Project: Altoids Tin Travel Embroidery Kit

Craft & Design Yarncraft
Project: Altoids Tin Travel Embroidery Kit

CZ_CraftExclusive.gif
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_final_01.jpg
By Haley Pierson-Cox
Empty Altoids tins make great containers for craft supplies, and they’re absolutely perfect for keeping embroidery supplies in order while stitching on the go. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make your own travel embroidery travel kit, complete with a magnetic pincushion, a needle-holding magnet, and a removable organizer pouch with special places for pins and needles, a thimble, and a needle threader. And, since everything fits nicely into a small Altoids tin, you can toss the whole thing into your project bag without having to worry about getting jabbed by loose needles or runaway scissors!
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_final_05.jpg

Materials

Altoids tin, clean and empty
2 pink wool felt circles, 2″ diameter
1 pink wool felt square, 1″ x 1″
1 white wool felt rectangle, 2″ x 1 ¾”
1 blue wool felt rectangle, 4 ¼” x 3 ⅛”
1 decorative wool felt shape, 1″ star, heart, etc. (optional)
Elastic cord, 2″ length of ¼” wide elastic
Wool roving, 1 small handful
1 snap, ¼” diameter
2 disk magnets, ¼” diameter
Embroidery floss, 2 yards each green and white
Needle threader
Embroidery kit supplies, three embroidery needles, two straight pins, thimble
Embroidery needle
Scissors
Amazing GOOP craft adhesive

Directions

altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_01.jpg
Step 1: First, we’ll make a removable magnetic pincushion that can be attached anywhere on the tin.
To start, gather the following pieces:
Two 2″ pink felt circles
One 1″ pink felt square
One 1″ decorative shape (optional)
Wool roving
Disk magnet
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_02.jpg
Step 2: Add a magnet to the back piece of the pincushion.
To do this, attach the 1″ square to one of the 2″ circles by backstitching around three of the four sides. Insert the magnet into the open end of the square, and then stitch the last side closed.
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_03.jpg
Step 3: Assemble the pincushion.
If you’re adding a decorative shape to the top of the pincushion, secure it in place on the second 2″ circle by straight stitching around the outer edge of the shape. Next stack the top circle on top of the bottom (magnetic) circle, then whipstitch them together, sewing ¾ of the way around the outside edge. Stuff the pincushion with a small amount of wool roving, then finish sewing the edge the rest of the way shut.
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_04a.jpg
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_04b.jpg
Step 4: Once the pincushion is stitched, use your fingers to gently work the wool roving around until it’s spread out evenly and the cushion lays flat.
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_05a.jpg
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_05b.jpg
Step 5: Next, we’ll put together the organizer insert.
Gather the following pieces:
One 2″ x 1 ¾” white felt rectangle
One 4 ¼” x 3 ⅛” blue felt rectangle
2″ piece of ¼ elastic
One ¼” snap
Needle threader
First, layer the white rectangle on top of the blue rectangle and straight stitch it in place as shown in the first photo above. Next, fold the elastic band in half, then insert the open end under the top edge of the white rectangle and stitch or glue it in place, creating a loop. Once the white rectangle and elastic band are secure, fold the blue rectangle over and whipstitch around the bottom edge and open side to create a pouch.
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_06.jpg
Step 6: Use Amazing GOOP to attach the female end of the snap to the organizer and the male end of the snap to the needle threader. Allow to dry completely.
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_07.jpg
Step 7: Set up the Altoids tin.
Attach the magnetic pincushion to the left side of the lid, then attach a second magnet (to hold extra pins and needles while you work) to the right side. Insert pins and embroidery needles into the white rectangle on the front of the organizer, put a thimble in the loop, then snap the needle threader into place. The inside of the organizer pouch is the perfect storage place for embroidery scissors or extra floss.
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_final_01.jpg
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_final_03.jpg
altoids_tin_travel_embroidery_kit_final_02.jpg
Done! Now, load up your new Altoids tin organizer with your favorite embroidery supplies and do a little happy dance. Because, no matter where your stitching takes you, your needles, scissors, and thimble will always be within easy reach!

About the Author:
Haley.jpg
Haley Pierson-Cox is a Brooklyn-based craft writer who loves granny glasses and loathes extraneous apostrophes. She blogs about crafts, cats, domestic bliss, and DIY goodness at The Zen of Making.

10 thoughts on “Project: Altoids Tin Travel Embroidery Kit

  1. Meg Allan Cole says:

    This is too cute and such a great, functional item to have with you. Thanks for the tut!

  2. Haley Pierson-Cox says:

    Thanks, Meg!

  3. Carrie says:

    So cool! Getting ready to make the paper piecing travel kit! LOVE IT!

  4. travel house says:

    Movie reason for truth fantastic site owner. The web page packing pace can be remarkable. It sort of feels that you are carrying out just about any distinctive tip. Additionally, Your items will be mona lisa. you could have carried out a terrific practice in this particular topic!

  5. Altoids Tin {Craft Round-Up} says:

    […] in a Bucket is a perfect car ride time killer! 10 more great uses for Altoids tins: 1. Sewing/Emroidery Kit from MAKE2. Desk Accessories Holder from The 3 R’s3. Succulent Garden from Free People4. Pocket-size […]

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. She's also sometimes an irritable cartoon named Tiny Cranky Haley. https://www.redhandledscissors.com

View more articles by Haley Pierson-Cox

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK