This week, Roy was inspired by the Tingle Factor Item we discussed earlier this week. He had not seen such an item before and when, during our research into the history of the ‘housewife’, we came across a page which reproduced instructions for an American Civil War version (to see them click here) he had to try making one of his own. He decided he particularly liked the rolled up version which I had written up earlier in the week, so made a pattern to reproduce it. The results were fabulous, and he thought might even make great Christmas presents for sewers. So this week, Roy Creates A Housewife Sewing Kit.
You Will Need:
- Cardboard (optional)
- A washable pen or chalk pencil or lead pencil.
- Fabric. Roy used a plain white calico style fabric which he embellished with lazy daisies, but you could use a patterned fabric if you preferred.
- A Ruler
- Cotton. You can use cotton which blends with your fabric choice, or if you like choose a contrasting colour.
- Scissors
- A needle
- A piece of ribbon (Roy used a nice silk ribbon)
- Things to fill your housewife with (a little pair of sewing scissors, cottons, needles, pins, buttons etc is traditional, but it could be used for medicines or for other feminine items)
- Optional - A piece of wool felt for needles
Method:
- Cut out a rectangle 40 centimetres by 15 centimetres (or whatever size you want to make it). This measurement includes seam allowances.
- Trace the rectangle onto your fabric using a washable pen or chalk pencil.
- Carefully cut your fabric out.
- Fold the seams over as Roy has done above and pin them down. This will stop your housewife from fraying. Iron your seams flat, if desired.
- Using the needle and thread, firmly stitch the seams down. Roy just used a small running stitch. You could do this with a machine.
- If you like, decorate the housewife before sewing the pockets. Roy used red embroidery cotton to sew lazy daisies. If you need instructions on how to sew lazy daisies, visit Roy Creates A Pillowcase Doll.
- Now, turn the two ends over (make sure the seams are on the inside) and pin them down. Oversew the sides to make two pockets. Roy made one quite deep and one shallow, but you can make them as big or small as you like.
- Now, to fill in the rest of the area. You can sew a flap of wool felt into the area inside centre of the housewife to hold needles as Roy has done (again he used running stitch), or you might like to add some loops of ribbon which can be used to hold containers, pencils or scissors in place.
- Cut a length of ribbon (Roy used red to match his daisies). Your ribbon will need to be about 20 centimetres longer than the housewife itself
- Sew your ribbon into the centre of the outside of the housewife, as Roy has done above.
- Fill your housewife with whatever you like and then roll it up and use the ribbon to tie it shut.