These handy little needlebooks are a fun present to make on the fly for a fellow crafter. The pages inside are perfect for storing sewing necessities, and the vintage button closure conceals a snap. Whip one up for yourself to take along on your next trip, or use it to bring small swatches of material to match thread or trims at the fabric store.
You will need: 8½"× 11" piece of wool felt, small piece of contrasting patterned fabric, sewing machine, pinking shears, scissors, vintage button, small snap set, needle and thread, plus an assortment of sewing pins and needles to tuck inside
1. Cut out pages. Using pinking shears, cut 2 pieces of felt, each 4"× 7", leaving a small tab extending 1" extra on the short side of 1 piece (as shown), edged with scissors.
2. Embellish
the cover.
Fold the 2 pieces of felt like an
8-page book, with the tabbed
piece on the outside, and the tab
itself on the bottom of the layers.
Cut a 2½"× 2" rectangle out of the
print fabric, and arrange it on the
front of the book so it’s centered
nicely. Set your sewing machine
to a tight zigzag stitch and appli-
qué all 4 sides of the fabric square
onto the front piece of felt.
3. Bind the book. Sew the 2 felt rectangles down the center with a straight stitch to join the pages, backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam. Now hand-sew a small snap set into place on the tab and the front of the needlebook, and embellish the tab with a vintage button.
4. Add the extras. Fill the pages with needles, pins, and needle threaders for your next out-of-the-house sewing project!
Photography by Susan Beal
Susan Beal is a Portland, Ore., writer and crafter whose new jewelry-making book, Bead Simple, is out in March. beadsimple.com
References:
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