I Made It...Felt Needle Book

In my wandering through blog world, I saw an adorable needle book and became inspired to create one of my own. My stash of sewing needles has been stored in the tomato pincushion that my dog used as a chew toy several years ago and a mixed lot of packaging (warning: ugly un-organized photo below!)

I am NOT a seamstress in any way shape or form, but thanks to my 9th grade home ec. teacher, Mrs. Anderson, I know how to use my sewing machine, and it has proved very useful over the years. The base of the project literally took 10 minutes to finish and was VERY easy with minimal sewing machine usage involved. Plus I was able to use the scraps of pink and white felt leftover from making my daughter's poodle skirt !! Recycle it baby...

You need:

a sewing machine

felt (measurements below) in 2 different colors

a set of snaps

embroidery floss

So you will start by cutting one color felt (your cover) 8" x 5". Then using the other color, cut the pages for your book 7" x 4 1/2". Cut 2-3 of this size depending on how many needles you need to store. Also cut one piece for your closure in the same color as your cover. This should be cut to 2" x 1/2".

Lay your cover down and then lay your pages stacked on top. I would use a few pins to secure these together and using your sewing machine, stitch a simple straight right down the middle to bind everything together. I would make 2 passes with your machine to take care of any stress on the seam.

Now your book is complete. Let's attach the closure. Take the small strip and flip your book upside down so that you are looking at the back flap of the outside cover. Using another straight stitch, secure one end of this strip in the middle of back.

Now, let attach our closing mechanism. I would like to add that you CAN use a button instead of snaps, but I was out of buttons (darn!) If you want to do the button, just attach the button to the front cover and cut a slit in the end of the strip as a button hole. If using the snaps, hand stitch your pieces into the appropriate spots.

Your basic book is now done. I will show photos below of how I embellished mine, but you can do this at your leisure and own taste :) Here you can see all my needles organized and no longer hiding down in my horrid little tomato!!! (Blogger wouldn't let me turn this photo for some reason...)

Now as previously mentioned, I like to dress up my projects, so using embroidery floss, I hand stitched this cute little flower design onto the front cover (once again, really missing my buttons as center pieces.) I will add these after making a stop at the store!

A back stitch is very simple to do... use this Stitch Guide from A Feathered Nest

because she does it a ton better than I do :)

I felt (there's my pun!) like my edges needed something, so I finished off everything with what I think may be called a blanket stitch???

And there you go! A needle book. I think these would make a fantastic inexpensive gift for anyone on your gift list who is a sewer...beginner all the way to expert! Let me know if you have any questions.

Toodles...Angie