A Beginner Sewing Project to Explore Presser Feet and Decorative Stitches
Trying a new sewing project is one of the best ways to build confidence and discover new features on your sewing machine. The Travel Accessory Roll-Up is a beginner-friendly sewing project designed to help makers explore presser feet, decorative stitches, and practical sewing techniques while creating something functional for their sewing space.
Designed by Janome Maker Bethany McCue of Craft with Bethany, this project is both a skill-building exercise and a practical organizer for sewing accessories. Once finished, the roll-up neatly stores presser feet, bobbins, snips, and other small notions. It rolls closed with a ribbon tie, making it perfect for organizing your sewing room or taking your favorite tools to a sewing class or retreat.
This project is stitched on the Janome Continental M6, a powerful sewing machine known for its precision stitching, large workspace, and beautiful decorative stitch library.
A Beginner Sewing Project That Builds Skills
The Travel Accessory Roll-Up is perfect for confident beginners who are ready to explore new sewing techniques while making a useful project. Along the way, you’ll practice several valuable skills including:
- Installing a zipper
- Creating rolled hems
- Working with fusible fleece for structure
- Using stabilizer for decorative stitching
- Sewing layered pockets for storage
By the time you finish, you’ll not only have a functional sewing organizer—you’ll also gain confidence using features of your sewing machine you may not have tried before.
Explore Janome Presser Feet
Many sewists stick to the standard sewing foot for most projects, but Janome machines come with a variety of specialty presser feet designed to make specific techniques easier and more precise.
In this project, you’ll get hands-on experience using:
Zipper Foot
Used to install the zippered pocket, allowing you to sew closely along the zipper teeth for a clean finish.
Rolled Hem Foot
Creates neat, narrow hems on the pocket edges, giving the project a polished look while eliminating bulky folded seams.
Open Toe Decorative Stitch Foot
This foot provides clear visibility while sewing decorative stitches, helping you perfectly position your stitches for added detail and creativity.
Learning how to use these accessory feet can dramatically expand what you can do with your sewing machine.
Add Creative Detail with Decorative Stitches
One of the most enjoyable parts of this project is experimenting with decorative stitches. Using rayon thread and tear-away stabilizer, you’ll stitch decorative rows across the exterior of the roll-up to add texture, color, and personality.
The Janome Continental M6 offers an extensive selection of built-in decorative stitches, making it easy to customize your project with unique stitch patterns.
If decorative stitching is new to you, try testing a few stitches on scrap fabric first. This helps you choose your favorites and see how different thread colors enhance the design.
A Sewing Organizer for Your Sewing Room or Travel
Once complete, the Travel Accessory Roll-Up becomes a convenient storage solution for your sewing tools. The layered pockets and zippered compartment make it easy to organize:
- Presser feet
- Bobbins
- Small scissors or snips
- Marking tools
- Other sewing notions
When you’re ready to pack up for a sewing class or quilting retreat, simply roll it up and tie it closed.
Learn More from Janome Maker Bethany McCue
This project was designed by Janome Maker Bethany McCue, the creator behind Craft with Bethany. Bethany shares quilting tutorials, sewing projects, and skill-building techniques to help makers grow their creativity and confidence at the sewing machine.
Follow Bethany for more sewing inspiration and tutorials:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@craftwithbethany
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftwithbethany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftwithbethany
You can also visit https://www.craftwithbethany.com to learn more about Bethany’s quilt patterns and upcoming in-person sewing retreats, where you can continue building your sewing and quilting skills in a hands-on learning environment.
Designed with both function and skill-building in mind, the Travel Accessory Roll Up is a practical project that helps you organize and protect your sewing accessories wherever you sew. Featuring multiple pockets—including a zippered pocket for added security—this roll-up easily stores presser feet, bobbins, snips, and other small notions. Once complete, it rolls up neatly and ties closed for travel or storage.
Perfect for confident beginners, this project encourages you to explore your sewing machine beyond the basics. You’ll practice working with accessory feet and discover creative ways to use decorative stitches to add texture and personality to your finished piece.
Supply List
- ¼” Piecing Foot
- Rolled Hem Foot
- Open Toe or Clear Decorative Sewing Foot
- Zipper Foot
- Tear-Away Stabilizer
- Fusible Fleece
- 1 Fat Quarter cotton fabric for outside
- 1 Fat Quarter cotton fabric for lining
- 6” x 44” wide cotton fabric for pockets
- 12” zipper
- 1 yard – ⅜” wide ribbon
- Cotton thread for top and bobbin
- 2-3 colors of decorative Rayon thread
- Universal Needles 80/12 or 90/14
- Marking tool (fabric pen or chalk)
- Ruler
- Straight Pins or Clips
- Point Turner
- Fabric scissors
- Iron
Cut:
Fabric A: Outside
– 10”L x 20” W
Fabric B: Lining
– 10”L x 20” W
Fabric C: Pocket Fabric
– 12” L x 6” W
– (2) 12” L x 4” W
– 8” L x 4” W
Stabilizer
– 10” L x 10” W
Fusible Fleece
– 10” L x 20” W
Prepare:
- Fuse the Fusible Fleece to the wrong side of the lining fabric.
- Mark the lining fabric at 3”, 5” and 10” in from a short edge on the right side of the fabric.
- Mark the outside fabric at 3”, 4” and 5” from a short edge on the right side of the fabric.
Put it All Together:
- Snap the Zipper Foot onto the left side of the foot on your sewing machine.
- Select a straight stitch and adjust your needle position so that it does not hit your zipper foot.
- Place the right side of the zipper to the right side of the 12” x 6” piece of pocket fabric. Align the 12” edge of the fabric with the edge of the zipper.
- Sew, with the zipper on top, along the edge of the zipper teeth to make an exposed zipper.
- Fold the fabric back and press to expose the zipper.
- Center the zipper teeth on the 5” mark of the lining fabric, placing the right side of the zipper down and the fabric to the outside of the lining piece.
- When you fold the fabric, it should flip to the center of the lining piece, creating a pocket.
- Sew with the zipper foot along the other edge of the zipper teeth.
- Fold the pocket to the center of the lining fabric and pin.
- The pocket fabric should go past the center 10” mark.
- Attach the rolled hem foot and set your machine to a straight stitch with a center needle position.
- Sew along one long edge of both 12”x4” pockets and a short edge of the 8”x4” pocket to create a rolled hem.
a. Remember the bobbin thread is what will be showing on the right side for the rolled hem seam.
- Attach the general purpose sewing foot to your sewing machine.
- Place one 12”x4” pocket, right side UP, with the long edge aligned with the 10” side of the lining that does not have the pocket. Pin in place.
- Place the other 12”x4”, right side DOWN, on top of the pocket with the long edge ¼” from the 10”, center line. Pin in place.
- The zipper pocket might be covering the 10” center line.
- Change the needle position to make a ¼” seam allowance.
- Sew through all layers (pocket, zippered pocket, lining and fleece) using the right edge of the foot to guide along the raw edge of the rolled pocket.
- Trim any excess zipper pocket fabric to ¼”.
- Flip the rolled edge pocket toward the other rolled edge pocket.
- Place the small 8”x4” pocket right side down, aligning the long edge of the pocket with the 3” line and the short raw edge with one side of the lining.
- Sew ¼” along the long edge starting at the rolled edge. Back stitch to give support to the pocket.
- Flip the pocket towards the raw edge of the lining. Pin in place.
- Starting just above the rolled hem in the center of the pocket. Sew from rolled edge out to the edge of the pocket and lining. Back stitch at the beginning and end.
- Sew two more seams starting at the rolled edge and sewing to the edge to make 4 foot slots.
- Divide the pocket into thirds. Starting at the rolled edge, sew toward the center of the lining (toward the zippered pocket). Back stitch and stop when you reach the zippered pocket.
- Sew another line the same way to make 3 foot slots. The pocket lining piece is finished.
DECORATE:
- Place the tear-away stabilizer under the marked part of the outside fabric.
- Thread your sewing machine with decorative rayon thread on the top.
- Attach the open-toe or clear decorative foot to your sewing machine.
- Select any decorative stitch on your sewing machine and sew across the 4” line that was marked on the outside fabric.
- Select a different decorative stitch and change to a different color rayon thread.
- Sew across the 5” line that was marked on the outside fabric.
- Select a different decorative stitch and thread color to sew across the 7” line that was marked on the outside fabric.
- Recommend practicing the decorative stitches on scrap fabric to decide which ones you like best before decorating your project.
- Sew from edge to edge
- Use the Start/Stop button if desired.
- Carefully remove the tear away stabilizer from the back of the decorative stitches.
- The decoration on the outside is finished.
CONSTRUCT:
- Open the zipper about half way.
- Fold 20” of ribbon in half and pin the folded end of the ribbon in the center of the edge of the wrap with the long single pocket: (short edge closest to the zipper.)
- Place the decorated side of the outside fabric right side down with the decoration over the zippered pocket side where the ribbon is pinned.
- Attach the ¼” piecing foot to your sewing machine and select a center needle straight stitch.
- Thread your machine with construction thread in the top and bobbin.
- Start sewing on the 10” side of the rolled edge pocket side of the wrap (opposite end from the ribbon).
- Leave a 4-5” inch opening to turn the wrap.
- Sew around the wrap with a ¼” seam allowance.
- Trim the corners and any excess fabric.
- Turn the wrap right side out through the opening.
- Use a corner turner tool to push out the corners and seams.
- Fold in the raw edges of the opening and press with iron.
- Sew a straight stitch along the open edge of the wrap.
Load up your travel accessory roll-up with all the feet and accessories you need!
