Knitting Needle Case *~Tutorial~*
September 7, 2007
I have (like any another knitter) TONS of needles and they are now officially at the point where they got out of hand and needed a home. James got me some 16″ circular needles for my birthday and that’s what sorda put this project in gear. It fits ALL (well, almost all) my needles and I’m in love with it. Plus, it’s super easy to make and you can crank one out in an afternoon.
*Note: This is just a basic pattern to follow. I searched (and searched and searched) for exactly what I was looking for and took bits and pieces from a few that I’ve found. I’m not going to put one of those “copyright” things on this because 1. I’m not the one who designed the knitting needle case (in general, this one I designed) and 2. well, I just wanted to do this tutorial to help others. I’ve tried to make the instructions as clear as possible so that even the most beginner of beginner stitchers could make this. If you have any questions, or if something is unclear, please contact me multicrafty(at)gmail(dot)com. Now, onto the case!
*~Materials~*
*~2 pieces of fabric (1 from your outer fabric and 1 from you inner fabric) measuring 17″x20″.
(The following are going to be “group” fabrics to make easier explanation in the directions)
*~Group A~*
1 piece out of your outer fabric measuring 17″ by 1.5″
1 piece out of your inner fabric measuring 17″ by 5.5″
*~Group B~*
1 piece out of your outer fabric measuring 17″ by 1.5″
1 piece out of your inner fabric measuring 17″ by 9″
*~Group C~*
1 piece out of your outer fabric measuring 17″ by 1.5″
1 piece out of your inner fabric measuring 17″ by 12″
*~Ribbon (I had a 42″ piece of ribbon and it was enough for the project, in fact it was a little more than what I needed)
*~Embellishments (you could do applique, buttons, flowers, whatever you want on the front)
*~Tailors chalk, fabric pen, or something else that you use to mark fabric
*Directions*
(I used a 1/2″ seam allowance for the whole project. Top stitching after it was all done was about 1/8″)
Taking your Group A fabric, pin the 17″x1.5″ to the 17″x5.5″ piece with right sides together and stitch. Repeat for Group B and Group C. (*Note: If you don’t want to do this you could use bias tape)
Now, with wrong side of fabric facing up, take the outer fabric and fold it down and press into place. (I did take a picture of this part but seem to have accidentally deleted it when I was transfering my pictures from my camera to the computer. If you have any questions, please ask!)
Take it back to your sewing machine and “stitch in the ditch”. Trying to get as close to the outer fabric as possible. I use my needle as a guide and lower it down just so it’s almost touching the fabric and adjust the fabric from there to get it right where I need it. (You will also repeat this step for Group B fabric as well as Group C.
Take Group C fabric and Group B fabric and pin the to the inner fabric that measures 17″x20″ making sure to line everything up at the bottom. I used LOTS of pins for this part because I didn’t want this guy to move. I even added more pins after this picture was taken.
Starting and the bottom, measure 2″ in from the right and make a mark using your tailors chalk (or whatever else you use to mark fabric) and then from that mark measure 1.5″. All pockets are 1.5″ apart, the final pocket on the left will be just shy of 2″ (or just over 2″ I can’t remember but it all works out in the end). Make marks at the 1.5″ as you go along.
Once you have all your marks made, take to your sewing machine and from one of the middle marks, stitch all the way up, back tacking at each pocket for extra stability and stopping at the top pocket. You want to start in the middle and work your way out that way nothing comes undone or shifts on you.
Repeat for all the marks making sure to back tack at each pocket.
Preparing Group A fabric and if you’d like to have a place for your stitch markers, take a piece of ribbon measure about 6″-7″. I didn’t cut mine until the very end because I was afraid that I would stitch the ends to it by accident.
Stitch where you have your pins and back tack or go over it a few times for extra security. After that take the fabric and pin it to the inner fabric with the other pockets.
From here, I didn’t measure my pockets exactly, I just made these pockets the width of 2 pockets from the previous pockets (does that make sense?). Once again you want to start in the middle to make sure everything stays secure and doesn’t shift on you and this time instead of starting at the bottom, you want to actually start at the top of Group A and line it up with your previous stitch marks. Just as shown in the picture below.
After that, just load it up with your knitting stuff and your good to go.
If you have any questions, or if any of the steps were unclear, please let me know. Thanks so much! Also, if you make this project, I’d love to see how yours turned out, just email me at multicrafty(at)gmail(dot)com or post in the comment section.
Edited to add: All pictures are clickable so if you need a better view of how I did something, just click on the picture.
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1.
Sabrina's Creations | September 10, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Thank you so much Angie for sharing this wonderful tutorial. It’s really helpful!!!!
2.
NameThatCandy | September 19, 2007 at 4:57 am
love ur tutorial, can’t wait to try.
also, can i link your blog to my blog?
thanks
waiyi
3.
Anonymous | November 1, 2007 at 7:59 pm
…dotty… says
Very good and THOROUGH tutorial ! Great job !
4.
Angie | November 3, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Thank you very much dotty! I tried to make the tutorial so that even a beginner sewer could make it. I hope I was able to do that.
5.
KatieKate | November 16, 2007 at 4:38 pm
That is fantastic! Very nice…I was just grumbling about how I wanted a multi-layered pocket needle holder to stuff the extras in and there it is. Nice job.
6.
Heather | November 16, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I found your tutorial via Sew Mama Sew, and just want to say thanks! I love your design and I plan to make one or two as Christmas gifts!
7.
Angie | November 21, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Thank you both so much katiekate and heather. If you have any questions, just please let me know.
8.
Lori | November 21, 2007 at 11:03 pm
I saw this on the sewmamasew blog. I have a question about the yellow floral fabric. I found a bolt of this on the Walmart $1 table and bought the rest of it. I’ve used up every inch because it is such a fabulous texture. Do you know if there is any way to find this fabric online anywhere. I got mine over 2 years ago.
9.
Anonymous | November 29, 2007 at 2:07 am
Thanks so much! This is perfect for my Secret Santa because my friend is a knitter. Your directions are so thorough. Happy Holidays!
10.
Angie | November 29, 2007 at 2:44 am
Lori ~ I’m not sure where you would be able to purchase the fabric online. I bought it over the summer and I haven’t seen it since. I would love to know as well because I’m down to my last little scraps. I’ll keep an eye out for it (or something similar) and let you know.
~Anonymous~ I’m glad that you will be able to use my tutorial. Let me know if you have any questions.
11.
snyder.crafting | December 1, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Thank you so much for the detailed tutorial. I already knew in my mind what I wanted to do for my sister-in-law, but I have been sick and I just couldn’t bring myself to start making the needle case without some sort of guidelines. My brain is pretty much on overload this holiday already and it is only December 1st!
BTW – all the things you have made are great. I have been surfing your Flicker photos.
12.
Angie | December 2, 2007 at 4:52 am
Thank you so much snyder.crafting! You are too kind. I hope you feel better and I know what you mean about overload. I have things for my girls that I want to make, plus I’m knitting my Mom a purse, and stuff I want to make for myself all before Christmas.
13.
magpiecrafts | December 18, 2007 at 4:36 am
im a quilter/sewer kinda crafter, and my sister’s a knitter. thanks for the tutorial, its the perfect last minute addition to my christmas gift for her! (not to mention a great way to utilize my fabric stash!)
14.
Angie | December 18, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Thank you magpiecrafts for stopping by. I’m glad that you’ll be able to use it as well as your fabric stash. I’d love to see how it turns out!
15.
Jessica | December 18, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I just finished one of these for a Christmas present, and I love, love, love it. It came out perfect! The only thing I changed was to layer the outer fabric with a thin batting and then machine quilt freehand following the design of the flowers in my fabric. It made the roll a little thicker, but not too much imho.
Thanks for the great pattern and detailed instructions!
16.
Angie | December 19, 2007 at 1:29 am
Oooo! That is a nice idea. I thought about doing that as well.
Glad that my tutorial was helpful to you.
17.
Jessica | December 19, 2007 at 9:03 pm
just posted pictures on my flickr! Thanks again!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewchicgirl/
18.
bathooon | January 28, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Very nice, thank you so much for sharing this
19.
Angie | January 29, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Thank you bathooon!
20.
Melissa Ann | February 18, 2008 at 4:55 am
Thank you for posting this tutorial. I have been wanting to make one for a while now. I took some pictures and posted them on my blog. Thank you again!
21.
lizzielizard | March 31, 2008 at 9:44 pm
This is so beautiful!! I just finished making mine and I love it!
Thank-you
22. Starrilicious » Blog Archive » My First Proper Sewing Project | June 17, 2008 at 6:21 pm
[...] followed the tutorial here at Multicrafty’s blog. If she hadn’t favourited one of my flickr photo’s I may [...]
23.
Starry | June 18, 2008 at 5:13 am
Hello, I made my own fluffy version and I love it! Thanks for the tutorial!
24.
multicrafty | June 18, 2008 at 10:46 am
Not a problem Starry! Glad I could help.
25.
Jennifer Orr | August 7, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Hi Angie,
I own a yarn company called Alpaca With A Twist and knit with a group of ladies on Wed. night. One of the ladies has made your needle case and they are great. I would like for her to make several for me to give to customers as gifts. Of course I would pay her to do it and we wanted to make sure this was OK with you first. Can we conpensate you in some way?
Thanks Jennifer
26.
multicrafty | August 9, 2008 at 9:37 am
Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for asking but trust me, I don’t mind at all. I just wanted to do this out of the kindness of my heart. And no, I do not need to be compensated in anyway. Thanks again!
Angie
27. Playing catch up « Multicrafty | September 19, 2008 at 12:18 pm
[...] Case in point, the circular needles he got me last year for my birthday last year that led to the knitting needle case. Now this year he got me the Blackberry Curve (which I’m really loving right now, I’m [...]
28.
SiewLan | October 26, 2008 at 11:45 am
I’m from Malaysia. Can I use your pattern to make a knitting needle case for a friend?
29.
multicrafty | October 26, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Oh yes, please go right ahead and do so.
30.
Emily | December 19, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Wow, this is GREAT! I’ve been thinking of modifying the crayon roll from Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts, but this is SO perfect as is!!!! I’m going to be whipping four up for upcoming birthdays! THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!
31.
multicrafty | December 19, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Not a problem Emily, thank you so much for taking time to comment. Please let me know if you need any help.
32.
Emily | January 13, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Just finished my first one – I blogged about it here with thoughts for adjustments I want to make on future ones:
http://milikow.blogspot.com/2009/01/knitting-needle-case.html
33.
multicrafty | January 14, 2009 at 8:12 am
Thank you Emily for your constructive criticism. I’ve actually been thinking about re-doing this tutorial and I’ll take your adjustments into consideration.
34.
Titchose | March 11, 2009 at 6:18 am
HI, thanks for this tutorial, I’m having a first try this afternoon. I was wondering if I could post a tutorial in French (in cm instead of inches) on my blog, with reference to your blog of course ?
35.
Emily | April 15, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I’m making another one of these and realize that you probably stitched around with a .25″ seam allowance (which I don’t think you mentioned). I did .5″ seam allowance which is why my sizing was a little off in the end. I’m going to do .5″ again so I can cut extra if I need, but I don’t have to be quite as careful with lining up and stitching to get all the layers sewn together well. So I’ll do 17.75″ wide to allow for the extra half inch seam allowance and also 1/8″ for top stitching all around. Thanks again! I’ll post when I’m done.
36.
Emily | April 15, 2009 at 3:56 pm
oh now I see you did say 1/5 inch seam allowance. So i think the numbers are just off a little. I’ll see how it works out with my new calculations.
37.
Emily | April 15, 2009 at 3:56 pm
meant .5″. sorry!
38.
Laura | June 29, 2009 at 11:28 am
I just finished making one of these for a friend. I’m so happy with how it turned out and I can’t believe how easy it was. Thanks so much for posting the tutorial!