Sewing Kit - Mom's Gift

I'm a 15 year old teenager and summers have been great without school but not much activities. For a long time, I have been thinking to gift my talented and artistic mom something handmade that would make her happy. More importantly I wanted this to be a surprise to my mom. I'm not so good with all the arts and crafts stuff unlike my mom. I decided to be creative and make some project from all the existing materials at home and here is one with all the steps.

Well, I have been able to make the following (all in just one glass bottle)

1. A pin-cushion

2. A compartment for buttons

3. A compartment for hooks

4. A compartment for touch-buttons

5. A compartment for sequins

I had to google some of the ideas and names of the materials I used here. Never been so craft-inclined before. This was an absolutely amazing project. It did take me some time since I am barely even know 'a running stitch'. Please share your thoughts and ideas on my first attempt for my loving mom.

1. A clean, small glass bottle with lid (4 inches in height and 2.5 inches in diameter)

2. Orange colored velvet cloth (4 inches x 4 inches)

3. A cotton cloth (4 inches x 4 inches)

4. Needle

5. Thread

6. A pair of Scissors

7. Pen

8. Ruler

9. Cotton balls

10. Card paper

11. Tape

12. 2 small (3" x 2") clear plastic bags

For the compartments/pockets (I picked up with due permission from my mom)

13. Pins for pin-cushion

14. Buttons (Black and white)

15. A packet of hooks

16. A touch button strip

17. A packet of sequins

18. Loads of enthusiasm (most important) :-)

Since I'm a novice at all these craft projects, I will try my best to explain the steps for this instructable. I took the glass bottle which has a plastic lid. It's easy to work with and is not too small or too large. In my case it was 2.5 inches lid. I marked a circle bigger than the lid of the glass bottle. This was 4 inches in diameter. Both for the outer orange velvet and the other cotton cloth. Refer pic 1 & 2. I placed both these cut circles inside out. I mean the good side of the cloth should be on the inside. Refer pic 3. Then, using a needle and thread I made a running stitch on the outer rim by leaving small space open as shown in pic 4. I made sure not to cut the thread. Then, I turned the inside of these circles stitched together. See pic 5. Then, I filled it up with a few cotton balls which is seen in pic 6. Making sure not to stuff up. After that I placed it on the lid as seen in image 6. Carefully I pulled the thread that was used for the running stitch. When the thread is pulled together then edges come closer and make some frills and folds as shown. This was a cute step. Finally I adjusted the shape well to look like a ball and the pic 7 shows this is done neatly. So far, so good.

I made sure the bottle is clean and dry. Then I cut a card paper the same height at the that of the glass bottle. The width was also aligned to the bottle. I cut the card paper as shown in pic 2. Later I tried to insert this card paper into the bottle to make sure it fits in. This is shown in pic 3. Then, I cut another card paper of the same length and width and then cut that into two as shown in pic 4. Using a tape I attached these two small cardboard pieces at 90 degrees. This looked like the pic 5. Placed this in the bottle and it makes a cross section as in pic 6. All the 4 compartments were at 90 degrees angle.

I picked up few buttons (black and white) from my mom's sewing box and added it into a clear plastic bag). See pic 1. Then I folded the bag (refer pic 2) so that it fits into the compartment in the bottle. It looks nice as see in pic 3.

In this step I picked up sequins (again from my mom's sewing box and added it into a clear plastic bag). See pic 1. Then I folded the bag (refer pic 2) so that it fits into the sequins compartment in the bottle. It looks neat as see in pic 3.

This is a small strip of touch-buttons. See pic 1. I folded this to fit directly into the compartment as shown in pic 2.

Just as the touch-buttons, the hooks are in a small plastic bag as seen in pic 1. I added that directly into the compartment as shown in pic 2.

This is an important step. Add the pins to the cushion you made just for that. See pic 1.

Cover the bottle with the lid. You are all set to make your mom a wonderful and more than that make her happy. My mom found it very happy to have all this on her arts and crafts working table and this also acts as a paper weight as its a glass bottle. I bet your mommy would be happy to have this cute, creative surprise gift!
Have fun with something cute for your mommy!

As a final step I ensured all the compartments have the sewing items in place in the bottle. Then carefully covered the bottle with the lid. It looked wonderful. My wonderful and handmade sewing kit is ready. My mom not only surprised but also very happy to have all this on her arts and crafts working table and this also acts as a paper weight as its a glass bottle. If you tried making this for your mom and she was happy, please share it with me

Have fun with something cute for your mommy!