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Knitting needle roll tutorial

[1] If you knit, you have probably found that every time you decide on a pattern, you need a set of needles you don’t own. Before you know it, you’ve got quite a collection. I think I’d actually need several knitting needle rolls to hold all of mine.

I designed this one with a pocket for notions like stitch markers and a counter. I love this owl fabric, which I paired with polka dots for a little contrast.

Supplies

(Click fabrics for direct links for purchase at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.)

[2]
Hooty Village - HOYVIL

[3]
Spirodots stellar blue - SPSSTL

[4]
Ribbon

[5]
Velcro

[6]
D-rings
Half a yard of each fabric. 1 yard of ribbon, which you’ll cut to desired length at end. A few inches of sew-on Velcro.

The pattern

Cut the following rectangles:
Main piece – 16.5″x16.5″ (cut 2 from main fabric)
Big pocket (same size as “big flap” below, if you’re making a pattern piece you only need one) – 10.5″x16.5″ (cut 2 from secondary fabric)
Small pocket – 6.5″x16.5″ (cut 2 from main fabric [if you don’t have enough main fabric, you can back it with the secondary fabric])
Small flap (pocket) – 3″x5.5″ (cut 2 from main fabric)
Big flap (to hold needles in) – 10.5″x16.5″ (cut 2 from main fabric)
D-ring strap – 3.5″x4.5″ (cut 1 of either fabric)
 

 

1/2 inch seam allowances

The process

[7] For each of the pockets, place fabrics right-sides together and sew along the top.
[8] Turn right-side out and press. Then top-stitch along top seam.
[9] Baste the two pockets together along the sides and bottom.
[10] [11]
Make your pocket flap. This is one of those things that I did backwards and you should do the right way. Sew on your piece of Velcro first. You’ll place it on the pocket piece that will not be showing.

Then sew along the sides and bottoms with the two pocket pieces right-sides together. Keep in mind the direction of the print

Turn right-side out and press. Top stitch along sides and top if desired.

[12] [13]
Figure out where you want your pocket flap to go. Remember to ignore 1/2 inches on the edge where your seam allowance is.

With a tight zigzag, sew the raw edge of the pocket flap just above the top of the bottom pocket piece.  Right now, that bottom pocket is just one big open pocket.

[14] [15]
Fold your pocket flap down to where it will sit and fold back the edge so you can see the edge of the Velcro. Use a marking pencil or pen to mark the bottom edge of the Velcro onto the small pocket. This is so you know where to place the other Velcro piece.

Pulling the small pocket away from the large pocket, sew the other piece of Velcro on by going all the way around the edges.

[16] Next, use a ruler to draw stitching lines on the pockets. Start just to the right edge of the pocket flap. You can make them anywhere from an inch on up. I did some 1.5 inches wide.

Sew up these lines just on the bottom pocket. On my picture, I sewed only on the owl part and not up onto the dots.

[17] baste these two pockets to one large outer piece around the sides and bottom. Now sew your lines for the second pocket by sewing from the top edge of the bottom pocket to the top edge of the big pocket. In other words, in my example I am only sewing on the polka dot fabric in this step.  Here, you might want to skip some of the lines you drew earlier to leave some bigger spots for larger needles. In the area over the pocket flap, I just divided that into two big spots for huge needles.
[18] [19]
This will be your little D-ring tab. Take your piece and fold it once in half lengthwise and press. Then fold each long raw edges to the center and press. Then fold in half again and press so that all raw edges are hidden.

Run your D-rings through and fold in half.

[20] Here, I’ve sewn my D-ring tab and my ribbon piece to the right side of my knitting needle case, with each pointing toward the center for now.

Now, I’m going to move on to the big flap that holds the needles in. Without it, they will slide right out from the top. I seem to be missing pics of this step. What you do is place the two flap pieces right-sides together and sew around three sides, being mindful of the direction of the print. Turn, press and top-stitch.

Placing raw edges of the flap with the top of the piece shown at left, baste the flap in place along the top.

[21] Place your other main piece on top of all this stuff and sew all the way around, leaving a turning hole. I left mine on the top. This is one of those things that sews most evenly with a walking foot. I just did a mini-tute here [22] on using a walking foot. Be careful as you sew not to catch the pocket flap or the big flap in the seam as you go around. Sometimes they can sneak over and get in the way.
[23] Turn through the hole and press. Close up the hole by turning in the seam allowance and pressing. Then stitch across the entire top where that hole is, close to the edge.

Other views

(Click for bigger views)

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