Skip to main content

Keep the Boys Busy

I mentioned that the little girl purses I made were well received.  Compliments that came in person were usually followed up with, "I need something like that for my little boy" and S promptly requested "something for boys" for her shop.  I wasn't really coming up with any good ideas, but then I remembered a little notebook thing* that my daughter received for Christmas.  Made in the right fabrics it could work really well for boys.  On the same Sunday I was going to explain my idea to S, she gave me a diagram with the same sort of idea sketched out.  Off to the drawing board, and here's what I came up with:

First draft:

Pad/Pencil Portfolio

Pad/Pencil Portfolio

I added a zippered pocket to the back since nothing other than the pencils and pad can be carried on the inside.  The pocket is small and I'm not sure what could really fit in it (a matchbox car?) but I think it adds some visual interest also.


I decided to do six slots for pencils, each 7/8" wide.  It is easy to get the pencils into the slots, but they fall out really easily - a rather fatal flaw.  The next draft has seven 3/4" slots in the same amount of space and they hold on to the pencils much better.

Pad/Pencil Portfolio

This fits a 4" x 6" notebook.  I put bar tacks on either side of the notebook to keep it in place.

Pad/Pencil Portfolio

The roomy pencil slots is an issue with this draft, but I also put the top and bottom together backwards.  When you open the "thing"* like a book, the innards are upside down.

Pad/Pencil Portfolio

I told my son he could have this one, but I don't think he's really going to be able to use it.  The pencils falling out is really annoying.  That's a bummer because he was really excited about it.  I'm not sure if I'll try to adjust the slots in this one or just make a new one for him.

Second draft:


After noticing the problems with my first try, I went back, made some changes and made a second "thing"*.

Pad/Pencil Portfolio

Pad/Pencil Portfolio

I made the pocket on the back a little larger.  I'm not happy with how the zipper looks and it is by far the most tedious part of this project.  I think I'll change the zipper insertion for the next one.


Here you can see the seven pencils snug in their slots.  They don't fall out unless really shaken upside down.

This one is for a friend's son.  I have two more cut out that I'm hoping to get to tonight.

*Can you help me come up with a name for these?  It doesn't even have to be cute or marketable.  I'm just not really sure what to call it.  "Thing" isn't going to work for long.

Comments

  1. how about "the lad bag" ? Very cute - very very cute. What a talented seamstress you are.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like "art tool kit" or Notebook Kit

    I tried to send a comment out earlier, but received an error message.

    I just wanted to suggest a pocket flap secured with velcro for the sliding pencil problem and compliment you on your lovely work.

    Antoinette

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love these color pencil and notebook holders! Boy, you are so crafty! Hope everyone helps you get the perfect name. BTW: I love the Eccl. scripture you picked--it's very inspiring:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. My grandchildren were over last night and they could have used these! They love to color, paint & create when ever they come over. I like the idea of your case for boys!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grocery Bags

More gifts! These are just like the still-all-too-ubiquitous plastic grocery bags, but they're fabric.  I followed this tutorial and you actually use a plastic bag as a pattern.  The instructions are very good and include a pocket so that the bag can be folded up and is easy to keep in a purse or a car's glove box. Mostly for the sake of the gift recipients, here's how to fold up the bag.... 1.  Lay the bag pocket side down and fold it length-wise using the edges of the pocket as a guide. 2.  Fold it in half, aligning the top of the handles with the bottom of the bag. 3.  Fold in half again and then reach into pocket with your hand and turn the whole thing (pocket included) inside out. Happy shopping!

Shopping Bags

Most stores in our town charge you a nickel for a plastic bag when you check out. I love this practice and the way that it encourages people to bring their own cloth bags or reuse their plastic ones. My habit of bringing along bags to the grocery store is well established, but I used to find myself stuck at places like the drug store or farmer's market or other impromptu stops. Then I picked up a bag at an upscale kitchen goods store that rolls up quite compactly. Now I keep that in my purse, so I always have a bag with me. I like my bag so much that I wanted to replicate it for the art sale. The final result is a hybrid of the bag I purchased and these that I made last year. The bag is a little bigger than the average plastic grocery bag. The velcro tab is used to keep the bag rolled up, but also can close the top of the bag when it is full. Most of the bag is a single layer of cotton, but the handles are faced. There is a double row of top-stitching around both edges of

The Burda Skirt Again

I'm not sure what prompted it, but awhile ago I decided that I needed a green skirt. The last time I was at Fabricland I saw this green wide-wale corduroy. I wasn't really looking for the skirt to be corduroy and the color was a little different than I was hoping for, but since I had my eyes peeled for awhile and hadn't seen anything better, I thought I'd try the corduroy. After looking for a suitable pattern, I settled on the Burda 2/2010 skirt that I've already used three times . Because of the weight and bulk of the corduroy, I didn't want to try to mess with too many details. I'll use another skirt pattern soon. Really, I will. One of the things I really like about this pattern is the pockets. This time I made the pocket facings and part of the pocket bag out of a cotton woven solid to reduce bulk. Since I'll be wearing this skirt with tights I added a lining. Adding the lining was really simple except that I cut the lining exactly the sam