Rainbow roll

Let us be clear from the outset: while I made a gathered skirt that I never, ever wore in home economics lessons at school (or outside home economics lessons at school), and can thread a sewing machine if the mechanics are not too different from my mother’s (cast iron) sewing machine, I’m a distinctly amateur sewer. I did make a gown for my second year May Ball while at university, but  that was during my Easter break while at home and under my mother’s tutelage, and I believe she nearly disowned me as a result. However, ever since buying Joelle Hoverson’s Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts, I had been itching to make the colored (sic, because I’m English) pencil roll (can I just mention how very excited this set of photos make me feel. Look at them – wow!). Without a sewing machine, however, I couldn’t imagine how long it would take to put a pencil roll together.

When I mentioned this, erm, obsession to a friend while over at her house machining pillowcases for the 1 million pillowcase challenge, she offered to let me borrow her sewing machine for the making. How exciting! And how glad was I that I hadn’t cycled to her house that day.  So can I present to you my interpretation of the colored pencil roll:

The fabrics are all taken from my stash, washed and ironed before being utilised because I understand that’s what one is supposed to do. Some fabrics I bought, some I was given and some I acquired: the pattern wasn’t followed verbatim (I didn’t have a hera marker or the confidence, so the pockets were created by sewing across the piece for each pocket rather than zig-zagging up and down the roll). All in all this is a very personal birthday gift to a two-year-old of my acquintance who very much wanted art supplies for his second birthday (according to his mamma). I hope he finds it travels well and amuses greatly.

There was only one seam I had to unpick due to having sewn the roll inside out: I find this is very much par for course when I’m sewing as I’m such an amateur that I don’t see errors until they speed up and whack me. A little patience and a quick unpick (a.k.a. seam ripper) usually sorts things out.

And in writing this I’ve noticed that Joelle Hoverson has a new book out – More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. Please excuse me while I go and update my Amazon wishlist…

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