Machine Needle Organizer

This organizer holds 18 packets of needles but you could adapt the to hold more by increasing the width. However because the organizer is folded in thirds for storing you will need to add pockets in groups of three.

Requirements

Soft clear vinyl, pvc( I used the packet some sheets had been packaged in)

From this vinyl you need to -

Cut 2 strips of plastic vinyl 2 ½ inches (6.5cm wide) Cut 1 strip of plastic vinyl 3 inches (7.5 cm wide)

1 piece of white fabric that measures 12 inches(30cm) wide x 11 inches long(28cm) The width will be trimmed a little later. It is good to use a plain colour here so that the needle packets are easy to read and pick up. 1 piece of backing fabric that measures 12 inches (30cm) wide x 11 inches long (28cm) The width will be trimmed a little later. This is where I have used the red. 1 piece of iron on pellon that measures 12 inches (30cm) wide x 11 inches long (28cm). This needs to be ironed on to the white fabric If you do not have a or Teflon foot on your machine you will need grease proof paper (pattern tissue paper will do) 90 inches of 1 ¼ inch bias or I have cut fabric strips 2 ½ inches wide and put them through the bias tape make to make my binding. I DID NOT CUT THEM ON THE BIAS and they worked just fine. 26 inches of ¾ inch binding for ties

Construction

1. Attach the bias to one long edge of each of the vinyl strips.

2. Take the 3 inch wide vinyl strip and line up with the lower edge of the white square of fabric. You can this in place through the fabric strip if you do not want to mark the vinyl. 3. Measure up ½ inch from the fabric strip you have just put n place and place one of the other strips across the width of the fabric.

4. Repeat for the remaining strip. So all three strips should now be pinned in place. 5. We will now sew the top two smaller strips in place along the vinyl edge. The larger one along the bottom edge will be caught in place with the binding. Move the needle position over to the right. Take your piece of grease proof paper and place it along the edge of the vinyl. across the greaseproof as shown below.

6. Tear the greaseproof away. It comes away very cleanly.

7. Using a blue washaway or fade away marker or similar you will now put some marks on your fabric for the needle pockets. I put small blue dots on the white fabric just above each of the red strips. The first dots need to be 2 ¼ inches in from each side and the other four in each row are 1 ¾ inches apart. This will give you the six pockets. You could mark on the vinyl if you wish but I was able to see more clearly through the grease proof with the dots ont he white fabric.

8. Place your greaseproof paper over the top of your strips and stitch lines in place to make the compartments. Start at the top of the fist strip as shown and stitch through to the bottom.

9. Place your backing fabric behind

Do a row of stitching between each of the strips as shown from side to side.

Match the colour of your with your backing fabric if you wish. I left mine as white so that you can easily see it in the photographs when we look at the back of the organizer.

10. Make two ties approximately 13 inches long. I cut my ties from 1 ½ inch wide fabric before putting in the bias tape maker, folding in half and stitching down the open side. Attach the ties to one side of the organizer as shown, halfway between the two lines you have just stitched. 11. up the sides of your organizer before attaching the binding so that the edges are even. Your organizer should not measure less that 11 ½ inches across. 12. Attach the binding to your organizer in the same manner as you would for attaching binding to a quilt, mitring the corners vas you go and joining the edges with a mitre. Folding Up Your Organizer 1. Fold the plain end over as shown

2. Fold the lower two rows up towards the centre as shown

3. Fold the top two rows down as shown and tie around with the ties.