A Double Pointed Needled Roll

If you've checked this blog in the past year, you'll know that the main crafts I have been making have all been themed around getting organized! 



In April of last year, I sewed up a Knitting Needle Roll that fit 2-4 pairs each of all possible sized straight knitting needles.  I also made a matching Crochet Hook Roll (that I don't think I had a chance to blog about here), Circular Knitting Needle Roll, and I finally had some free time to sew one of the final pieces of this getting organized puzzle, a Double Pointed Needle Roll.

These tool rolls were a little more difficult than I anticipate. They involved a lot of pattern testing with scrap fabrics and A LOT of measuring to find the right size and shape to accommodate each type of needle. When I first started this project, it was just a simple straight needle roll and crochet hook roll. I had totally forgotten about the other types of needles and tools that go along with yarn crafts. You know what that means right? I DEFINITELY didn't buy enough fabric to coordinate all of the rolls. Naturally, I couldn't locate the fabric ANYWHERE, once I realized that I needed more it was too late to find any. I have been rationing that red sketchbook floral print like you wouldn't believe, so that I could try and incorporate it into each of the rolls and then still hoarding some for the final yarn-craft-organizing-related-project, a notions bag. 

This double pointed needle roll is designed to hold very size DPN from 0-13. Additionally it will hold 2 pairs of each size, one space for the shorter, 5-7 inch length, as well as each the larger 9-12 inch length. The roll was sewed up in a slubby black and white linen, and a lightweight cotton fabric in a pretty red sketchbook floral print. Because I was running out of this fabric from all of my other projects, I did have to do some piecing to make it work. The outer cover ties were made with raspberry red linen scraps, and I had to piece the top binding edge for each pocket. Roughly, the roll measures 12.5 inches tall x 25 inches wide when completely open.

 

That's another finished project off of My Bucket List! Check out My Bucket List for all of the projects I want to complete, and check out My Finished Projects for everything I've completed so far (including lots of food!). Also, check out My Flickr Page for another summary of my finished projects!

Circular Knitting Needle Roll

I have made it a goal of mine this year to make myself "Tool Rolls" for all of my knitting and crocheting needles and hooks. 

I started off with the smallest of the rolls, a crochet hook roll.

Then I moved onto a knitting needle roll, a pattern which I might want to revise a little bit in the future so that the flap is more stable, maybe just interfacing the flap. 

Then, I racked my brain for months on how to make the best circular knitting needle holder, and I think I finally found the answer for my perfect circular needle "roll". The problem with circular needles is that 1 pair takes up SO MUCH space, I knew that this roll was going to be huge and eat up a lot of fabric and be pretty big. 

I tried three different patterns and they were all terrible. I wish I kept them but I was so irritated that I just threw them in the garbage. I probably should have taken pictures. One of them involved me buying a grommet-er and did a lot of grommet-ing, and other were even worse failures.

HOWEVER, I think I've finally got it! 

First, after A LOT OF MEASURING AND I MEAN A LOT, way too much math for this accounting during off-work hours, I cut all of the fabric pieces for the roll. 

 
To give you a better idea of the different cuts I took this side shot, most pieces are stacked and have many many layers.

These are the additional supplies that I used for my project. I used a 50 weight mercerized cotton thread, Schmetz MICROTEX needles (which are flipping phenomenal, you need to get them now), and my AMAZING Bernina Binder Attachment. Have you guys used this yet? It is so amazing. Depending on the size attachment you get, it takes a 1.5 inch strip of fabric, and turns it into binding effortlessly. You can make binding strips themselves, or bind and edge of fabric or a quilt. Maybe I'll do a tutorial on that later :)


Some progress shots of me putting the roll together:

I had some MAJOR difficulty with the "Binding" of this little Circular Needle Book. I originally anticipated running the whole center spine through my machine, then once I realized that its like 25 layers of fabric and interfacing I knew there was no way, even with my trusty Bernina. 

To combat that, I used a wicked thick and sharp tapestry needle, purl embroidery floss and a metal thimble, and tried to create binding.  I do admit that this does not look perfect, but I will work on my binding techniques and a few other enhancements when I make this again. For my purposes, it is totally sufficient. I think in the future a leather punch or something that actual book binders use would be more effective than the tapestry needle. 

 Glam Shots:

The Collection so far:

That's another item off the Bucket List, wooohooo! Check out my Finished Projects page as well as my Flickr page for completed projects. 

Hope you enjoyed :)

HOLLER!

Patchworking It

Two of my good friends from college got married and subsequently got pregnant, wooohooo! HOWEVER, they were essentially a quilters least favorite pregnant couple ever because they decided to wait until the baby was born to learn the sex of said baby. 

I can only channel my inner Stephanie Tanner ... "How rude!" 


It wasn't long after the birth when the couple announced the arrival of their little baby girl. 

It was almost instantaneously that I started pulling out some fabrics from the stash to whip up a little bitty baby quilt. I cut these sumptuous Anna Maria Horner flannels from her Folksy Flannels collection into 6 inch squares and played around with a layout or two.

 

Once I laid them all out, I realized the resulting quilt was way too small. So I grabbed some plum colored linen and cut as many 6 inch squares as I could to make a checkerboard pattern and I really loved the result. Adding the the darker plum fabric really made the other prints POP!

I wasn't sure exactly how to quilt this little baby quilt. I am a little over straight-lines for right now, and I also wanted a quilting pattern that would keep the quilt soft, and not super stiff like straight line quilting or full-on stippling would do.

Sooo, I tried out this little loopi-loop (very technical term). After a few practice rounds on some scrap fabric, I ended up quilting the quilt and really loving the outcome. 
 

I backed and bound the quilt in that same plum colored linen fabric that I used for the patchwork squares. I had some leftover from previous projects that I wanted to use up, and I really just LOVE the way it makes those super colorful Anna Maria Horner prints POP! I also really like the weight and durability it gives to this baby quilt that will get a ton of use (hopefully)!

Quilt Stats: 
- The finished quilt measures ~25x30 inches and is the perfect size for a stroller quilt
- The prints are Anna Maria Horner flannels from her Folksy Flannels collection
- The solid is a Plum 100% Linen from Joann's (sorry)
- The quilt is backed and bound in the plum linen as well
- I bound the quilt with machine

Also, this is another item off of My Bucket List. I really wanted to work make a patchwork quilt, and this is my first patchwork squares quilt! See My Finished Projects as well as My Flickr page for other projects. 


HOLLER!

{Christmas Crafting} Knitting Needle Roll

I have grand plans to make the perfect knitting needle / crochet hook rolls for Christmas presents. 

I've made a few different rolls in the past, trying out different patterns/methods each time and I just have not been satisfied. The construction was too juvenile looking, or just poor in general. 

A lot of them just didn't have enough space either.  I wanted the knitting needle roll to fit all normal sizes of of my straight needles, in both the 9-10inch and 13-14inch sizes. 

After MUCH measuring and re-measuring, and looking at various styles/designs of rolls online, I finally narrowed down the size and shape of the knitting needle roll. It did take a little bit of time to cut out all of the pieces, too. I chose my new obsession linen for the main fabric, and then the really pretty blue-ish fabric for the accent.

I designed the pattern so that I could use my AMAZING BINDER ATTACHMENT as much as possible. It is seriously amazing. GET ONE. 
 

I was actually REALLY proud of myself for  thinking through this entire pattern before I jumped in. I looked at the construction of others online in order to get the order of operations down. 

One way that my pattern differs from any that I've tried, is that I added a flap to one side that really makes it a lot nicer to roll up and tie.

Here are a few pics of the finished roll. I am totally obsessed with it. I absolutely love the pattern and I think it turned out amazing. Boasting much??

I gifted it to girlfriend of mine last night at a Christmas party, and she loved it! Of course, not before I had the chance to fill it with my knitting needles. I will definitely be making one for myself. I have every intention of making a roll for Straight Needles, Circular Needles, Double Pointed Needles, and Crochet Hooks. Those will each require different shaped and sized rolls, but now I have my strategy down and can easily alter the pattern. I am so excited!

How much would you pay for something  like this? I would love to make them and sell them and would totally love your input. Thankssss.

HOLLER & MERRY CHRISTMAS!