Crochet hook holder tutorial

Are you ready for another tutorial?  This crochet hook case is a perfect companion to the knitting needle roll I published a tutorial for a couple of weeks ago.

I'm using the same fabrics as they are both destined as a birthday present for my mum.

First, cut out your fabric.  You need:

1 x outer fabric 12 x 7.5 inches

1 x inner fabric 12 x 7.5 inches

1 x fusible fleece 11 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches

1 x flap outer 8.5 x 2 1/4 inches

1 x flap lining 8.5 x 2 1/4 inches

1 x pocket outer 12 x 4.5 inches

1 x pocket lining 12 x 4.5 inches

a 2 inch length of ribbon/braid/string

a button

I used plain white fabric for my pocket lining to prevent too much bulk as my fabric is home decor weight.  The inside of the pocket wont be seen.  Quilting weight fabric will work fine, you could also use denim or linen, whatever you fancy.

Place your pocket pieces and your flap pieces right sides together and pin.

For the pocket, sew one long edge only, flip so the fabrics are right sides out, press, topstitch if you want to.  I didn't.  Because I forgot, not for any scientific or design reason!

For the flap stitch one long edge and one short edge, depending on whether you want the flap on the left (like mine) or the right (not like mine).  The short edge that you sew up will be facing into the middle of the roll, not the edge.  Again flip, press, topstitch (or not).

I cut my fusible fleece a quarter of an inch smaller all round than the outer piece.  This just makes it easier to fuse in place without making a mess of your ironing board, iron or pressing cloth.  As it's only an 1/8 inch smaller along each edge it will still be caught in the seam allowance in case it becomes unstuck later.  I have had that happen to me, usually when I'm doing lots of turning, turning, unpicking, resewing, turning, turning, unpicking etc.  Fuse the fleece to your outer piece.

Place your outer piece right-side-up on a flat surface, put the pocket, also right side up on top, lining up the bottom and side raw edges.  Add the flap to the top corner with the two raw edges lined up with the left edge and the top edge.

Place your outer piece on top, right side down.  Fold your ribbon/braid/string/lock of hair in half and tuck inside your sandwich.  It needs to be loop-face inwards, raw edges sticking out about half an inch.  I positioned mine just above the pocket.

Pin the whole heap together.

Sew all the way round, leaving a 4 inch turning gap along one edge.  I would recommend doing this where there is only 2 layers of fabric - so on the upper edge towards the right, next to your flap.

Clip your corners, turn the whole thing inside out, making sure your pocket is on the inside and not the outside (cue loads of confusion as I can't figure out why my pocket is facing the wrong way... then realise you just need to turn it!), press the seams and top stitch if you want.  I didn't, not because I forgot this time but because the seams were so bulky that I would have made a right mess of it.

Slip stitch or ladder stitch your opening closed.  For some reason I thought you might like to see a picture of the back at this stage. 

Now you are going to create the pockets.  You can either do this by eye, use a quilting guide, or drawer the lines to be stitched on with a removable/fading/wash off pen.  I left a big gap on the right, about 4 inches I think, for scissors and "stuff", then I marked out a line 2 inches away, then 1 3/4, then 1 1/2 etc, down to 1 inch, then I alternated the rest of the lines between 1 inch and 5/8 inch to make room for different sized hooks.

Use either a contrasting thread or one that will blend in and stitch down each line, back tacking a little at either end.  I used my walking foot for this and didn't have any puckering problems as I'd had with the needle roll.

Quilt along all your lines, then snip the threads, unless you prefer the wild look as above.

Once again, I seemed to think you'd like to see the back...

Fold your case along one of the lines to the right, press the seam to help it fold.

Then fold the left side in along one of those lines until it looks nicely layered.  Find a button that will fit through your loop (you can plan this bit in advance, but who doesn't like the "damn, I don't have a matching button that fits" moment at times like this?  Strangely enough, I did have a matching button that fitted...)

Stick a pin where your button was to mark the spot, then sew your button in place.

Here's what it'll look like from the back.

And here's how it looks all folded up.

Much better than the last one!

P.S. I cleaned the pterydactyl poo off my car.  Well no, I didn't do it, a man did.  I paid him, I didn't just force him to do it then drive off.

Birthday pressies - done!

I'm working my way down that sewing list!  It's my mum's birthday next week, I've already made her a knitting needle roll, a little pouch for her pills and a hardanger lavendar heart, but I needed a couple more things to finish the present off.  As she loves so many things and is a knitter, crocheter, card maker, scrapbooker and sewer herself, she's really easy to make for.  This time up I wanted to make a crochet hook holder and thread catcher.

I used a pattern from Homespun to make the thread catcher, it's from the issue following the one I used to make my sewing machine cover and this is designed to match.  I deviated from the pattern to make it fit mum's style.

I used random scraps in her favourite colours to make the patchwork.  I actually can't believe I didn't take a picture of the patchwork band out flat as nearly all the points match!  I also added the piggy ribbon as she loves pigs.  I didn't make this to match the needle roll or crochet hook clutch as this isn't a thread catcher.  Well it is a thread catcher as I called it a thread catcher but it wont be used as a thread catcher.  It's for when she's crafting at the dining room table, to put all the paper off-cuts and bits of the backing from double sided tape.  A table bin, if you will. 

It's lined with part of a bargain FQ of Hushabye I've had in my stash for a while, and the piping is Michael Miller something or other.  How great am I at fabric names?!?  Oh no, I just realised, I promised someone a piping tutorial if I made any.... and I forgot!  Was it you Dotty?  OK, I'll do some step by step pics next time I make some, and I will make some as I love piping.

The non-thread catching thread catcher whipped up very quickly, so it was on to the crochet hook case.  I knew I'd seen a pattern for one in one of my books and soon found it in Sew Darn Cute.  I was seriously disappointed with the finished article.

The topstitching is appalling.

Look!  I don't know how you were supposed to do a 1/8 inch top stitch over the multiple layers plus the fusible fleece.

And I HATE the way it's constructed.  Look at the sides!  Why on earth would you construct something like that?  Terrible.  I was severely disappointed to have wasted some of my Amy Butler home dec weight fabric on this travesty of a project.

Now, you all know me by now, you must realise I wasn't going to let it go?  So I made another one, this time using my OWN invented as I went along, instructions.

And it was a success!  Such a success that I've made a tutorial.  I'll be posting it tomorrow so make sure you come back if this is on your Christmas sewing list.  And don't, whatever you do, use the instructions from Sew Darn Cute, they're crap!

Before I go, I just want to let you know I'm a bit behind on my blog reading and VERY behind on my emails.  Ladies, I am not ignoring you, I promise!  I will get back to you as soon as possible.  I often answer emails at the weekends but this weekend I've got the Hobbycrafts Fair in Birmingham, then my spinning course so I don't know if I'll get a chance.... don't hate me!