Old-fashioned needle book with embroidery on the front cover

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Old Fashioned Needle Book or Sewing Tools Organizer

This tutorial shows how to make an old-fashioned needle book that holds pins, needles, and other sewing tools. You will use basic sewing, embroidery, and quilting steps to create pockets and pages that keep everything organized. The finished book makes a useful gift for Mother's Day for any sewing enthusiast. Follow along to build one step by step.

We used the designs from the Fuzzy Heart Set, Violet Meadow Set and Freestanding Lace Primrose Table Set.
The finished size of each book is about 6 1/2"H x 6"W x 1"D.

3 needle books with embroidery on front covers

You will need:

embroidery threads, either polyester or rayon (you can follow our color cards or choose your own colors);
a small amount of fabric (about a fat quarter) for the outer covers. For two of our covers we chose quilting cotton, and for one we used cotton denim;
fabric for the backing/lining;
low-loft batting;
sheets of craft felt of any color;
narrow 1/4"-1/2" ribbons or trims for ties;
binding;
medium-weight cut-away embroidery stabilizer;
water-soluble mesh stabilizer if you work with freestanding lace (optional);
quilter's ruler;
chalk pencil or disappearing marker;
rotary cutter;
iron;
zig-zag shears (optional);
#12 and #14 (for denim) universal needle;
quilting threads of matching colors;
#12-#14 quilting needle.

Embroidery:

On the fabric for the covers, using the chalk pencil and ruler, draw a rectangle measuring 8" x 16". Then draw a line across the center of the rectangle to divide it into 2 squares, 8" x 8" each.
DO NOT cut out the rectangle yet.
Mark the position of the embroidery in the center of the right square.

Upload the selected files from the Fuzzy Heart Set or Violet Meadow Set to the embroidery machine.
Select threads. Stabilize the fabric. Hoop tightly and embroider the chosen design in the center of the right square.

If you work with freestanding lace, make a stitch-out of the lace piece according to the instructions. Wash out the stabilizer. Let the piece dry.
Sew it onto the right square.

Quilting:

Now cut out the rectangle. Place the backing/lining on a flat surface (table) face down. Cover with batting. Spread your working piece over it.

For the denim cover, we used only 2 layers: the cover and blue craft felt, which served as both batting and lining.

Pin all layers together.
Quilt the piece as you like, but echo-quilt the embroidery first.

Press with steam. Square and trim the piece to 6 1/2" x 12". You can make the organizer smaller, if you prefer.
Fold in half widthwise and press.

Pocket:

Out of the fabric for the lining, cut a piece measuring 6" x 12". Fold it in half lengthwise and press.

With seam allowance 1/4" topstitch along the pressed edge.

The upper edge of the pocket is topstitched.

On the photos below are pockets for the 3 needle books.

Position the pocket along the lower edge of the back side of the cover, aligning all raw edges. Pin.

A pocket pinned to the lower edge of the back of the book cover.

Stitch the pocket to the lining, seam allowance 1/4".

Finishing the Cover:

Cut 2 pieces of ribbon or trim, about 12" long each. Pin the ends to the side edges of the cover in the middle of the sides.

Ribbons pinned to the side edges of the cover.

Pin the binding along the raw edges of the cover. Stitch, catching the ribbons in place at the same time.

Finishing the raw edges with the binding.

Fold the binding back and sew by hand to the lining.

Inside Pages:

From craft felt, cut 2 rectangles measuring 5" x 11" each. Fold widthwise in half and press.
Cut the edges with zig-zag shears (optional) and topstitch along all edges with a 1/4" seam allowance.

From felt, cut pockets of different shapes and sizes for different tools: measuring tape, chalk, small boxes with buttons, seam rippers, snaps, etc.
For example, for small scissors you can cut a rectangle 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" (keeping in mind that at least 1/4" will be trimmed by zig-zag shears and another 1/4" is needed for seam allowance), or a half-oval, or a triangle large enough to fit the scissors.
Topstitch the pockets to the pages. Over the scissors pocket, sew a piece of ribbon to tie the rings on the scissors.

A page with a pocket for small scissors.

Place the pages one over another and topstitch along the creased line.
Then place the pages inside the cover, align the centers, topstitch again by the central creased lines.

On the pictures below, you can see ideas for different pockets.

Denim Needle Book with Freestanding Lace: