An Amateur's Crayon Roll

First item of business is to give credit to the blog that I used to accomplish this project.

Thank you Skip To My Lou! If you want to make a crayon roll I would highly reccommend using that site instead of mine, but just for fun...read on! :)
Secondly, I have to tell you that this is my second crayon roll. I made one a few months ago that is too embarrassing to post a pic of. Straight lines are not easy to sew for EVERYONE okay? I want to make these cute little crayon rolls/colored pencil rolls for stocking stuffers this year, so yesterday I made another for practice. Every time I make one I learn something different to do next time. That is what practice is all about right?

You lucky duck. This time I took pictures of most of my steps so that I could document this sewing project on this here blog. I figure if I am going to learn how to do something why not take family and friends along on the ride so they will have further proof that I am not the perfect person they imagine me to be. *hahaha* In any case it will be fun to see my progress (assuming I make some) with sewing.

Here goes...

Step one: Pick out fabric. Simple enough right? I needed two pieces that were 5 x 16 1/2 inches, and one corresponding pattern/color that was 6 x 16 1/2. The website I used said to use 5 x16 1/2 fusible interfacing, but I didn't have any on hand, so I just used an extra piece of fabric cut to those dimensions. I also needed 30 inches of ribbon and crayons for the finished product.

**A tidbit I learned: Choose a pattern that is better at keeping track of your sewing lines (like stripes) for the 6 x 16 1/2 piece, unless you want to spend a ridiculous amount of time marking lines.***

Here are my three pieces of 5 x 16 1/2.

Step Two: Fold in half and press the 6 x 16 1/2 fabric. This will be the pocket for the crayons. Place it on the right side of the piece of 5 x 16 1/2 fabric that will be the inside of your roll. The edge pockets will be 1 1/4 inches. All other pockets will be one inch. There will be a total of 16 pockets. Adding 1/4 inch sew the first pocket and proceed with the other pockets measuring out an inch for each. Leave an additional1/4 inch for the last pocket.  At this point the bottom of the pocket is still raw.

Step Three: If using fusible interfacing press it to the wrong side of the piece of 5 x 16 1/2 fabric that will be the outside of the roll. If using felt or other material pin it to the wrong side of the fabric.

***A tid-bit I learned: This part is very tedious but if you are an amateur like me you will want to take the time to measure and mark each pocket line, making sure that they are an inch apart (with the exception of the end pockets which will be 1 1/4 inches wide). If available use a water soluble pencil OR mark it on the wrong side of the fabric so that your marks won't show on the final product. Also, back stitch at the beginning and end of each line you sew. That may be obvious to seasoned seamstresses, but this post is titled "amateur" for a reason.***

The outside of the roll is on the left and the inside with the pocket on the right.

Step Four: Fold the ribbon in half and pin the ends to the right side of either piece of fabric. Place the right side of the remaining piece of fabric (the piece with the pocket) on top of the ribbon and the right side of the piece of fabric it is pinned to. Now you will be looking at the wrong side of the fabric. Pin it.

***A tid-bit I learned: Make sure that the majority of the ribbon is hanging out on the inside of the fabric. Not on the outside of the fabric. Duh.***

Step Five: Sew 1/4 inch seam along all the edges, but leave about 3 1/2 inches on one of the ends so that you can turn the roll right side out. Remember to back stitch at the beginning and end of each line. Trim the edges.

***A tid-bit I learned: This is a very important step. You may want to place a reminder pin so you will give yourself enough room for turning. Also, if you think anything less than 3 inches is enough room for turning you would be mistaken....or very talented if you pull it off.***

Sewn and trimmed.

Step Six: Using a chopstick or wooden spoon handle, or anything else that would work, :) Turn the fabric right side out.

Step Seven: The website I used says to blanket stitch the opening that you left for turning. I don't know what this means, so being an amateur, I simply sewed it shut. Why not? If you have cool options on your sewing machine you could do a cool stitch to make it look like part of the design. Trim the edges that you just finished. And press the crayon roll.

 

Step Eight:  Fill with crayons!

 



Then roll and tie the ribbon.

 

 

TA-DA!!!

 

If you were actually able to accomplish anything by using my instructions I must congratulate you because as I reread this post I realized that giving directions IS NOT one of my strong points. And there you have more proof of my imperfection. Sillies.