needlework essentials 3.0 :: needle case {+ tutorial}

As I slowly built my newest needlework kit, I thought I was just about done…and then insta inspo struck, courtesy of my awesome #saturdaynightcraftalong community. I already had a magnetic needle minder, and a floss minder (my new rainbow versions of those are coming over the next couple of weeks!), but it involved threading and unthreading the one needle, and lots of little bits of floss being tied back onto the thread minder.

Enter – the needle case. I immediately added it to my “to-make” list, and when I came to make it a week or two later, I couldn’t find the original post to see the construction detail, or to credit the creator. If you were the person I was talking to about it, please drop a comment so I can credit your instagram properly!!

Aside from not being able to give credit, I also was working from memory for the construction. The general idea is a long piece of batting to secure your threaded needles, then folded up for storage. I think the original only had three folded layers and then the closure, not the four quarters like mine, but it does the job.

To make the case, I cut two pieces of quilting cotton (more Sunprint to match my project pouch, of course), 3″x12″, and a piece of batting 2″x9″.

TO PREP:
I pinned the batting to the right side of the lining fabric, approximately 3/4″ from one short end, and eyeballing the long edges to get it roughly in the centre. Once I was happy with the position, I topstitched around the batting to attach it to the lining fabric.
To prep the outer, I attached one half of a snap in the middle, both horizontally and vertically.

ASSEMBLING THE CASE:
Putting it all together was just matter of just placing the outer and the lining right sides together, and sewing around the outside with a 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving a gap to turn it right side out – I chose to leave this gap on one of the long sides. TURNING TIP: Sew straight across the seam allowance at the beginning and end of the gap. It will help force your fabric inside once you turn it, and make it easier to get a neat closure.

FINISHING:
Turn the case right side out, and top stitch around the outside, making sure to catch both sides of the gap as you sew. Top stitch a double line across the short distances of the case at the halfway point of the batting – this will be your main fold point. Fold the case at the stitching, and in half again, and mark on the closure flap where the snap lines up. Attach the second side of the snap.

And voila! All done! Super quick and easy, and super handy, I’ve had lots of colour shifts in my stitchery so far, and this has made life so easier to have threaded needles lined up and ready to go. The only minor nitpick is the snap wasn’t great quality I don’t think – it’s already given up the ghost, so if I was to remake it, I think I would use velcro closures instead.

It’s definitely a nifty little addition to the kit though, and one I will make again in the future when I’m making another cross stitch collateral kit!

PAST NEEDLEWORK ESSENTIALS SERIES:
Series One (2014): travel pouch // thread minder // thread catcher // needle minder // wrap up 
Series Two (2020): ribbon welt pouch // hoop cover
Other needlework projects: Christmas themed thread minder // rainbow floss minder // thread catcher
Series Three (2023): project pouch // scissor keeper