needlecase

Needle Case Construction

(May be reproduced for personal use only. Shops & Needlework Guilds may reproduce for free distribution.)

Cut a piece of 32ct Belfast linen 5" x 7". Fold it in half lengthwise to measure 3 1/2" x 5". Center and stitch your design on the front of the folded linen (being certain to stitch on the bottom half of the folded linen so it will be on the top of the needlecase when it is folded!) When stitching is complete and pressed, cut a piece of decorative fabric and a piece of muslin each measuring 5" x 7". Lay the piece of muslin behind the needlework. Hand or machine sew a basting line with white sewing thread on the front of the needlework 6 threads out from the left, right and bottom sides of the stitched design. You will have a basted section approximately 3 1/2" by 6". Now, lay the lining fabric face down on top of the front of the needlework. Using the the basting lines that show on the back of the muslin as your guide, sew around the needle case beginning in the middle of a long side and ending about 1 1/2" from the starting point. This will enable you to turn the needle case inside out. Hand-whip stitch opening closed.

Cut two pieces of decorative fabric 3" x 4" and one piece of muslin 3" x 4". Place the muslin behind one piece of the decorative fabric and lay the other piece of fabric face down on top of the decorative fabric piece. Sew a 1/2" margin around the fabric leaving a small opening to turn it right side out. Turn right side out and hand sew the opening closed. You will now have what looks like a little "flat" pillow! (This piece will be the "pocket" to hold the scissors!)

Next, cut two more pieces of decorative fabric 2 3/4" x 3 3/4" plus cut a piece of quilt batting and muslin the same size. Lay the quilt batting directly under the back of one piece of decorative fabric, and then lay the muslin under the quilt batting. Lay the second piece of fabric face down on the fabric and sew this section together with a 1/2" margin ~ leaving a space to turn and sew closed. Center the small, padded "pillow" you have just made (which will be used to hold the needles) on the "flat" section you have just made and hand stitch the top edge of the padded piece so it makes a type of "flap" for the needles. Fold your finished needle case rectangle in half so the design becomes the front flap of the case. Open the flap and hand sew the completed "flap/pocket" to the inside of the needle case. You will be sewing the left, right and bottom sides of the pocket to the inside of the case so that when case is opened the scissors can be slipped inside the pocket, and the needles can be placed on the quilted flap.

You can also make a tiny tassel from perle cotton or silk thread and attach to the center bottom of the case. A silk ribbon bow or tiny special button would be beautiful too!

Here is a little border which could be used for your needle case design!

Happy Stitches!