Storage bag for circular knitting pins

After a few months of not posing anything on this blog I have finally managed to design a new project, make it and write the instructions. It feels good to be back in early spring and I hope to be able to post new ideas more regularly again. 

BushcraftZ 2015

Today's project is a storage bag for circular knitting pins. It was inspired by a colleague who is a fantastically inspiring knitter. She only knits with circular knitting pins. These are often frustrating to store neatly as their floppy center causes them to jump at you when you open a storage box. This can result in chaos. To keep track of the correct size is also a challenge. This easy to make storage case has 12 pockets for circular knitting pins of all sizes and will keep them organized and easy to access.

Materials:

• 50 cm x 50 cm cotton fabric for the inside lining
• 60 cm x 60 cm cotton fabric for the outside cover
• 100 cm x 50 cm clear plastic table cloth for the pockets
• 5 m x 1 cm wide cotton tape
• general sewing materials
• paper, pencil and ruler for pattern making
• pattern: Download PDF  

Method:

1. Download the pattern and measure out the indicated dimensions for the three pattern pieces onto a sheet of paper as indicated on the pattern:  A (Inside lining), B (outside cover) and C (plastic pockets). Cut out the pattern pieces.

2. Cut out the following:

• 1 x Pattern A for inside lining
• 1 x Pattern B for outside cover
• 4 x Pattern C for plastic pockets

3. Begin with the plastic pockets. Sew the cotton tape onto the top (32 cm) edge for each of the four pockets.

TIP: If the plastic contains folds they can be smoothed out by carefully ironing the  by the plastic as follows. Place the plastic between two sheets of paper and set the iron onto the lowest setting and gently iron the plastic. Allow the plastic to cool between the sheets of paper before working further.

4. Place the plastic pockets onto of each other so that they overlap approximately 5.5 cm. The assembled layers of plastic pockets should form a 32 cm wide by 35 cm long rectangle.

Carefully place the aligned plastic pockets on top of the inner lining keeping the top and side flap open. Refer to the pattern as a guide.

3. Remove the top three plastic  pockets and stitch the first pocket onto the lining along the bottom edge. Add the following pocket and stitch along the bottom edge. Repeat for the remaining two pockets. There should now be four tiers of plastic flaps attached to the lining.

4. Place the cotton tape along the outer edges of the pockets and sew into place. Ensure that the edges of the pockets are caught by the stitching and well secured. Divide the pockets into 3 equal parts approximately 10 cm wide. Place the cotton tape along the two division lines and sew in place to create 12 pockets.

5. Place the completed lining, with pockets, on top of the outer cover with the wrong sides together. There should be an approximately 2.5 cm wide edge of the outer cover around the inner lining. Carefully fold the edge over twice onto the lining to form a neatly bound edge. Tuck the corners in neatly and pin or tack in place. Sew along the edge to attach the lining to the outer cover.

BushcraftZ 2015

6. Cut two 80 cm lengths of cotton tape and fold each piece in half. Attach them to the outside of the side flap at the midpoint of each tape to complete the case.

BushcraftZ 2015

BushcraftZ 2015

Organize the circular knitting pens into the pockets according to size. Needle sizes can be written onto the pocket with permanent marker for easy reference or inserted into each pocket on a small card.

BushcraftZ 2015