My new sewing box

Right before lockdown, I had visited a local antique/second hand shop and found a lovely little sewing box on legs. The inside had basically rotted but the shell was sound enough. I wanted something to store my hand sewing stuff in so I bought it. Then the inside was too awful to use right off the bat and I was completely overwhelmed with everything so it just sat under my desk and was used as a handy shelf for storing bits and bobs.

I decided this week to pull it out and have a proper look at sorting it out. I'm not in love with the finish on the wood to be honest but I don't really know where to start with fixing it and I can live with it. My priority at the minute is just to get it usable. The fabric in there looks like some sort of poly brocade, eighties maybe? I remember my Nan having something similar as a tablecloth at her house when I was a child. I removed everything, there were so. many. nails.

The sides and bottom fabric were just wrapped around pieces of cardboard so I plan to just do that as well. The padded pincushions attached to the lid had a little story. Once I pulled off the green floral fabric, there was this silky red satin-ish layer underneath. So I thought 'oh cool the original fabric is here' but when I took it off there was a whole other layer. The original layer is green silk or silk-ish that had been tufted and in each tuft is a tiny thread covered button. Really pretty.

Look at the colour difference between the front and the back! Unfortunately, replacing the coverings with silk is a bit beyond my means at the minute, even though it would look really cool. I am planning to use up some quilting cotton on it.

Specifically, this one. A lilac stripe (left over from my ongoing hand quilted quilt).

On one of the panels I have added an elasticated pocket for 'stuff'. You know what I'm talking about. I haven't met a sewing project yet that couldn't be improved with the addition of pockets.

I have attempted to lightly tuft the padded sections as a homage to what was there originally. I simply stacked 3 layers of quilt batting ontop of some cardboard. Used an awl to make holes and then threaded these tiny 3mm cream buttons into place (they were originally purchased for doll clothes).

A lot of hot glue later...

One sewing box with legs without any rust covered fabric! Yay! It is a bit rough around the edges, but I'm thinking that I can just glue some sort of trim on there if it starts to bother me. The padded sections on the lid fit perfectly into the cavity when it's closed.

I can fit all my hand sewing stuff in there (bar the actual quilt). The cross stitch pattern is (still) the one I bought last year from the cross stitch guild at the Festival of Quilts - back when going places to buy sewing stuff was a thing. /sigh

Well, my attempt is far from professional looking! However, when I next fancy a fabric change I know that the cardboard I used is just too thick. It led to some bunching up of the fabric in the cavity so I will need to find something else.

I really like it though, and frankly, anything was going to be better that what was there before! Plus, now I can use it, which I am thrilled about :)