Odds are, if you’re reading this, you’re some kind of crafter—embroiderer, cross-stitcher, sewist, or a proud member of the multiple-projects-in-progress club. And let’s be honest, while tote bags are great for carrying project, books, and patterns, they’re like the Bermuda Triangle—things just disappear and we end up digging around and invariably find that one loose sashiko needle. You know…
Enter project pouches: These handy, customizable companions keep your tools, materials, and sanity intact. And seriously, who doesn’t love a good pouch with a zipper and a clear window to show off that chaos we call creativity? Sadly, the perfect pouch is as hard to find as your favorite thimble in a couch cushion. So, we decided to make our own!
Armed with Colonial Needle Company supplies, leftover fabric, a stray zipper, and a quick trip to the second-hand art store (a.k.a. crafter’s paradise), voilà! The Windowed Project Pouch with Zipper was born—stylish, secure, and ready to save your supplies from tote bag purgatory. We designed our pouch to keep books and individual patterns safe while still being able to see which book and which pattern are in there. This way, we can chuck it in that tote bag we mentioned earlier and it won’t get all ripped up, bumped, and mashed.
We’re sharing a free pattern and a full video walk through on the Colonial Needle Blog so you can dive in and make your own. The video includes a FAB technique for setting in the zipper as well as how to add a window to just about any bag you make. T rust us, after your first pouch, you’ll be hooked. By the second, you’ll be customizing sizes and making mini versions for makeup or snacks—or let’s be real, more craft supplies. So far, we have used the fabric leftovers to make two other smaller pouches that are being used for carrying such things securely in our totes and other bags. There’s more of those on our website if you are interested in following us down that rabbit hole.
Be sure to tag Colonial Needle Company in your makes so we can brag on you all… we like doing that.
Happy crafting, and may your pouches always be findable and full (of the right stuff)!