Today I’m joining in on the Gingercake Holiday Gifts Sewing Series with a couple of On the Go Organizers! I’d already sewn two great Gingercake patterns (Love Your Lunchbox the Traveling Changing Pad) – both are well used and loved around here, so I was happy to be part of this series and choose another Gingercake pattern to try.
I went with the organizer thinking it might make a nice teacher gift, and I must say, the thought of actually having a Christmas gift sewn in mid-November was both novel and appealing.
The design is simple and clean, and I especially love how the front cover is pieced with linen to look like a bound book. Heavyweight interfacing and batting give it a sturdy, substantial feel, and after you get everything interfaced it’s quick and straightforward to put together. The multiple layers do get thick, so I used my walking foot in the final stages.
It’s fun to choose fabric for projects like this because they just take little bits and pieces – it’s perfect for fat quarters and scraps, and so much fun to choose coordinating prints.
I picked up some fat quarters of Leah Duncan’s Tule line from Lima Sews specifically with this project in mind, but then I couldn’t wait to dive into them, so some of these (the two cover prints – Mojave Illuminated and Windmarks Arid) might already look familiar from recent posts. Lately I’ve become a little bit obsessed with Leah Duncan and her beautiful designs – I love the entire Tule line (as well as her upcoming line, Meadow), and especially how the prints work together. It’s some of the most beautiful stuff out there, in my humble opinion.
The inside pockets are just right for filling with notepads (here’s the one I’d want in mine, just FYI), cards, stamps, a pen, and anything else you can think of. And if you’re giving it away and wanted to add a little something extra, those small front pockets would be a perfect home for a gift card.
If you’d like to win a copy of the On the Go Organizer pattern and knock out a few holiday gifts of your own, just leave a comment on this post. The giveaway will be open through Friday, November 22nd, and Virginia will email the pattern off to the winner shortly thereafter. Good luck!
((giveaway is now closed!))
And speaking of winners, one’s been chosen for the Llama Fabrics fabric giveaway! Max (#79), enjoy your four-yard bounty!
Love this !
Can you tell me where you got your thank you cards ? I’m always looking for some cute ones and I love yours !
just got them this weekend at target! they were super cheap 🙂
Can you tell us a bit more about the specific interfacing you used and the walking foot? I have had some difficulty using multiple layers of Peltex with my standard foot.
sure! i used craftfuse (pellon 808) for interfacing. and there should be a walking foot available for your machine, just search for it by your machine name/model (they are usually semi-universal and fit a range of machines) – hope that helps!
Oh I would love to make one. so beautiful! I am a big tule fan myself, a perfect collection for garments and those little beauties!! Best Barbara
You’re absolutely right, that is a perfect gift for the teachers. I may have to do the same. Love scrappy projects like this.
Very nice fabric combination. I would also love to make these.
I love the linen binding too – so effective. Would love to make a few of these for me (ahem, for Christmas presents, I mean…) 😉
Beautiful, they look fun to make.
I love these! The fabrics are gorgeous! I’d love to receive one as a teacher gift!
Nice. I would like to win a copy.
They’re so nice and look store bought …
I love Leah Duncan collections too … Thank you for the chance …
BEAUTIFUL! Would love to win this pattern. It’d be perfect for NOOK sleeves and such as well!
Love this!
They look so anthropologie:) would love a pattern!
Oh this would be used and used and used in this house! And yes, PERFECT gifts. Would love to win the pattern!
Love this! As a new mom, this is definitely on my list! Thanks for hosting!
These turned out great, I like your fabric choices, thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway. I love the organizer!
Those are so cute and well done!
Sarah M
Love the organizer! You’re right,,,they would make great gifts!
this is really classy….it would make awesome gifts…but i’d really love one for myself 🙂
These are gorgeous! Your sewing is impeccable as always and I love your fabric choices. I’m completely in love with Leah Duncan’s work as well. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’d like to win the pattern. Thanks! 🙂
What a fun idea for teacher gifts!
What an awesome gift idea! Thanks for the opportunity!
What a great pattern! I can think of so many people on my gift list that would love this!
Thanks for the giveaway.
I love the organizer!
They look great, and the fabric looks lovely too. I would love to win some! Thanks for the giveaway.
So cute and such a good idea! I think I would one of these to my mom, she’s a super organized person.
Cute!
That is a great teacher gift idea. The season is upon us!
What a handy pattern, and your version is so lovely! I for one would carry those everywhere!
Beautiful choices on the fabric! I’d love a copy of the pattern, there are so many people I could make it for!
Great fabric combos – LOVE this idea for teacher gifts!!
I’d LOVE to win … My kids are only in preschool but I’m already struggling with teacher gift ideas. This doesn’t bode well for the future, huh?
Great pattern! The Tule fabric is gorgeous!
What a great idea to use these as teachers gifts. I *might* have to copy you now… Lovely!
This would make a perfect teacher gift – my daughter’s teacher is a man, and I’ve been looking for something useful for him. I can picture making this in denim and linen – very sleek for keeping notecards and some nice writing paper!
oh i love these! seriously perfect teacher gifts – way to be on the ball with THAT! last year i whipped mine up the night before…hehe.
A fabulous pattern and gift! thank you!
These are so lovely! And I’ve been eyeing that tule print for so long now:)
How lovely! The linen does look quite beautiful.
That would make a great teacher gift. Good call
What a great project, perfect for gift giving.
The organizer looks fabulous! Thanks for the chance to win.
This would be such a lovely gift…you have great taste!!
I would love to win! I’m always looking for gift ideas. Yours are so cute!
Love your fabric choices.
Hi, love it! It would also make a great teacher appreciation gift, with a cute littel notebook, pen and a bar of chocolate …. mmmhhhh
i love the chocolate bar idea! i’m stealing that. 🙂
What a marvelous gift! I’d love to make a few of these for the holidays. Thanks for the chance to win!
Love the chance to win this, thanks!
Your fabric choices are perfect, as usual! Great idea for a teacher gift – actually, I’m thinking of all kinds of good uses for these. And getting ahead on gift-making would be a wonderful (novel) plan! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
Always looking for a nice teacher gift!
These are lovely. They would make perfect gifts for the supporters of our small ministry.
Ooo! So cool! I made my own pattern awhile ago, but this is SO much nicer! Would love to make some for my nieces and nephews (and maybe a few more for us…) Thanks for the chance!
Do I know some people who would love one of these and love your suggestions for what to put in them. Would so love to have the pattern.
Aaaaadorable 🙂
Those look *perfect* for teacher gifts and not too hard! Thanks!
Oh, it would be lovely to sew up a couple! Best wishes from Budapest, Hungary 🙂
What a perfect gift this would make! Although I would definitely be making one for myself as well. Maybe it would help organise my baby brain…
I know I would love this pattern. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to win this..it does look like the perfect teacher appreciation gift!
Anything that uses up scraps is a winner here!
Your organizers look beautiful!
Love these! Thank you. 🙂
After making a bunch of Noodlehead’s zippy wallet for gifts last year, in an assembly line fashion, my friend and I were brainstorming what to make this year. This organizer is almost exactly what we were envisioning. I think we have found this year’s project!
this looks perfect for a present for me!! i can use an organiser when i look in my purse ..;
Super cute!!:))))
As usual with your creations, the fabric choices are fab. i do love how the linen makes it look like a bound book. Great idea .
These are adorable! I love this prints you chose!
Oooh! What a great idea for teacher gifts 🙂
These are gorgeous! I love all the Leah Duncan prints too.
these are so lovely!
What a great organizer! Would love to make some.
Love your version and would love to make one of my own!
Such a beautiful organizer! I’d love to win!
I need to make one of these for myself! And I’m off to check out those lovely fabric collections.
That linen bumps these awesome organizers up to a whole other level! I love it! These really would make the perfect gift!
Love! These would be great gifts!
I agree the linen really makes them Great sewing and perfect fabric selection
This is so darling. Been meaning to make something like this for when I travel, to hold a passport, boarding pass, a driver’s license or a credit card. Would make an awesome gift for anyone. Thanks for the giveaways. Love your blog.
Beautiful, as usual!! I love your work – so inspiring! Thank you for sharing.. 🙂
Adorable! I love love love the colors and patterns you used for these!
You’re so right, these are the perfect Teacher gift! We were planning on giving gift cards to the kids teachers but didn’t want to just slip a gift card in an envelope. This would be perfect for putting them in with the card and a notebook! I love Tule too and your fabrics are inspiring me to add more to my stash!
never sewn before, now is as good a time as any to start!!
Love these! They look gorgeous, especially in the fabrics you have chosen.
What a clever idea!
This would be great for a passport travel organiser!
I also need to make some teacher gifts – this pattern would be a great place to start 🙂
This would be perfect for a thank you gift I need to make. Thanks for the chance to win.
You’re absolutely right-would make cute, CUTE gifts!
What a clever way to create a collage of interesting fabrics! This is both useful and artistic.
Cute idea and perfect gift!
Love these organizers – we all need one! Really is a great idea for a gift, thanks for the chance.
Great gift idea! Thanks!
Love this as a gift!
this pattern is so beautiful, thanks for the chance to enter!
Such a cute gift idea! I bet my mom would love that. Thank you for the giveaway!
Wow, that organizer looks so cute! That definitely would make a great Christmas gift. Thanks for the chance to win! 🙂
This looks like a sweet and practical way to use up scraps that I love too much to throw away!
I would LOVE to win this pattern!!! Perfect for sweet little gifts 🙂
Oh I would love to make these, this pattern seems fun. I love the fabric combos you used!
these are darling!!
These are very cute. I make tshirts and I think it would be fun to press a monogram into the front cover!
I love this, and so would my girlfriends!
Oh my gosh I love them!!! Thank you for the chance!
oh wow, I love this pattern! what a gorgeous Christmas gift this would be!
I’m loving this!
Lovely organizers. These would make such lovely gifts…
What a great gift idea!
I love this pattern!! I can’t wait to try and make this for gifts and myself:)!!
You’ve inspired me to pick up a walking foot this weekend. This is the second post I’ve read about how helpful they are.
This looks like a great, useful pattern – would love to try it!
Love this idea
These would be great for the kids to put a book, paper, and pencil in to take along to church.
Love the ones you’ve made. They are really lovely. And it is a terrific gift for teachers and co-workers!
I love every single stuff you make!! I need one of this to organize my work at home!!
What a brilliant pattern. These would make great gifts
These are just wonderful! I am inspired to keep a journal once again (based a bit on the book Tarot Journaling) and I won’t succeed unless I have something portable to work with, and this looks just perfect for adding my notes and comments throughout the day. I wish I had one already made to use today when I was sitting down to a cup of excellent coffee in a tiny, independent coffee spot this afternoon – marble table tops and all! : ) Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:01:06 +0000 To: marthadawson@hotmail.com
These are cute and would make great stocking stuffers!
Great gifts! I would love to win! 🙂
My 5 year old would love one of these organisers, so I think I better add I to my sewing list. She’s forever writing lists and stories (with some very questionable spelling at times, which we’ll gloss over!), but she’d think it was really great to have a place to store all her important work!
Love the fabric you chose. Thanks for the chance.
Lovely pattern – would be fun to make these.
What a great pattern and your two turned out wonderfully! Love your fabric choices and the linen adds a nice detail.
These are lovely! And A GREAT idea for teacher gifts- thanks!
Nice giveaway:)
What cute organizers. What great gifts for just about everyone! THanks for the giveaway!!!
Looks like a great gift!
Was just thinking I should start on teacher gifts today
Nice Idea!
What a great looking pattern. Perfect for teacher gifts.
Oooo yes, a great teacher present… and yours are so dreamy!