The Big Four-Oh Giveaway, Day 4: Stitchy Kit

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
–Norman MacEwan

I don't think I've finished a project on a deadline since my sister got married in July of 2010 and I made a quilt for her as a gift for her wedding shower. Today is no exception. My giveaway for today is not ready. I've been sewing all day, ignoring the chores {guilt-free, I might add. It's my birthday. I'll sew if I want to} and I still only have unassembled pieces to show you. But we'll get to that in a minute. It's my birthday and you have to indulge me by listening to the back story.

When Lori Holt released her adorable Stitchy Kit pattern in early December, I ordered it the same day. I always take some hand work with me when I go someplace I know I'll have to wait and I thought this would be the cutest thing to have to carry my supplies. When the pattern arrived in the mail, I took it straight to the super secret Christmas present stash without even opening the mailing envelope, which took an amazing amount of restraint. When I did open the envelope to put the pattern in my stocking {which is very large and takes some creativity to fill; socks and underwear usually fit the bill, but this was much more fun}, it was wrapped in some cute tissue paper, which was a fun surprise and made all of my earlier self-control unnecessary.

Since Christmas, I've been thinking about what kinds of fabrics I wanted to use to make my Stitchy Kit. In the end, I decided that I wanted to do something rainbow-y because I love stuff in rainbow order. When I saw the pillow that Amy over at Diary of a Quilter made using the Indie fabric line, I knew it would be a perfect fit. I loved the way the fabrics looked together. I also decided that a Stitchy Kit would be a really fun thing to give away and I could kill two birds with one stone if I orderd ½-yard cuts of the Indie fabrics {see also, Indie Fat Quarter Bundle Giveaway}. I ordered my fabric two weeks ago and it was all here by last Monday. I washed and pressed fabric for days and in between washing and pressing, I worked on the embroidery for the pincushion of this adorable kit. Last night, I cut most of the fabrics out and this morning, I started sewing. I've got lots of pieces together ready for assembly and nothing else to fill in for this last day of my giveaways, so I'm going with it. I love how it is coming out so far and think it will be awesome when it is done. And I promise to have it done by the time I draw the winner.

Without further ado, then, I give you today's prize, a Stitchy Kit for keeping all of your hand sewing supplies in one place, good for traveling, or to put over the arm of a chair or couch while you stitch.

Stitchy Kit includes:
• Cover with inside pockets and pincushion
• Scissor Cozy
• Drawstring Bag for supplies or floss
• Needle Book

Note: this stitchy kit will not include the covered tape measure, unless I change my mind.

UPDATE: I've almost got the Stitchy Kit finished. Pictured below are two partial Stitchy Kits. One is for me and one is for the giveaway, but I wanted you to see both the outside and inside of the kit, as well as the needle book. I'm not quite finished yet. There will be a little patchwork drawstring bag, which will complete the kit {I opted not to do a covered measuring tape because I don't use a measuring tape that frequently}, but I wanted you to have a better idea of the giveaway, in case you didn't enter because I just posted a bunch of random parts.

The Fine Print:
• To enter this giveaway, leave a comment telling me your favorite birthday memory. Or just leave a comment. Whichever.
• You can enter each day's giveaway only once.
• Non-blogging/non-Google users and international entrants are welcome.
• If you do not have a Google account, use the name/url {url optional} commenting option and make sure you leave your e-mail in your comment in the following format: address (at) domain name (dot) com.
• Comments with no contact information will be deleted.
• Google account users: not sure if your contact information will be attached to your comment? Click here:


• Duplicate comments will be deleted. Comment moderation is on, so don't panic when your comment doesn't show up. I'm notified of new comments and will approve them periodically each day, after which they'll show up on the post.
• The giveaway will close at 10:00 pm {MST} on Friday, January 18^th. Winner will be chosen by random drawing and notified by e-mail and announced here by noon on January 19^th.

Good luck!

The Big Four-Oh Giveaway Directory
• Quilter's Care Package
• Chocolate Sundae Batik Fat Quarter Bundle
• Indie Fat Quarter Bundle

This giveaway is now closed.
Winners can be found here.