Looks like I am stuck with my SOLO craft box 😫

Maybe the Craft Box Swap concept I pitched you in January was born before its time? Early feedback suggests that crafters are not willing to part with their supplies. They ❤️ them all! 

Ok, ok, ok. All is not lost. There may be another way for me to demonstrate to you the value of this novel idea. 

Let us start with what has now become my personal curated SOLO Craft Box which you may recall includes approximately:

4 yards of home décor fabric

4 yards of quilting cotton

½ yard of grey faux leather

8 zippers

2 spools of thread

1 yard of wide lace

Assorted nickel hardware (rings, fobs, rivets, etc.)

So now it is time to put my “money where my mouth is” and get to sewing! I started cutting out a CarryAll Bag with our broader Sewspire community on Monday and can share those measurements with you here: 

Exterior and Interior:

Body panels 15” x 15” (2)

Side panels and base 15” x 8” (3)

Exterior pockets:

Front/Back Main 15” x 11” (2)

Front/Back Lining 15” x 11” (2)

Side Main 8” x 11” (2)

Side Lining 8” x 11” (2)

Interior pockets:

Front/Back Main 15” x 10” (2)

Front/Back Lining 15” x 10” (2)

Zipper Trim for Pocket 15” x 4” (1)

Bag Front/ Rear Handles:

6” x 52” (2)

If using a directional print cut handles in 6 pieces:

6” x 26” (4)

6” x 8” (2)

Optional messenger strap:

6” x 52” (1)

Zipper Gusset:

8” x 16” (2)

Additional materials:

(2) 16” or longer nylon zippers

Quilt batting or fusible fleece to back exterior and interior panels 

The CarryAll Bag consumed approximately 4 yards of material. There are some scraps which we will use to craft coordinating accessories for the bag. I plan to list this bag for sale in my Watermelon Wishes Etsy shop and will share more about how to price and optimize an Etsy listing once the bag is complete.

I am most excited to use up that wide lace and think I have found the perfect way to do so. My daughter recently rented a rugby top that will serve as my inspiration. Yes, I did say rented! Both Isabel and I are Nuuly customers or Nuulier’s as they affectionately call us. It’s a fabulous concept whereby you rent a capsule wardrobe for the month. Cannot possibly say enough good things about Nuuly and I encourage you to check them out! 

I love how they used lace (just like I have in my solo swap box) to add a border across the chest and the sleeves. I am hoping it will be an easy to extend the sleeves on a store-bought sweatshirt using this technique and intend to experiment with that idea later in the month. Let me know how you like that look. 

That still leaves me with a lot of zippers and home dec fabric which I am considering using for the following projects:

Boxy Pouches

Stout Cooler

Zipper Top Market Tote

Those three projects should consume the remainder of my materials in this first Solo Swap Box and my challenge will be complete.

Perhaps you are wondering what will I do with all these goodies? Fear not, I plan to list all the products produced from this first solo swap box in my Watermelon Wishes Etsy shop. In turn, we can conduct additional marketplace research and glean valuable insights into the world of handmade selling. 

I personally don’t believe there are failures in life. Only opportunities to grow and learn from our choices. I hope you can see how this novel craft box swap concept is leading me down a road of inspiration and exploration.

Until next week, sending you waves of creative ambition. 

❤️ Andrea