I’ve taken to stashing my current knitting project in my Better-Than-Basic Bag and working on a sweet little baby sweater during my now frequent visits to the OB waiting room. (36 weeks and counting!) When my interchangeable knitting needles‘ factory-made vinyl case bit the dust last week, and I ignored my family encouraged my children toward self-directed play for a couple of days while I worked a new needle case out of my system.
I love when projects hit me like that – with a clear vision of what I want and the obsessive drive to see it through until completion.
Even better, is when it does turn out like I hoped (even if it takes some seam ripping and errors to get it there).
The exterior of my new knitting needle case is a “Polished Pearl” metallic leather, because… well… I am obsessed with leather and I have so much lying around from my bag testing. The exciting colors and prints of quilting cottons can get a bit overdone in bag making, and recently I have been trying add more texture into my designs. Leather being such a gorgeous one.
Then again, you don’t want things to be so subtle that it turns out boring.
So on the inside….
I used a gorgeous collection of prints by one of my favoritist designers, Bari J. Her designs are always spot on for my taste, and I hoarded this particular fat quarter bundle for far longer than it deserved. Good fabrics should be USED.
I didn’t follow any tutorials for this case. Instead, I based the needle pockets on the original vinyl pouch, and then kept adding more pockets from there.
This project was a lot more improvisational than many of my bag projects, but it was really fun to work out the construction details as I went along.
Details which include a double-sided zippered vinyl pocket dividing the case in half, and two smaller vinyl zipper pouches.
Vinyl is always a fun material to play with. In a lot of ways, it is like leather. You can’t pin it, it is a bit sticky, you need a strong needle, longer stitches…
… and successful use of it brings your sewing project from “handmade” to “handcrafted” (if you get what I mean).
Unfortunately, I don’t have a tutorial in the works for this. Baby is coming too soon for me to promise anything of the sort. Also, while I am pleased with my results, I don’t think my construction methods are sorted out enough yet to be up-to-snuff for a good pattern design.
Material Source List:
- “Polished Pearl” leather remnant from LeatherHideStore.com
- By Annie’s Soft and Stable quilt-able foam interlining
- Spring’s Whisper Emma Grace Fat Quarter bundle from FatQuarterShop.com
On My Needles:
Helpful Links:
Now to finish up this sweater…
I think you went even beyond handcrafted (although I do know what you mean)–my first thought was, “That looks professional!” Really great design. I’m adding work with vinyl to my sewing to-do list. 🙂
That is just awesome! I love the fabrics you used for the interior… and all those pockets! Love it!
Love the knitting needle case. When you’re feeling up to it (Hope Mom and baby are doing great!) would enjoy a tutorial. I see Xmas gifts…
I would love to see an option to buy!
Please make a tutorial!! I would die to know how to make this. Its so cute.
” I (ignored my family) encouraged my children toward self-directed play” Laughed so hard when I read this! (The crossed out letters didn’t paste.) I encouraged my son to have self-directed play, and he turned out great. Self-directed play is good for your creativity. I’ll bet we did a lot of it! 🙂
Is there a tutorial for this? I’ve been wanting to recreate it for my options needles but I can’t quit figure out the order in which I need to sew things together and how to get the perfect edges/borders (like yours).
I bought a few more sizes of the needles so my case may be a bit longer. Hope that doesn’t change much and I hope you’ll consider even a short tutorial for this!
I have yet to make a tutorial for this, because I am not happy with how it came together for me. Hopefully in the future.
Hi Jodi,
Are there any current posts about sewing on 3 sided zippers or the order in which layered & complex pieced should be put together?
You should check out Ikatbag’s Zip A Bag series. http://www.ikatbag.com/search/label/Zip%20A%20Bag
i would love to see a buy option too as i cannot sew for toffee that is why i knit lol hope all is well keep up the good work
Would love a pattern for this
hi!
i’m looking for a needle case to sew (with tutorial because i’m a sew beginer) and I just fall in love with your needle case!!! are you expecting to do the tutorial one day??? even if i have to pay for, I realllllllly want to make one of these but i don’t know how and where to start! Your desing is SO perfect for all my knitting stuff.
thank’s a lot
Please, Please, Please, we need a pattern & tutorial!!! Thanks!!
This is what I keep picturing in my head but keep putting off trying to figure out. I think I might try to reverse engineer from your pictures!
Thank you this just the inspiration I needed my knit picks factory case also bit the dust, I am planning on making it with one side for the regular tips and one side for the short tips with extra pockets for the bits and bobs we knitters need