Wool Tool Roll

A month or so ago, my friend asked me if I had the capability to crochet a tool roll to keep bicycle tools and accessories stored while on rides. He had looked at some other tool rolls like the very cool Bike Burrito, but it just wasn't exactly what he was looking for. There is also one of these Brooks tool rolls as well, which is nice but a bit spendy for what it is.

I had never given any thought to tool rolls before so I took a look around the Internet to see if I could come up with any ideas. I did find some nice sewing projects, but to be quite honest, I do not have a lot of sewing experience. I have a lot of wool yarn and I knew that I could use that for the roll and if I felted the wool - it would be more dense and durable for holding tools like wrenches, patch kits, tubes, etc... I had never felted any of my projects before so I thought this was as good as time as any to give it a try on my first experimental tool roll.

The pattern itself is very easy (assuming you already know how to crochet) and can be modified for a custom fit. Below are the steps I took and below the pattern is a couple of notes worth reading about my thoughts on this project.

**Start instructions

Materials: 11 balls 100% worsted weight wool (110 yards/50g each). Any wool good for felting is fine - just make sure not to use the superwash wool, which does not felt.

Hook: F/5 (3.75mm)
Yarn needle

Main Panel



[note: unfelted, my main panel measures 34.5 in. long and 19 in. wide (it needs to be wide enough that the top can fold over and cover the tops of the pockets when done). Adjust your hook size or amount of stitches across if you need a larger or smaller size. Just keep in mind that shrinking does occur with felting - so take that into consideration.]

Row 1: chain 79
Row 2: sc in 2nd chain from hook. SC in each stitch across, chain 1, turn (78 sts)
Row 3: sc each stitch across, chain 1, turn (78 sts)
Row 4: repeat row 3 until piece measures 34.5 in. long, fasten off.

Wrench Pockets



Originally the wrenches that went in this roll had a much wider head so I made the wrench pockets spaced far apart so they would not clatter together too much. For the individual pockets, make as many as you need. Single crochet about 5 stitches across and make the pocket about 5.5 in. long. Modify length and width to your needs.

Small Tools & Accessories Pockets



I crocheted two separate panels for a two pouch pocket and a three pouch pocket. Single crochet a panel(s) for the desired width of your pouch keeping the height the same height as your other pockets (about 5.5 in.). Later, while stitching the pouch you may stitch more seams to make the one panel into individual pockets. This gives the pockets a more seamless look.

Pouch and Flap



Single crochet another pouch/panel to your desired size. Separately, single crochet another panel that is the same width of the pouch, but about half its length (this panel is going to be the flap to the pouch.

Stitch it all together

Lay out your main panel. Place your pocket/pouch panels where you want them to be joined to the main panel (try to keep the tops of each pocket lined up). Use a yarn needle to sew around each individual pocket with your worsted weight yarn (keeping the top open, of course!).

For the single panels that are going to made into individual pockets just fold to the desired pocket width and stitch where your fold is. You may need to end off and start sewing along the bottom again with a new piece of yarn. This creates a more seamless look.

For the pocket with the flap, I chose to put mine on the end because it was a better fit and it rolls better. Sew the panel like the individual panels. Sew one long side of the flap panel to the main panel just above the opening of the pouch.

Ties



Once all the pockets are sewed on, roll up the carrier and determine where you want to add the ties. It works pretty much like a standard sleeping bag.

Single crochet one long (length is determined by how small or large your roll is) tie, about 4 stitches across and long enough that it will wrap easily around the roll with plenty of room to tie off. Flip the roll over so that it is pocket-side down and join the tie about an inch or two inches from the center edge (I chose the end with the pocket and flap). Join the middle of the long tie to the roll by sewing it on securely with a yarn needle. You should now have a v-shaped set of ties.

Felting

There are many sites and books that tell you how to felt. It is not an exact science and varies with type of wool, color, and washing machine. The basics are to put the object to be felted inside a zippered pillow case (this keeps your washing machine from getting clogged with wool fuzzies), put it in the washing machine on low agitation using hot water, add a couple pairs of jeans and a bit of baking soda. Do not let the machine drain because you may need to let it agitate more than once - it may take several times. Make sure to check your piece every few minutes to make sure you do not over-felt the piece. Do not keep the piece for a full load cycle - you only want to agitate it gently.

Once the roll is at the desired level of felted-ness, take it out of the machine and gently hand ring the excess water. Lay it out flat to dry and block it by gently stretching and shaping the piece into a nice flat rectangle.

My tool roll was so dense that it took a couple of days to completely dry, but I used an elevated flat drying rack, which helped considerably.

**End instructions

This was my first tool roll and my first (and only so far) felted project and I have to say it came out pretty well. There are a few things I might do differently on the next roll. I would try to make all of the pockets of the more seamless variety if I could (instead of those single wrench pockets I have on this one), I would try felting all of the pieces before stitching them together, and I would add a snap to the pocket flap (I still may do that on this roll).

So far the roll has been very handy and is used regularly. Since it is wool, it will get wet if left outside, but if carried in a waterproof pannier or bag, it will stay nice and dry. For the most part, this is a nice basic roll carrier that holds multiple wrenches, a multi-tool, tubes, patch kit, tire wrenches, liquid bandage, rags, nitrile gloves, etc...