The Tomayto Tomato Pouch (or: how a pincushion turned into a gift)
This little pouch started life as a gift idea.
I wanted to make something fun to wrap a special present for a crafty friend. While I was pottering around the sewing room, my brain kept circling back to tomato pincushions. You know the ones. Round, satisfying, a bit nostalgic.
And then it clicked.
What if it wasn’t a pincushion at all?
Hey presto- the Tomayto Tomato Pouch !
It’s a simple drawstring pouch, but shaped like a tomato, complete with leaves at the top. Practical, yes. But also a bit fun, which is my favourite kind of project.
One of the things I love most about this pattern is how versatile it is. I’ve made versions in Tana Lawn, quilting cotton, heavier upholstery cotton, linen, vintage tea towels, and even beautiful old embroidered tablecloths. Every fabric gives it a completely different personality.
Construction-wise, this is an easy afternoon sew. Nothing fiddly, no tricky techniques, and the pouch is fully lined, so it feels lovely and finished when you’re done. It’s the kind of project that’s just as enjoyable to make as it is to give.
I did try making one version out of a completed tapestry, and for a while everything was going beautifully. Feeling bold, I decided velvet leaves and velvet casing were clearly the right choice. They were not.
All was well until I reached the stage where you roll the lining and flatten the top so you can topstitch around the opening. Between the tapestry and the velvet, the whole thing was simply too thick to behave. Sewing machines have limits, it turns out.
But never fear. That tapestry did not go to waste. It was repurposed into an acorn instead, and honestly, it suited it perfectly.
The Tomayto Tomato Pouch finishes at around 6 inches high, which is a great size for small gifts and everyday bits and pieces. That said, if you need something bigger, this pattern is very easy to enlarge. I have tested it at 120% and 150%, still sewing with a regular 1/4 inch seam, and it worked beautifully.
Now I am seriously considering a whole set of nesting tomato pouches, which feels both sensible and slightly excessive in the best possible way.
If you have any questions about the pattern, fabric choices, or scaling it up, pop them in the comments so everyone can see the answers.
Ready to sew your own? You can grab the pattern here.