Monday, May 24, 2010

Hexagon needle book : tutorial

{or Use some of those things, already!}
also, blogger is being strange - this posted randomly, then went away as it was scheduled for Wednesday, and now is back, let's hope it doesn't disappear again


I had some extra d-rings from the netbook project, and also needed a second needle book for summer hexagon work. I was getting ready to make a plain old rectangle then realized I should make it a cute hexagon!



It's wool felt lined and also has two pages for pins and needles. Here's how you can make one, too. Please forgive some of these grainy process shots - I made it on a whim at night.




First, select two cute prints and baste your hexagons.
I made these with 1.5" hexagons - that's the measurement along one straight edge.

Then trace your shape and cut out two wool felt pieces the same size as your hexagon.



Iron your hexagon nice and flat, remove your paper shape, and pin wrong side to the wool felt. Slowly machine stitch about an 1/8" from the edges. You want to make sure you catch all the raw edges under on your hexie, no worries on the wool. Make two like this.



Now trace your hexagon again on some more felt. This time space them about 1.25" apart. Leave 5/8" wide strip in the center and trim away the rest. This will be your hanging loop. I like having the option of attaching this to my travel sewing stuff so it doesn't get lost in the bottom of a bag.



Fold the felt in half, then roll up one hexagon and stuff it through the d-ring. Make sure you do this before you stitch it all together!



Layer a hexagon print side down, folded felt center, then hexagon print side up. Machine stitch across the whole top edge a couple of times, close to the edge, but making sure you catch all four layers.




Now you have the cutest needle book around!

59 comments:

Tracey Jacobsen said...

It is unequivocally the cutest needle book around! love it. :)

sewtakeahike said...

nooooo!!! this is too cute! thanks for sharing it with us!

Amanda Jean said...

That is the CUTEST needlebook ever!!! Seriously!

Sara said...

What a great idea!

Amy Gordon-Pruden said...

I will put this project on my list of 'to-do's'. Thanks for the tutorial!

Caroline ~ TrilliumDesign said...

These are great! So cute.

Stephanie said...

Way too cute Angela! Love it!

Sarah Craig said...

Those are just adorable, Angela! This is definitely going on my "things to make for Christmas" list!

CitricSugar said...

Thanks for the tutorial! I absolutely adore it and will be making one.

angelina said...

you are so kind to post the tute: i think i'll make one, i certainly need the organization!xx

Bellgirl said...

This is just what I need- I'm been looking for a little thank you gift for an overseas blogger who is sending me some fabric to finish a quilt!

Funny that your post behaved strangely, perhaps someone put a hex on it? ;)

Leslie said...

i love it....what a great new way to use the hexagons

Christina said...

How cute is this! I think I may just need to make one.

Dresden Quilter said...

This is so sweet! I think you should have a giveaway for it ;-)

Rebekah said...

this is so adorable! It's totally my type of noncommittal hexagon making too :)

Tasha Horsley said...

that is just the cutest!! first i need to learn how to hex!

tasha
A Little Sweetness
www.tashahorsley.typepad.com

Corinnea said...

That is very very cute!

Kerri said...

absolutely fantastic!! i so want to make one!!

Kris said...

What a great idea! I love it, Angela!

erica said...

This is awesome! I am going to make one...or two!

myBearpaw said...

That is so cute! Thanks so much for the tutorial!

Linda said...

That was very nice....thanks for sharing. I am new to quilting and blogging, but I have been sewing all my life. I just love the knome fabric! It is me! I love them! Where did you find it?

chris baker said...

I love it!! I am so making one of these right now! thank u for the tutorial.

Bellgirl said...

Hi again- I've made some! I've posted a picture with a link to your tutorial on my blog here: http://bellgirl.com.au/2010/05/hexy-madness.html

The tutorial worked out great, thank you!

Georgia said...

Oh you're clever - such a great idea!

michele said...

you are my hero. i have been sewing hexies in the car and need this badly. p.s. im riding shotgun, not driving. :)

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

super cute tutorial!! i might have to make one of these!

Unknown said...

This is genius!!!!!!!! Pure Genius!!!

Brynwood Needleworks said...

This is fabulous! I'm definitely going to have to make one...or ten. ;-)
xoxo
Donna

Dree said...

That is great! Oooh the possibilities...

Locket Pocket said...

absolutely gorgeous!

Beth said...

This is absolutely darling! I just finished making an English Paper Piecing kit for my dear friend's birthday. Now I know what I'll be adding to her Christmas basket. Thanks for sharing.

Coisas da Laura said...

Loved this tutorial!!!!Thanks a lot!!!

Unknown said...

I really loved this tutorial! I discovered an easy tip for you... instead of cutting the white wool in a hexie then sewing it to the fabric... just cut a square wool piece. Then it's really easy to cut away the excess after you've sewn it to the fabric. Thanks again for such a cute project!!

Teresa said...

I loved this. As soon as I found your blog this morning and while still in my jammys, I got out my sewing machine and made 2 of these little needle cases immediately. Thanks so much - I just love them.

Melody said...

This is indeed the cutest little needle case. I absolutely love it. I plan to make a couple tomorrow. Many thanks for a great idea.

Sara said...

Just made one today with some vintage Holly Hobby fabric and I am going to use a ribbon or something similar for the handle--in place of the d ring. Really darling though! Thanks for the wonderful idea:)

Coisas da Laura said...

I've made so many of this and can't have enough of it! My friends who received from me as gifts loved them!!!!
Thanks again!

amy and the bad cats said...

i stumbled across this tutorial yesterday afternoon, and immediately decided i needed to make these for my fellow houston modern quilt guild members for christmas! i finished one last night and cute out the pieces for 14 more, just need to run out to get a few more bits of felt in the right colors so i can whip up the rest. these are super cute and so very, very easy! thanks!

Shelli said...

totally awesome - I'm making one TONIGHT! :)

Melissa said...

Oh my gosh. I'm so excited to make some of these!! If I had an award to give you for best shared idea, I would! :-) these are the best!! Thank you for inspiring so many of us!!

Deb (Two Cheeky Monkeys) said...

Cute tutorial - I'm going to have to try making some of these as present toppers! Thanks!!!

http://thankfullga447 said...

I love Hexagons and this will go on my to do list. thank you.
Omaha, NE

jrwork said...

Love this idea...only variation, I would sew my cute hexagons to the wool then trim...no chance of not catching the wool underneath.
I think they could look like ornaments if you used up some small pieces of Christmas fabric, think I'll make a bunch to use as to/from label on sewing friend's gifts for next year.
thanks for sharing the cute ideas.

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

That is beyond cute! I just clicked over from Craft Gossip and I'm so glad I did. This is going to be the perfect gift for one of my sewing friends. I would also love to link to this if you didn't mind.

Wendy said...

Oh, golly...so cute!

Fleurette said...

That is just the cutest, thanks for sharing!

prsd4tim2 said...

Thanks for a great tutorial! I just made 3 and plan to make 3 more tomorrow! What a fun idea. Thanks for sharing.

JennyTheArtist said...

i must try this!! thankyou !!!

Andee said...

I love it! I am going to make one!

StuffandThings said...

Thank you for the very clear tutorial. I'm going to give it a try.

Unknown said...

that's so cute and simple but so very useful!!

I linked to your tutorial on my blog - thanks for sharing!


doro K.

Julie B. said...

Love this! I'm going to make some soon! I wonder if I can make one for my daughter's soccer bag to put her earrings in??? BTW, I work at Gentler Times! Can't wait to meet you!

Wendz said...

Last year I bookmarked this tutorial and today I finally made the needle book and absolutely love it. Instructions are easy to follow and a pleasure to make. Huge feel good factor :) Thank you

Melissa said...

Just finished one in like 20 minutes. Thank you so much for this tutorial!

Margaret said...

Just made one this weekend- so great- posted it on Threadbias with a link to your tutorial- thanks so much- this will be one of my go to little gifts!

elnorac said...

That.Is.Brilliant!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!

quiltingmieke said...

Hello t is stunning!!! Big hug

SUSSEXMOUSE said...

I will try making one tomorrow. So useful. Marion x