We're creating a tool that allows us to craft in any location with the minimum of fuss. Its called a 'Threaded Needle Wallet' and you will be glad you created one.
What Is a Needle Wallet?
It's a very large wallet that holds several threaded needles in place all at once
It's an efficient way to carry your essential hand stitching tools, and the act of keeping it stocked and accessible, will encourage you to be even more productive.
Why Do We Need One?
Your needle wallet will save space in your Go-Bag, as you won't need to bring along reels of thread, loose needles, and a magnifier for threading.
You can populate a small or large needle wallet with as many threaded needles as you like and easily complete some or all of your sewing tasks.
All of your main hand-stitching tools are housed inside a single unit,
The needles are securely held in place, so you are less likely to loose them.
You can plan and estimate your project completion time.
Threaded needle wallet removes all the delays that comes from having to thread individual needles as you sew.
When visiting family and friends with your sewing project in tow, there will be less name-calling and insults of the 'fluff and stuff' variety.
Supplies
Lets take a look at the tools and supplies that you're going to use for your threaded needle wallet project.
Cardboard forms the base of your needle wallet. It must have some flexibility to it, because if it's too rigid it will lose it's space-saving qualities in your go bag.
Scrap fabric covers the outside of your needle wallet. It should be large enough to cover the cardboard folder with a margin (overlap) on all four sides. I'm using a scrap piece of jersey dress fabric for the cover of my needle wallet. While it isn't ideal, it will work.
Lining fabric for the inside of your needle wallet should be strong enough to hold a number of components, but thin enough to sew through. On this occasion, I'm using a scrap piece of soft leather.
Poly-foam board (expanded polystyrene sheets) form the thread tracks and can be cut into strips and glued to the inside of the needle wallet. Alternatively, weatherproof tape (open-cell foam tape) already has adhesive on one side.
Soft Silicone Bra Strap cushions, magnetic strip or small DIY pin cushions form needle point protectors. They are secured to the inside of your needle wallet, to hold and protect your needle points.
Velcro, large hook and eye, plastic poppers or magnetic bag clasps, like the ones I'm using here are used to the close and secure the threaded needle wallet.
Beads or small spherical embellishments form thread end holders, to help secure your thread ends. Today, I'm using flower embellishments, as these ones have a spherical shape.
Contact glue bleeds through thinner fabrics and also leaves stains. Be very careful where you apply it. Please do gluing tasks in a VERY well ventilated space (preferably outside) and do wear a PROPER mask at all times.
Ruler and Pen to trace and shape your fabric and cardboard
Needle and Thread to sew the beads down on to the folder
Scissors to cut the cardboard, fabric, poly foam board or weather proof tape and bra strap cushions.
Step 1a Create Cardboard Folder
Your cardboard should be rectangular and have two folds in it, like a three-sided folder .
If there are no folds, divide the width of your cardboard into 2 and a half parts. Make sure the folds are as straight and as flat as possible. The 'half' part will form the closure of the threaded needle wallet.
Your folder has a Left Section, Mid-Section and Closure Flap
Now label the short sides of your cardboard folder as A and B.
Step 1b Example Of How To Use Cardboard Envelope
It's best to keep your cardboard folder below A3. Amazon envelope packaging is ideal for this as it can easily be cut down to size.
Here you can see that both of the short ends of the envelope have been sliced off .
Notice that the envelope seal flap has been left intact to accommodate the closure. Once you've cut down your envelope to the right size, label the short sides of your cardboard folder as A and B
Step 2 Shape and Cut Your Cover Fabric.
Your Fabric must be large enough to cover the folder on one side, with at least a two-inch thick margin around the perimeter.
Lay your cardboard folder over your cover fabric and ensure there is a wide margin on all sides. Use your pen and ruler to trace around your cardboard, then use your scissors to cut out your cover fabric
Now label the short sides of your fabric as A and B
Step 3 Measure, Shape and Cut Your Lining Fabric
The lining fabric doesn't need to be the exact same size as your cardboard folder, as long as it covers most of the inside of the folder, and looks straight and neat.
Use your cardboard as a template by laying it on top of your lining fabric and drawing around it. Cut out your lining fabric.
Label the short sides of your lining fabric as A and B.
Step 4 Layout Your Materials
You've labeled all of your three materials with an A on the left and a B on the right side. Now lay out your materials and keep them laid out in the following order:
First, lay the cover fabric down with the right side flat on the work surface and the wrong side facing up towards you.
Next, lay the cardboard down with the right side flat on the cover fabric and the wrong side facing up towards you.
Lastly, lay the lining fabric down with the wrong side flat on the cardboard and the right side facing up towards you. Remember the order of your three materials - this is how they will be attached together
Step 5 Apply Glue To Edge of your Cover Fabric
Squeeze a thin line of glue along the inside edge of the cover fabric and fold the margin over the cardboard edge.
Press the two surfaces firmly. The B side of the cover fabric and the B side of the cardboard folder are now sealed together.
Step 6 Attach The Male Coupler To The Inside Cover
Make a mark half way down from the top, and 1 to 2 inchs in from the edge of the lining fabric.
Push the male coupler prongs into the lining fabric to make holese - use snips to widen the holes. The male coupler prongs will protrude on the wrong side of the lining fabric.
With the male coupler still attached to the lining fabric press the prongs onto the inside edge of the fabric - covered folder and mark the prong indents.
Apply a thin layer of glue to the outer edge of the lining fabric. You may have to flip the lining fabric to make sure your glue is applied neatly.
Press the sticky lining fabric (and male coupler prongs) into the edge of the fabric covered cardboard. The lining fabric should overlap the cover fabric.
Flip the unit over so that the cardboard and prongs are facing up towards you. Slip the prongs through the holes in a locking disk, and fold each prong back over the sides of the disk.
The male coupler is now securely locked in place. Flip the unit back to its original position (Step 4).
Step 7 Attach The Cover Fabric Margin To The Edge of Cardboard Folder
Continue to apply glue to the cover fabric margin, fold the cover fabric margin over the cardboard edge and press the two surfaces firmly together.
You can use craft clips to hold your fabric and cardboard in place and a hair dryer on a cool setting to speed up the drying process.
Step 8 Install The Female Coupler onto The Front Cover.
Your cardboard folder is completely covered on one side with cover fabric, and the glue should be dry now.
Attach the female coupler to the male coupler. The prongs of the female coupler are facing up towards you, like in the picture.
Close the cardboard folder and firmly press the closure flap. The female coupler prongs will create dents on the front cover.
Separate the female coupler from the male coupler and push the female coupler prongs through the dents.
Use sharp scissors or a craft blade to poke holes through the dents. Ensure that the prongs protrude through all of the layers of cardboard and fabric.
Put a locking disk over the two prongs and bend each prong over either side of the locking disk.
Once your cover fabric is firmly stuck in place with the female and male couplers attached ,you will have something that looks like this picture.
Step 9 Attach The Rest of The Lining To The Inside of The Cardboard Folder
Apply a thin line of glue along the inside edges of the lining fabric . Press the lining onto the inside of the wallet, so that it covers the cardboard. If possible, leave the wallet outside overnight, to ensure it dries completely.
I advise you to use small amounts of this glue. Despite having all the windows and doors open, wearing a proper face mask and using two floor fans blowing at full speed, the fumes from the glue lingered for a long time, and made me feel unwell.
Step 10 Install Thread Tracks (Strips of Poly-foam Board or Weather Proof Tape).
Your folder has three main sections - Left Section, Middle Section and Closure Flap. You will be working on the inside of the Middle Section.
You can use poly-foam board sliced into strips and applied with glue or you can use weather proof tape that already has adhesive on one side. I'm using weather proof tape.
Measure and cut your poly board or weather proof tape. The length that you cut them will depend on the length of your folder from top to bottom. Ensure that you leave free space of 1.5 inches above and below the strips
Lay your strips vertically, side by side. Ensure the strips are laid straight and very closely together. Press down firmly (and allow to dry completely if you're using poly-foam board and glue).
Step 11 Install Needle Point Holder (Silicone Bra Strap Cushions)
You can use bra strap cushions like I am or use small rectangular magnet or a small custom-made, rectangular pin cushion.
Bra strap cushions are oval shaped and your goal is to make them rectangular.
DON'T snip too deeply, only snip across the very top and the sides of each cushion until they fit snuggly above the thread tracks.
Apply glue to the reverse side of the cushions and stick them on to the folder above the thread tracks.
You'll need to hold the surfaces together firmly until they begin to dry. Definitely use craft clips or clamps for this.
Step 12 Install Thread Holder (Beads or spherical embellishment)
You can use medium sized beads, like the ones I used in my old needle wallet. Today I'm using flower embellishments as the thread holders.
Measure the space underneath your thread tracks. Cut out a small piece of the lining fabric or something similar for your thread holder base. I'm using a small piece of scrap leather.
Place a bead or at regular intervals across the base and make sure they are in line with the gaps between the thread holders.
Place corresponding pen marks along the length of the fabric for the thread holder base. Thread a needle and place a knot at the end of your threads.
Pierce through the underside of the fabric with your needle, (in line with the mark ontop of the fabric). Pull the needle and thread through and mount a bead onto the needle. The beads should sit vertically, with the hole at the top facing up towards you.
Sew each bead onto the position you marked on the base fabric.
Don't use too many beads as this may hinder their thread-holding efficiency.
Apply glue to the wrong side of the thread holder fabric and press the sticky side down on the folder underneath the needle tracks. Ensure that it is dry and securely attached to the folder.
Step 13 Install A Scissor Holder
While you're out and about, you'll need to have scissors with you to snip thread away from the needle as you complete rows of stitching.
Let's install a very simple scissor holder for your small sewing scissors. You'll be working on the left section of your needle wallet.
You'll need a piece of soft leather or something similar (you could probably get away with using a small piece of strong rope) and your small scissors to measure with.
Lay the fabric over the widest part of the closed scissors blades and tuck the fabric on either side of the blades. Use a pen to mark the tuck where the fabric touches the scissors on either side. Measure half an inch away from each tuck and place another mark.
Cut out a rectangle from your scissor holder fabric. Use the marks you made on either side of the tuck to determine the length.
Apply glue to the ends of the rectangle strip. Press the sticky side horizontally onto the left panel of your needle wallet.
Ensure that there is a gap in the center of the horizontal strip so that the scissors can slip between the strip and the lining fabric. Allow the glue to dry completely before inserting your scissors into the holder.
Step 14 Time To Try Out Your New Threaded Needle Wallet
Now that your needle wallet is dry , you really need to try it out. Saddle up with as many needles as you'll need for your current project and insert them in the needle horse. It's time to get cosy in your favourite spot at home, or go to the park and bask in the afternoon sun.
Using your Needle Wallet will make you feel more productive and efficient. Let me know how you get on and if you have any questions you'd like answered, please feel free to drop me a line in the comments, and I'll be sure to get back to you.
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