I definitely know a thing or two about keeping a craft room neat and tidy, so these Kwik Sew organizer patterns are right up my alley. And, since September is National Sewing Month, it’s the perfect time for a sewing pattern review!
The fine folks at Kwik Sew gave me several organizer patterns to try out when I stopped by their booth at Winter CHA. For this review, I selected the Pouch with Pincushion & Cup Organizer pattern set because it contained two projects: a cup organizer that had only a few pieces and required simple construction techniques, and a more complex pouch with a connected pincushion that included additional notions and used slightly more complex sewing skills.
If you happen to read my blog (The Zen of Making), you already know that I’m not at all new to sewing. So, to keep my previous sewing experience from filling in any gaps, I took special care to follow the instructions for each project one step at a time and to execute each step exactly how it was written.
According to the Kwik Sew website website:
Pouch with Pincushion & Cup Organizer
POUCH WITH PINCUSHION
Square pincushion is filled with sand and attached to a cover that holds a ceramic tile. Lined pouch has tubing in top edge and is attached to tile cover with a strap, allowing pouch to hang over the edge of a table. Tile cover, strap, and pouch band are from contrast fabric.CUP ORGANIZER
Cup organizer is double with fleece inner lining, has divided pocket on outside, and bias binding on outer edge. Pocket is from contrast fabric. Top edge folds over top of cup.Our Price: $11.99
What I loved:
1. The cutting lines on the pattern sheet are easy to see, and they are easily distinguishable from the other markings that appear on each pattern piece.
2. The instruction sheet includes information on cutting out patterns, preparing fabric, making stitches, and measuring seam allowances. There’s also a clear key for reading the pattern, so you’d understand how to use it even if you’d never worked with a Kwik Sew pattern before.
3. The pattern markings are easy to understand.
4. Unlike flimsy tissue paper patterns, the Kwik Sew pattern paper is similar in thickness to copy paper. It presses flat with an iron, doesn’t tare with normal use, and stays in place easily with pattern weights.
5. Each step in the instruction booklet is very thorough, and all steps include prompts for any needed corner trimming, folds, or fabric markings.
6. Each step is short, self-contained, and easy to follow.
7. The seam allowances are included in the patterns, so they’re ready to use right when you cut them out.
8. Only basic sewing skills are required to construct each pattern, making them great for beginners or more advanced sewers.
9. The designs are cleaver and both projects create organizers that are sturdy and useful. The cup organizer is perfect for carrying handwork tools from room to room, and the pouch with pincushion can be placed on any table to instantly transform it into a sewing space.
10. Both projects are well-constructed to withstand actual use—they’re not just pretty craft room decorations.
Examples:
• The beanbag is constructed with two layers of fabric to keep the sand from escaping.
• The opening of the hanging pouch is reinforced with plastic tubing to keep it open and easily accessible.
• The ceramic tile with sand-filled pincushion is a significant counterweight for the pouch, so you can actually store sewing supplies in it.
What I didn’t love:
1. Though machine sewing instructions were present, there were no instructions included for hand stitching, though hand stitching was required several times during the construction of the projects.
2. The notions listed for the pincushion and pouch project included a ceramic tile, but specified only one 4¼” measurement with no indication of the shape or thickness. Once I opened the pattern, it became clear that a standard square 4 ¼” x 4 ¼” ceramic tile was required, but I wouldn’t have known that without opening the package first. If I had purchased the pattern at a store and then wanted to pick up the notions at the same time, the missing measurement would have been pretty frustrating.
3. For this specific pattern set, some of the notions were pretty hard to find (at least, hard to find in NYC). Between the sand for the pincushion, the ceramic tile, and the plastic tubing, I ran around for several hours trying to track down all of the supplies.
Tip: Try your local pet store.
4. Neither the instructions nor the packaging list the amount of sand needed to fill the pincushion.
5. In the pouch with pincushion project, there isn’t a weight limit is suggested for the pouch. I love the over-the-table design, but I’m worried about accidentally overloading it, then breaking the ceramic tile when the pouch falls to the ground.
Pattern sewing tips:
• Fabric around curves needs precise placement for a smooth, consistent fit. Use plenty of pins or fabric clips as you sew to maintain the correct shape.
• When sewing open pockets, check the spacing between each new line sewn to keep the size of the openings consistent.
Overall impressions:
The Kwik Sew patterns were clearly written, easy to use, and I finished each project in an afternoon. The contrasting color sections gave each organizer a fresh, modern look, and it was so nice to make something that was both attractive and useful. I definitely think that the organizer pattern set is worth every bit of the $11.99 retail price.
Disclosure: Samples provided for review, but my opinions are honest and my own!
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Great review Haley! You are always so thorough.
You know, I have a pincushion bag very similar to this that I purchased complete at a fancy needlecraft shop (in Michigan, BTW). Mine doesn’t have the ceramic tile for the counter weight. It never occurred to me to put tools in it. I use it for threads and tiny bits of fabric. It’s handy for embroidery work, keeping near my machine while sewing etc. So if your bag is used only for that then it may not fall off the table and break… unless one of your cats decided to use it as a hammock?
Yes, I do realize this comment wasn’t super helpful. Maybe a little helpful?? 🙂