Crayon Caddy Conundrum

I'm so glad we've finally had a change in the weather here in Central Florida. My husband fondly refers to it as "Fallspring" since the temps are now in the upper 70s/low 80s during the day and 50s at night. It's GLORIOUS!

The change in the weather is my indicator that it's time to get crackin' on some holiday sewing. For my younger niece and nephew I decided to make them a portable art caddy. After seeing some different styles online I decided to use this tutorial that uses velcro instead of ties (ties can sometimes be tricky for little fingers). Here is how it turned out.


At first glance it looks very functional. It has individual pockets for crayons that are nicely snug, and 2 different pockets to hold paper and stickers.


But here's the issue. Those pockets work out nicely when the case is open but once you close it and hold it by the handles, things in those open pockets come sliding out. It's definitely a design flaw for what I intended to put in it, like a small notebook, a pencil sharpener, and possibly some craft scissors. Don't get me wrong, I think this is adorable, but I need to go back to the drawing board and just design one that is more of what I want complete with a larger zippered pocket.

My favorite aspect of this little caddy is where I was able to put my little label. It just makes it look so much more polished. 


And don't think that this is a total loss. I filled it with some goodies and it's being gifted to a friend's daughter when they come to visit. It might help her to pass the time on the plane ride home.


Comments

  1. I love the fabric you used. I agree a zippered pocket would be better to hold things in, it is cute though.

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  2. It is adorable! I'm sure your neice and nephew will love one...especially after you fix the design flaw! I've made crayon rolls, but this is so much better and kids will eat it up! Too bad I don't have any little ones to sew for!! I can't wait to see your new and improved version!

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  3. What a sweet caddy, and bummer to hear that the items move around when it is closed. I hope you can come up with a simple solution to keep things in place. A bit of elastic that slips over a button, perhaps?

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  4. I really like your caddy.. if you put the open sides of the pockets towards the handles, things should not fall out when folded. Of course a zippered pocket would be great. The fabrics you used are so cute! Great project.

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    1. I like that idea as well. There are so many ways to reconfigure this little crayon case. I might have to make a few different styles.

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  5. Love the caddy but I know exactly where you are coming from with the item's slipping out problem. I made something similar at one stage and got over that problem by simply adding two flaps into the side seams of the back portion of the caddy that velcroed closed to the front of the caddy when it was folded closed essentially transforming it into a bag.

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  6. Having things slide out of the pockets is not ideal. I am sure it will be great for a little girl's plane toys.
    I think of autumn similarly. After a long hot summer, autumn can feel like spring as the gardens perk up, put on some blooms and become green again (after their summer brown spell) when the rains start.

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  7. loving the fabric you have used here, shame it does not wok as it should, wonder how you will sort that out. How lucky are you your autumn temperatures are hotter than our summer ones! no summer this year for us and today we have thick fog with rain!

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  8. Hi Diana! This is beautiful caddy! Often we find the details only using the thing. You could add a simple pocket/envelope in the middle ( open edge would be up when carrying) and if this pocket has also velcro, it would hold the notebooks, too. You have used so beautiful fabrics! x Teje

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