FREE Pattern Simple Sewing - Tiny Needle Book - 5 Easy Steps

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.  When folded size is 2 1/4  x 6 1/2.  This creates the pocket strip.  Stitch the pocket binding strip across the top of the pocket piece, where folded (just as stitching binding on a quilt.)  Layer the created pocket centered on top of the inside quilted fabric, with raw edges matching at the bottom.  Baste down the center and along the raw edge at sides and bottom. Trim any excess away from edges if needed. 

Step 3:  Fold the piece of wool felt in the center, place centered on top of the pocket, and centered inside the quilted area.  Stitch using a pretty matching thread,  down the center to secure in place, back stitch at both ends to hold securely.  Remove the 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.  Start and stop on what will be the back side when folded closed.  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. 

Front of Tiny Needle Book

Inside front pocket and wool felt needle/pin pages

Inside back pocket with thread tucked in

Ribbon tie shown on outside

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.

Tiny buttons or hexies can be added to the felt pages for embellishment.

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 and gifts, 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.

It is Summer and the Living is Easy, and the Quilting is easy too!

     It is Summer and the Living is easy, and the Quilting is easy too!  This table runner is simple and easy to make.  You can "flip" it over, it is reversible, and enjoy the fabrics on both sides.   This table runner is perfect to be created from those beautiful fabrics or large scale print fabrics that you just do not want to cut into smaller pieces. 

Materials needed:
1/2 yard of two gorgeous, fun, Summer fabrics
1/4 yard binding fabric
Aurifil thread for stitching and machine quilting
15 1/2" x 45" (WOF) piece of batting
Spray baste product

Finished size of runner will be 15 x 42 inches.  (WOF = width of fabric)

•One half yard x WOF fabric pieces•  The two half yard pieces of fabric each need to be cut to size 

15 1/2" x WOF.  (If the original half yard of fabric was cut correctly from your favorite quilt shop, this should leave you a 2 1/2" strip cut from the fabric.  This strip can now go into your stash, as it will not be used in this project). Sandwich/layer together the bottom fabric right side down, batting in the middle, then top side fabric right side up.   Following the directions of the spray baste product, spray baste lightly all layers together.  Using a walking foot, machine quilt on the diagonal every 2 1/2", making a cross-hatch design.  The quilting lines can be marked before quilting using a removable pen, or with quilters (painters) tape.  I like to use the painters tape.
If using tape, just quilt right along beside the tape and then remove the tape. Move the tape to the next row of quilting and repeat.  When the quilting is complete, trim the project to size, 
15" x 42".  Cut the binding fabric into four  2" strips.  Join the strips with diagonal seams to make a continuous binding strip.  With the wrong sides of the binding fabric strip inside, fold the strip in half lengthwise and press with your iron. Machine stitch binding to your "favorite" top side of the table runner fabric, then finish the binding by hand stitching to the back side of the runner. This project can easily be completed by a "confident beginner" during a Summer afternoon. 

Fabrics used are designed by BariJ. for Art Gallery Fabrics.

Maggie's First Dance BOM Block One

I am so happy that this FREE block of the month quilt has begun.  I am using the fabric collection, Strawberry Fields Revisited, by FigTree and Company-Joanna Figueroa, for Moda Fabrics.  When reading the directions for the blocks, half square triangles are created, and Tip #1,  I always read the directions before I start cutting.  I thought to myself, oh no, not triangles!   But never fear, Tip #2,  the new Creative Grids Itty Bitty Eights ruler by Lisa Bongean is just what you need to cut those 4 5/8 inch squares.  This ruler has all the 1/8 inch markings clearly marked and easy to use.  Just what is needed. When creating the flower center appliques, Tip #3,  you cannot cut a perfect circle unless you have drawn a perfect circle.  So the next tool is a plastic circle template from the office supply store. Easy peezy!

    This is my version of Block One.  Block two will be released next week!

Hop on over to jacquelynnesteves.com and join the fun.