Over the past few weeks, I've been sorting through several boxes of kits, looking for smaller projects to make. This one is The Little Things Pencil Case by Hatched and Patched that I'd bought ages ago from Cross Patch. Included with the pattern was a pre-printed linen panel - this can be used for either the applique version or the stitchery version. The kit included a selection of woolfelt for the applique, the lining fabric and a zipper. Rather than use the woolfelt that was included in the kit, I decided to make the embroidered version, using a selection of my own Cosmo embroidery threads...
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...the pattern requirements include Polyfuse, which is a fusible water soluble tearaway. It softens when washed and does not leave any bulk to your design but leaves a thin layer of polyester fibre which helps reduce shadowing in applique and pads the shapes. As I couldn't source this in the UK, I substituted this for Hugs n' Kisses applique paper that had I had already cut to size by tracing around the templates included in the pattern. Once all of the hand embroidery was completed, I fused the applique paper onto the wrong side of the front, back and sides of both the linen and the lining fabrics. Using a fabric gluepen along the free edges of the fabrics, then folded the edges over onto the applique paper, and pressed the edges into place...
...this project is completely hand sewn. Using a fine needle and a 60wt polyester thread in a neutral colour, the pencil case was constructed with ladder stitch. The lining was constructed in exactly the same way, then put inside the pencil case, wrong sides together. The pattern suggested using an embroidery thread and blanket stitch around the top edges to attach the case to the lining, however I preferred to just use ladder stitch, again with a fine 60wt polyester thread...
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...I love these cute little satin stitch hearts on the back of the pencil case! The zipper is also secured in place by hand, with tiny slip stitches along the edge of the zipper tape onto the lining...
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...the ends of the zipper are neatened with 2 fabric tabs. I like adding my own twist on the projects that I make, so I've embroidered a flower and a ladybird on the tabs...
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...my pencil case has been filled with pencils ready for doodling a few of my own project ideas. The applique paper gives this pencil case a bit of structure, and will soften the more it is used.
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