Stitching a portfolio with circle and hexagon templates

When I was a kid, the women of my family would show up with for a visit with their creative works in progress. As they chatted about the latest news, family gossip, or the plot lines to favorite soap operas, our visitors worked on their knitting — a mitten or a sock slowly emerged from the clacking needles. Sometimes, beautiful lace revealed itself from the end of a crochet hook to enhance an embroidered pillow case. Often someone embroidered a pillow case.

This was the lab that fostered my desire to create — where ever and when ever the opportunity arose. Those lessons stuck with me.

Once I learned some basic skills, I was also given my own work bag, which I proudly toted around. Added bonus: engrossed in my latest project, I was the most quiet kid in the house.

Fast waaaaay forward to now, I’m not a fan of idle hands.

But, now there’s less time to indulge my pastimes. I’m often on the road or in waiting rooms. The work bag, charming as it was, isn’t practical to squash into a brief case, ready for a bit of downtime handiwork.

But my Pret-a-Porter Portfolio fits the ticket (and my briefcase) nicely. It has a large zippered pocket to wrangle all manner of sewing bits and pieces, a secure scissor storage pocket, and a built-in pincushion. It also has a pocket for a small ruler, a seam ripper, pencil, and a memo pad.

This project has a lot of sweet details, and it will take some time. But, you’re going to love the results!

Let’s get started. We’ve got places to go, people to see! For today, gather up the things you’ll need:

materials

• ultra firm, two-sided fusible interfacing (the kind often used to create 3D objects or the sturdy bottom of tote bags)
• natural decorator weight cotton-linen blend (I found an affordable version at a certain Swedish home goods store…)
• muslin
• batting
• quilting cotton

• 505 spray
• marking pencil
• finger pressing tool
• Clever Clips, large and small
• tailor’s awl
• various scraps
• vinyl
• 12 inch zipper
• buttons
• Sew Easy Templates: hexagons and circles
• applique mat
• hook and loop tape
• embroidery floss
• cording
• Fray Check
• large eye doll needle
• fabric embellishments: bits of twill tape, lace

Come on back tomorrow, when we get busy on a pretty and practical portfolio that’s ready to travel when you are!