make a project bag, a sort of embroidery wallet. I like to have a little something to sew in my handbag for any opportune moment of stitching and up to then it was a ziplok plastic bag, practical but not very pretty! I wanted something practical and pretty!
I had a think about what I wanted to be able to carry and decided the shortlist was a 5″ hoop, embroidery scissors, needles and flosses. I sketched out a plan for one large pocket on one side and nine little pockets to put flosses in on the other.
I cut three 7” strips of Aida braid and embroidered each one with a different stitch, herringbone, buttonhole and chevron, to keep with the embroidery theme. I used a different Anchor thread for each one too. These three bands would make nine pockets for my wallet.
I cut a 7” x 14” piece of my main fabric for the outside. I managed to position it so two birds are perfectly positioned on the front. I used a coordinating piece of Kona Solid fabric for the inside. I interlined the inside piece with iron-on interfacing to give it a bit of support with the various pockets. I also cut a piece of scrap batting to soften it, I ironed another layer of interfacing onto the batting to give the wallet a bit of structure.
I made a simple pocket from another rectangle of fabric and added a felt bird shape from felt to make a little needle-holder. I stitched it on along the wing line, adding a French knot for it’s eye. 
I stitched the pockets on, stitching vertical lines down over the Aida to make nine little pockets.
I layered everything together using clover clips to hold it in place. Just before I sewed around the edge I inserted half a childs hair elastic in the back to make a button loop. I stitched round with a quarter inch seam.
Once I’d managed the fiddly job of turning the wallet right side out I pressed it and edge-stitched round. Finishing touches included a self covered button on the front for fastening and two lengths of ribbon inside to keep the hoop and a pair of scissors safe. 
My stitching wallet has been in daily use ever since, living permanently in my handbag, I love it! Changes I will make next time, I’d use a narrower Aida band and have more pockets, maybe four rows. The issue is not particularly the number of pockets, more that they are a little too deep, so I can’t easily see the numbers without pulling them out a bit. I’d also try and think of a different way of securing my scissors, ribbon may be pretty but it’s a bit faffy. I hate velcro but a velcro tab might be better, or I did wonder about a magnet, or would I just end up with all sorts stuck to it from my handbag! May be a popper tab…
If you would like more information on the construction or what I used, please follow the link and have a look at my Minerva post.
thecraftycreek 
It’s lovely! I’d have been unable to resist quilting around those birds and some of the bigger flowers, they’re fabulous. For the scissors, how about a quarter inch ribbon loop secured with a snap, and the same for the hoop? You’d still get the pretty colour, and the snaps are easy to apply if you have the right tool, plus you can get them in pretty colours too.
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Thanks for the suggestion Kate, I think that might be the way forward!
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It looks really pretty. I agree with Kate – a snap would secure your scissors nicely.
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This is just great. So beautiful. Bet you’re glad the zip lock bag has gone 😊
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The fabric is very pretty indeed and I love the way you have made your bag, really lovely.
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It is gorgeous and so practical. Velcro isn’t pretty but you can always disguise it with a fabric backing.
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You are such a clever person! It is a wonderfully practical thing to make.
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Practical, pretty and so much better than a plastic bag.
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Beautiful
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Lovely
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I do think you’re so clever! I love any needlefolds and one for the handbag is brilliant! I also love that you have put in the Aida strips with stitch samples. thanks for sharing the idea.
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I love this idea! It is gorgeous!!
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Love your fabric choice, Margaret! Such a well thought out construction, but wouldn’t know what to suggest for those scissors. xx
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Wonderful wallet! How nice to have something that is pretty and functional!
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that’s so pretty! thanks for sharing
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What a lovely little wallet! I can see the appeal of the fabric too. It reminds me a lot of Nicola Jarvis’ birds.
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That’s amazing–to have the idea and be able to make such a pretty solution to a need!
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This turned out beautiful. Your embroidery is exquisite and you found a great fabric to go with it.
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Thanks Shasta, the fabric is gorgeous 🙂
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I’m only just now seeing this wallet. It’s fabulous!
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Thanks, I use it every day 🙂
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I love your sewing wallet and I think I would find that very useful. My concern is that I seem to always end up with junk in my wallet and then something like this would become a bit or a lot grungy. Any ideas about cleaning or just keeping the outside clean? I am a new subscriber from Alberta, Canada to your blog and think I am really going to enjoy this.
Betty
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Hi Betty, you haven’t seen my handbag!!! It’s cotton, so I can just pop it in the wash. I also chose a dark, patterned fabric so it wouldn’t show every mark!
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