how to sew a needle book

I have been using the same needle books for years. They are felt, covered in cat fur, and really not working for me. :D

I decided that now that I am embroidering 10-15 hours a week, I really needed a nice needle book I can carry around with me. I also hoped that if I made a nice enough needle book, I would actually use it. Right now needles end up on every surface, in my clothes, in the couch, EVERYWHERE.

So here we go: how to sew a needle book. It's a really fun and easy project - great for beginners! And awesome for scraps of fabric!

I'm now selling these in my etsy store, making jiggy! Check out my full stock of needle books here.

Step 1: What you'll need:

• 2 pieces 5x8 inch fabric
• 1 piece 5x8 inch white felt
• 2 pieces 4.25x6.5 white felt
• three inches of small elastic cord
• a button to match the fabric
• sewing machine
• needle and thread
• scissors or cutting mat/rotary cutter
• ruler
• pins

This is a great project to use for small pieces of prints. You could use two different patterns or colors of fabric, too, and that would be so cute! You could even do tiny patchwork pieces or some embroidery on the front of the needlebook - go wild!

Note that you can also use different colors of felt if you like, but I find that white looks nice with everything and offers high visibility for the needles.

Comments

[jacqsie]

I love this...I recently crocheted one, by making a rectangle strip. Put my needles through the stitches, rolled it up,closed w/matching button...and whala! I actually use this one. Wow! I can add an image in here.I'm new at this site. Yours is the 1st comment. :)

[billbillt]

Another great hand made project!...Love it!!...

[supersoftdrink]

You're always so neat and precise with your sewing stuff... and you even pin stuff in place!

I should learn to be less lazy. :)

Did you see the ones I made for an upcoming speed challenge? I forgot to take a picture of the tree one.

[Pixie Puddle]

thanks for this, the day after I saw your needle book I was at work and their needles were all thrown in the bottom of the tin they kept the sewing stuff being a fabric shop they have a lot of scraps of fabric so I used them to make one its thrown together but it works well, so cheers again :)

[HMice]

Wow! I've been needing a decent pinbook for a while now, but havent been bothered to make one. I guess your strawberry was getting old. (I was just checking out some of your old ibles)

[jessyratfink]

Haha, yes, the strawberry was looking rough. One of my cats mauled it. :P

[HMice]

Did it think it was a real berry?
Nom noms! :P

[BTrey]

Nice project. I have to say that I read your first paragraph as saying that your old needle books had felt interiors and an exterior made of cats fur. Ewww!!! Figured out what you meant after a second or two. :-)

[sunshiine]

I made a needle book and gave it away. Now I should try this method for me! Thanks for sharing.

[bajablue]

Yeah you did... to me... and I love it! ;-D Thanks so much!!!

Beautiful work, Jessy!!!

[sunshiine]

I did, didn't I! Happy you love it! Jess I love the fabric print you used! Our fabric selection here is pretty lame! Hope you both have a super day!
Sunshiine

[jessyratfink]

You're welcome :D

[Pixie Puddle]

wow so simple love it, I think I shall add that to near the top of my long list of projects, Love the fabric you used as well very cute, :)

[mikolynn]

Very good idea to keep this pins, needles and other piercing stuff in the right order!
Can be a good first project to do with my new sewing machine!
Gracias!

[jessyratfink]

Definitely! It's super easy to do. :)

[flyingpuppy]

YAY! This will be in my sister's Christmas stocking this year! Thanks JRF!

[jessyratfink]

YAY! You're welcome :D

[ChrysN]

Nice, I really need one of these.

[jessyratfink]

You do! I think it might be the most useful thing I've ever sewn.