Cute Little Sewing Tool Caddy

So I’m trying to get a little more organized this year.

This is not a skill I was born with.

I apparently create just fine in chaos.
Unfortunately for my family – most of my chaos happens on the dining room table.

So in order to try and speed up the clean up process – I created a cute little Sewing Tool Caddy.
Here’s hoping that if I have a cute place I can slip my most-used supplies – I will actually… Put. Them. Away.
I can dream right?

Seriously – isn’t it the cutest?? I’m hoping the cute factor will inspire me to tidyness too!

The caddy has a sweet little pincushion on top, and an elastic ruffle around the block to hold your marking pens, little scissors and seam ripper!

I used fabulous wood blocks and Riley Blake Verona fabric from Oh My Crafts for these cuties. The 3 x 3 blocks were perfect size for the caddy’s and the fabrics looked so cute and coordinated together.

Ready to get started? These are really fun to do!

You’ll need:

3 x 3 Wooden Block
Two Coordinating fabrics
Covered Button
Stuffing
Small Wooden Beads (about 3/4″)
Paint - 2 colors to coordinate with fabrics
1/4″ elastic
Upholstery tacks

There are two ways to attach the pincushion to the block. In the tutorial I’ll show you the drilled method, and then at the end I’ll show you a quicker way! :)

Begin by drilling a small hole through the center of the block. Paint the block the main color you’d like it to be.

When the block is dry, add some distressing by dry brushing some gray paint over the block. Just add a little paint to a stiff paintbrush, then blot most of the paint off.
Brush the paintbrush over the block lightly, making sure to get the edges and corners a little extra.

Now we’re going to work on our pincushion. Out of one of the fabrics, cut two 3 1/2″ circles. Out of a contrasting fabric, cut an 11 1/2″ x 3″ rectangle.

Fold the rectangle in half and sew the short raw edges together to make a tube.

Pin and sew one of the round circles to one side of the tube, right sides together.

Sew the other round circle to the other side of the tube, right sides together. Use your seam ripper and open up the straight seam in the tube just a little.
Turn the circle right side out and fill the little cushion with stuffing.
Sew the opening in the side up by hand.

Cover a button with the same fabric from the side of your pincushion.

To add your pincushion to the block, thread a long doll needle with a long piece of thick thread.
Feed the needle through the block, then through the center of the pincushion, then through the covered button.

Feed the needle back through the cushion and block. Pull the thread tight and knot it at the base of the block.
Glue the ends of the thread and knot to the bottom of the block.

Now our block has a cute little pincushion on top!

Cut another rectangle of fabric 2 1/2″ x 18″.

Turn one short end of the rectangle back 1/4″. Fold the long rectangle in half and sew the long, raw edges right sides together. Turn right side out and press.
One short end should now be folded in 1/4″.

Cut an 11 1/2″ piece of elastic. Thread it through the fabric tube and when the elastic is completely in the tube, sew the elastic down by sewing across the end of the tube that isn’t folded in.

Continue pulling the elastic through the tube, gathering the fabric as you go. Sew the other end of the elastic into the tube about 1/2″ from the folded end.
Tuck the other end into the folded end to make a circle. Sew across the tube.

Paint your wooden beads with gray paint.
Glue the wooden beads to the base of the block at the four corners.
(You can cover the thread with a felt square and glue down so everything looks a little tidier)

Slip the elastic tube onto the block. To help hold the different items, place upholstery tacks through the gathered piece into the wood.
I used a mallet to hammer them in, so the tacks wouldn’t dent or chip.

And you’re all done with your little Caddy - You can add in all your pins and tools!
(Coordinating your pins to your fabric is optional – but highly recommended for cuteness.)

For the quicker non-drilling method – you can sew your covered button to the pincushion, then glue the pincushion to the top of the block.
This works great if you don’t want to use any power tools!

I made up  these for me, my mom and my sis – since we’re all sewers. Sewists? Seamstresses. Whatever.
Though they are much better at organizing than me. I missed out on that gene somehow.

Wouldn’t these be fun to make up as gifts or for a sewing group?

I’d love to know what you think!

I’m linking to Sunday Scoop, Today’s Creative Blog, Met Monday, Skip to my Lou, Tutorials & Tips Tuesday, Shabby Creek Cottage, and the other fabulous parties on the party page – make sure you check them out!

Disclosure: I was provided with blocks and fabric from Oh My Crafts. All opinions and project ideas are mine. :)