diy tool pouch

Here's a cute little tool pouch I dreamed up yesterday while at the day care.  After supper last night I wandered in to my craft room at home, drew a picture of what I wanted, looked around at what materials I had and an hour later, I had a tool pouch.  The second one took about fifteen minutes to put together.  I got stuck on what to use for the ties at the waist and after much looking and debating on what to use I turned around and saw a big bolt of gingham ribbon that I bought at Christmas time this past year.  Perfect.  

It is super simple if you have the know how and can be used as a tool pouch for kid's play tools or I even thought it would be completely handy while planting the garden to have my seeds in.  Or while out walking to put my treasures in. 

I used a shotgun shell shot bag and cut it in half so I could make two pouches out of it.  I used a thicker canvas fabric for the back side and simply hemmed the top edges, sewed the three sides together, incorporating the ribbon at the top edges, flipped it inside out and sewed two straight lines giving it three pockets.  I made the ribbons way too long for the kids but just long enough so that it fits me too.  

Aunt Dea... tell Norman thanks again for the bags!  I have found yet another use for them!

four fanciful things

 

 

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Please click the number to view the item for sale. 

Therapy Pouch

I have a little bean bag that has been bringing me comfort since I had TMJ surgery when I was 19. (I actually have two of them) They are simple rectangle pouches stuffed with beans that can be heated in the microwave for warm therapy or kept in the freezer for an instant cold pack which is where I store mine. When I had TMJ surgery they brought much comfort to my aching jaw joint by heating them for just a minute and resting it against my jaw line. My maxillofacial doctor recommended placing heat instead of cool for comfort. Nowadays I use them more as cold patches fresh from the freezer to reduce puffy eyes and ease headaches. But after all this time they still provide comfort.

I have thought of making some for friends or just to have a new one. They seemed simple enough and turns out they are! I recently cut one of mine open and found the secret ingredient, which I always suspected, was plain ole Great Northern white beans! When I first purchased the pouches they had an herbal scent which has long since worn off. But I decided as I made new ones to add a bit of dried lavender to mine as it aids in relaxing in aromatherapy circles. They are super simple to make as long as you have the right stuff. Here's what I did...

For the inside bean pouch I used scraps of fabric cut into 9"x 9" squares. Take one square and fold it in half. Sew along the bottom and up one side leaving the top open. Turn inside out and pour in about 1 1/2 cups dried Great Northern white beans and 1 teaspoon dried lavender if you wish. Sew along the open end carefully so the beans don't come tumbling out... I pinned mine shut just above the beans. Sew back and forth a couple of times to seal good. Your nice bean pouch is complete! Next I took a scrap of prettier fabric and cut it into a 10"x 10" square. I hemmed the top end and sewed up the bottom and side to form a cover for my pouch. The cover is removable and washable. Place your bean pouch inside and your therapy pouch is totally complete!

I was told when I bought mine to remove the sleeve when you heat it in the microwave. So I always did. Also only heat it for a minute.. any longer and you will burn the contents! I hope you enjoy them! If you can't or don't want to make one yourself please let me know as I may have some for sale on my Etsy sight soon.