These fun little knitting needle pouches can also be used as a pencil case or, of course, as a crochet hook case. Sometimes sewing offers a fun distraction to all of the knitting and crochet I spend my time doing. It’s a fun exercise taking something larger and sculpting it into something smaller, whereas knitting and crochet have you taking a string and building it into something larger. Maybe not everyone thinks of sewing vs. knitting/crochet like this, but it’s how my brain works. :)
Now, I must take a minute to tell you about the fantastic fabric I used for this project. It’s part of a really beautiful line designed by the blogfamous Bonnie of Going Home to Roost. Her line is called Sweet as Honey, and it features deer, flowers and (my favorite) bees. I picked just two of my fave fabrics from the line for this easy contrasting needle case, but the full fabric line has a bunch of other inspiring designs to try too.
Supplies
2 fat quarters of fabric
iron
sewing machine
pencils and/or double pointed knitting needles
straight pins
white thread
plain sewing needle
ruler
scissors
lightweight fusible interfacing
Directions
You’ll start by cutting four pieces of lightweight fusible interfacing, all 12 inches by 3 inches. Iron two of the rectangles very close to each other (12 inch sides nearly touching) on each of your two fat quarters. Cut out each 12 by 6 rectangle, right along the edge of the interfacing. Just don’t cut the interfacing rectangles apart – each rectangle will be 12 by (slightly more than) 6 inches.
On one of your cut out pieces, use your iron to press a quarter inch edge on the two long sides and one short side.
Cut off 3.75 inches from one end of your second rectangle and press another quarter inch edge on the two long and one short side of it.
Grab the 3.75 inch piece you cut off from your second rectangle. Cut off 1.5 inches from one end of it.
Fold the 1.5 by 3.75 inch into even thirds and iron down. (This will soon be the piece of your needle case that holds down the top flap.)
This next graphic is a little cray, my apologies, but I wanted to share the dimensions of what you should have at this point. Just double check this all before you start sewing. :)
Sew a line straight across the small piece.
Fold your rectangles in half so the interfacing sides touch. Figure out which sides of the pouch you want facing outward on your finished case. Place them facing each other, raw edges of fabric together. Sew across the raw edge with your sewing machine, forming the bottom seam of your case.
Sew across the other end of the smaller rectangle.
Fold your case over the seam on the raw edge. Place the tiny rectangle piece about an inch or inch-and-a-half from the top of the smaller rectangle. (Bonus points if your tiny rectangle is placed so it lines up with the front panel’s pattern.) Sew all the way from the top of the longer rectangle down to that folded over hem, securing the tiny rectangle with backstitching to make it strong.
Sew along the other side of the case, stopping right before where the tiny rectangle should be.
Hand sew the tiny rectangle into place between the front and back layers of the case.
Sew from the other side of now-secure tiny rectangle all the way to the end of the case. Sew across the top short edge and trim all stray threads to finish.
That’s it! Sorry for the long tutorial, but I didn’t want to forget anything! I made two cases in preparation for this post, one with the honeycomb pattern as the front panel, and one with it as the back panel.
Aren’t they sweet? :)
Since this is a blog tour, I should mention that I was provided with samples of the fabric featured today. You should check out yesterday’s hostess Very Shannon’s project, and tomorrow, you should check out Knack Studio‘s.
PS: Shout out to Whimseybox for the fun pencils I used in for my photo shoot for this project! Thanks, ladies ;)
Maxine Ramey
I love these…I need to make a couple for my knitting bff!
bonnie christine
heidi, these are so cute! knitting and sewing go together so well, don’t they? honored to have you on the tour with us! xox, bonnie
Sue Bennett
What a wonderful project. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Anne
Awesome little pouch!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this evening that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-knitting-needle-or-pencil-pouch/2014/04/28/
–Anne
Heidi
Thanks, Anne!