Travelling Felt Pouch for my Embroidery Hoop

After making a needlebook for Handstitched class, I decided I'd try drafting a pouch that could carry an embroidery hoop, scissors, and a smaller sized needlebook inside of it.

This isn't exactly a tutorial, that would be too much organizational effort for my brain to document what I did (and I'm sure lots of people have done the same thing only better) I decided to make a pouch to fit my 4" hoop.

Tracing the pouch shape

I outlined two pieces of wool felt for the hoop pouch, tracing around the bottom half , then straight up to make a U shape for the top, adding a 1/2" seam allowance around the sides.  For the back piece, I added a flap so I could fold it over and button it closed.

Really I don't know that a pouch like this would need a closure at all, unless you use your purse as a weapon and violently swing it around hitting people on a regular basis.  This is pretty snug, and as the felt isn't exactly slippery, I find it very unlikely my hoop would slide out and get tangled in other stuff.

Traced inside hoop for needlebook

 You can sew a small piece of elastic to one of the pouch pieces before assembly if you like, to slide in and secure a pair of small scissors before you put your hoop in.  I didn't do this as I feel it's secure enough to tuck them inside the hoop, but if I make a different sized one I will probably try this.

For the  needlebook, I traced two pieces of felt using the inside of the hoop as a template.  Don't make the mistake I did and put the chalked side facing out! Luckily I only did it on one side, and the chalk is wearing off slowly.

So at this point it gets foggy, I used a blanket stitch to sew the pouch together, as well as to secure the linings for the pouch and the needlebook.  For the lining I used Valori Wells Wrenly Rosette in Violet.

I did a reverse applique wonky star for the pouch, as I'm on a wonky star kick, and a circle for the needlebook.

I'm pretty sure there were lots of better ways to assemble the needlebook, but it was getting late and I was getting tired, which means I was getting careless!

The needlebook can hold quite a few thread bobbins for floss and still fit easily into the hoop for storage.

I don't remember getting it,  but somewhere along the way I managed to become the owner of a single sad kitty button.  Luckily it matched the felt color well enough. 

Well back to working on my current quilt I guess!

Put the needlebook in the hoop then wrap the embroidery around it

Slide the entire package into the pouch and voila!