Recently I have been enjoying doing more and more stitching by hand. A dear quilting friend Lisa, introduced me to hand stitching EPP, English Paper Piecing, to create small hexagon shaped fabric designs, aka "hexies." And now I have my paper pieces and little hexies with me everywhere I go just in case I have a minute or two to stitch one, because that is all the time it takes to create one. I love to stitch with Aurifil thread, and the smaller spools are just so easy to use. So I created this little needle book to be the perfect size to hold a small spool of my favorite Auriful thread. The spool will tuck perfectly in the little pocket in the fabric book.
Size: 3 x 4 inches when closed, 6 x 4 inches when open
Supplies needed:
2 fabrics, 6 1/2 inches wide x 4 1/2 inches tall
Pocket fabric, 2 1/4 inches x 13 inches
Pocket binding strip, 2 1/4 inches x 6 inches long
Binding strip, 2 1/4 inches x 26 inches long
Tie fabric, 1 3/4 inches wide x 18 inches long **(or just use a pretty ribbon like I did)
Aurifil thread, neutral or matching the fabric color
One piece of wool/felt 5 wide x 3 inches tall
scrap of batting 6 1/2 inches x 4 1/2 inches
Step 1: Layer fabrics, backing (outside fabric) right side down, batting, inside lining fabric right side up. Machine or hand quilt with straight lines 1 inch apart or with a pretty free motion quilting design. Trim any loose threads if needed. Trim to size, 6 inches wide x 4 inches tall.
Step 2: Create the pocket. Fold pocket fabric in half, wrong sides together. This creates the pocket strip. Stitch the pocket binding strip across the top of the pocket piece (just as stitching binding on a quilt.) Layer the pocket centered on top of the quilted fabric, with raw edges matching at the bottom. Baste down the center and along the raw edge at sides and bottom.
Step 3: Fold the piece of wool felt in the center, place centered on top of the pocket. Stitch using a pretty matching thread, down the center to secure in place, back stitch at both ends to hold securely. Remove the other basting thread.
Step 4: Create binding. Using the strip of fabric, 2 1/4 x 26 inches long, fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Stitch binding onto and all around the project piece, just as stitching on a quilt. Be careful to fold in and pin the felt wool needle page out of the way if needed, so it will not be caught and sewn into the binding. Where binding ends meet, just fold one end under just a bit, about 1/4 inch, trim the other end so you have just enough to tuck under where you folded. Finish sewing binding down.
Step 5: Create the tie. Use the 18 inches x 1 3/4 inches wide fabric strip. Fold short ends in about 1/4 inch and press. Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press, making a cease down the center. Open and fold the raw edge on both long sides to meet in the middle. Press. Top stitch all around. Top stitch the tie in place in the center of the outside of your needle book. *******Or use a pretty strip of ribbon as shown.
Inside front pocket and wool felt needle/pin pages
Now tuck in a small spool of your favorite Aurifil thread, place your needles onto the wool felt page.........and take along with your next favorite hand stitching project.
I hope you enjoy creating this little project. Remember there is no true pattern for this design, only my little design created by the size of the thread spool! However, please make as many as you want for yourself, please do not make to sell, please comment here on the blog, please tag me and mark with the hashtag from my Instagram #vintagebloomsquiltdesignsfreepattern, #vintagebloomsquiltdesigns
Find me on Instagram at:
vintage_blooms_quilt_designs
Credit: Fabric shown in the background photo is by Corey Yoder, Moda fabrics. Fabrics used to make the project were bits and pieces in my stash basket, I am sorry that I do not have the selvage strips to credit the makers, I found the ribbon at a local quilt shop, and I always sew with Aurifil threads.
