DIY: Sassy & Simple Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Cases

Are you knitting needles shoved in baskets in your closet? Are your crochet hooks hiding at the bottom of tote bags? Then follow this tutorial on how to make a set of these Coordinating Needle Cases. They're fast, easy and can be made from scraps of fabric. Give them as a gift with a pair of needles tucked inside or keep them all for yourself.

Supplies
1/2 yard of cotton fabric in solid color (A)
1/2 yard of cotton fabric in coordinating print (B)
1.5 yards 1" velvet ribbon
1 spool thread
Scissors
Tape measure
Sewing gauge ruler
Pins
Needle
Iron and ironing board

You can choose to work on the cases individually or in tandem. Be sure all fabric is washed and ironed before you begin.

1. Cut - From Fabric A, cut two 16.5 x 15.75 inch pieces for exterior of knitting needle case and one 11 x 5.25 inch piece for crochet hook pocket. From Fabric B, cut one 16.5 x 9.25 inch piece for knitting needle pocket and two 11 x 9.5 inch pieces for exterior of crochet hook case. Cut ribbon into two 18" pieces for knitting needle case and two 9" pieces for crochet hook case.

2. Make Pockets - Fold and pin 1/2 along one long edge of pocket pieces. Iron flat.

Match the cut edges of the pocket to the matching edges of one of the exterior pieces with right sides facing you. Mark for pockets, with stitch gauge measure and pin 1.5" from left raw edge. For next pocket and following two pockets measure and pin 1" to the right from previous pin. Continue measuring and pinning increasing the measurement by 1/2" for larger pockets. If you have mostly small needles then make mostly 1" pockets, for a collection of larger needles create 1.5 to 2" pockets. Stitch at each pin from folded pocket edge to raw edge back-stitching at each end.

4. Attach ribbon - Match ribbon edge to right edge of exterior piece with top edge of ribbon. The top edge of the ribbon can be visually centered on the needle case. Pin with wrong side showing. Pin the second piece of ribbon, right side showing, with bottom edge 1/8" from the top edge of the first piece of ribbon. Stitch 1/4" seam back-stitching at both ends.

5. Sew case together - Pin exterior pieces with right sides together making sure not to catch ribbon in pins or stitching. Stitch 1/2" seam around perimeter leaving a 2" opening on left side being sure to pivot at corners and back-stitching at each end.

6. Turn, sew and iron - Trim corners. Turn work right side out. Stitch opening closed by hand with needle and thread. Press seams and edges flat.

7. Fill and enjoy!

A scrumptious new knitting project

After a long and crazy week I couldn't have been more excited to get home and knit. My Friday nights just aren't what they used to be, but there is nothing I'd rather be doing more than knitting.

A cohesive look

Multiplicity - a bouncy, roving-like chunky wool

I've been working with Plymouth Yarn Company to create a new branding identity for their yarns. Plymouth felt that their yarns were being overlooked on store shelves because consumers did not realize the yarn was the product of this trusted company. Knitters are very loyal customers and Plymouth wanted to better capitalize on this fact. They came to me to create a new series of labels to identify them as the strong, quality yarn brand they are. Together we developed a recognizable label family that can be used across many types of yarn skeins.

We made some important changes. We made sure the yarn name was clear and easily readable. Another important task was to include the yarn content right on the front of the ball so you don't have to turn it over or dig inside to figure out what it's made from. And to further the brand recognition we incorporated the large ship from the logo onto the front of the label.

Bungee sock yarn

F.O. - Finished Object

As an avid knitter the only thing more exciting than receiving a box of yarn in the mail is receiving a box of yarn that has label I designed.

Client: Plymouth Yarn Company

Project: To create a label for a new baby yarn that showed both youth and quality.

The label needed to speak for itself much like various other products that are on store shelves. Yarn has a slight advantage because it isn't sold in big, badly lit warehouses but rather small boutique stores. Consumers can ask a store clerk their opinion, potentially see knitted samples and be inspired by patterns. The yarn needs to appeal on touch and feel and also quality and value. Touch and feel are not factors I can change but the intangible ideas can be conveyed through the design of the label. Let's hope knitters like it!

Knitters Unite!

We hit the Winter TNNA show in San Diego this weekend. The National NeedleArts Association hosts its annual trade show in sunny San Diego giving all the frozen knitters a weekend of respite.

My sister, Nancy Queen has a yarn empire consisting of two retail websites, nobleknits.com and designeryarnsale.com, and three published books (The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting,The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochetand Crochet for Tots).

We went to do some wholesale shopping and Nancy had a book signing!

We also met the gang from ravelry.com, an awesome online community for knitters and crocheters.