Pack Your Handwork Projects for Travel

Store your ongoing English paper piecing project in a jam-size mason jar. The jar can fit fabrics, paper templates, thread, and snips. Glue a magnet to the inside of the jar lid to tightly hold a needle, pins, and clips.

Repurpose a hard-shell eyeglass case as a carrier for embroidery supplies. The case is long enough to contain embroidery floss, snips, needles, and a marking tool, and the hard exterior keeps sharp objects from poking through.

A 4×6" photo album can hold prepared appliqué shapes for wool or needle-turn projects. Separate appliqué pieces by pattern or block, and slide them into the photo sheets to keep pieces flat. Add paper labels to each sheet so you know at a glance what it holds. Choose a photo album that has the photo sheet openings toward the center of the book. That way your appliqué pieces won't fall out if the album gets jostled.

Plastic lunch box sets aren't just for food. Utilize the divided compartments and stacking containers to create an on-the-go English paper piecing kit. Stay organized by storing tools and notions, templates and fabric pieces, and basted hexagons in dedicated spaces. 

"I purchased a magnetic tray from a hardware store to carry my handwork or sewing projects to my patio. It holds my pins and tools tight. And if I drop anything, I wave the tray over the items, and the tray pulls them up."

—Marjorie Viehland

St. Charles, Missouri

"I love to chew gum and don't want to waste the plastic cases the gum comes in. Instead, I pack my English paper piecing supplies in the empty cases. They easily fit into my purse, which makes my projects travelworthy."

Kelly Fluitt

Carson City, Nevada

"To prepare for an afternoon of hand sewing, I place each spool of thread I plan to use in an individual medicine container. I punch a hole in each lid, feed the threads through the holes, and am ready to stitch, happy to know I won't have to chase spools around to thread my needle."

—Marcy Johnson

Madison, Wisconsin

Hold individual appliqué pieces in an expandable coupon organizer, labeling each pocket with the block number.

Fill a plastic soap case with your favorite needles, thread, and scissors for a customized travel sewing kit.

Embroidery floss, needles, and a small scissors can be easily seen in a divided lunch tray.