Sometimes I need a break from sewing and just need to get my craft on! For ages my sewing needles have been scattered about between my pin dish and various other little pots and drawers; and I could never find the needle that I wanted, when I wanted it. And so…this little leather origami needle wrap was born…
The origami needle wrap features a simple envelope shape, with a wrap around magnetic closure. The whole thing opens out to lay flat on your work surface and 3 separate felt inserts allow you to organise needles by type/size etc. It’s super simple to make and you can download the free pattern at the end of this post if you want to make one of your very own :)
I made mine from 1mm natural leather. I got the whole thing out of a 20cm x 20cm square purchased on ebay here. I used 1mm wool felt for the inside. Also purchased on ebay here. Magnets used here are strong neodymium disc magnets that I had left over from my air dry clay fridge magnets and are available here.
First step is to cut out and trace the template onto the leather. I used a Frixon pen for this, as the marks can be removed later simply by applying heat from an iron (through a pressing cloth as opposed to directly onto the leather)…I use these quite alot directly onto fabric when I’m sewing too. Awesome pens!
To mark the position of the slit opening for the strap, I simply used the tip of my seam ripper to make an indentation through the paper pattern and onto the leather…
Cut the whole thing out carefully…
Then using a scalpel cut the slit opening as indicated on the pattern. Note the pen marks that are currently still visible…
…and after the application of a little heat, magically vanished!!
The wrap is then assembled as above. The strap slides through the little slit from the RS. Magnets are super glued in place. Make sure before you stick the magnets down that they are the right way up. If you stick them the wrong way, the closure magnets will repel away from eachother as opposed to fastening. The placement marks on the pattern are right for the materials that I used. But different materials will have a different “turn of cloth” value (they will fold slightly differenly) which may subtly affect the placement of the fasteners. Tape the whole arrangement above in place, and just test it all wraps up and closes to your satisfaction before you commit to gluing the magnets in place and securing all the element permanently. ( I use magic tape as there isn’t the sticky residue that you get with sellotape)
The strap is stitched in place from the outside, and there is a dotted line on the pattern piece for the strap that lines up with the slit to help you get it in the right position. (if you sink it too far in to the slit, it will effectively reduce the length of the strap which then won’t wrap around fully).
Cut and stick in the felt (magnet is now nicely covered!) I used bondaweb for neatness , but glue/spray adhesive should be fine too; as long as it doesn’t soak the felt too much or seep out onto the leather around the edges
Add your needles and stand back and admire!
I really am a little in love with the neatness and simplicity of this shape…
The absence of any visible closures adds to the clean lines 🙂
The pattern is available, free to download, here and conveniently prints onto just one sheet of A4. I’d love to hear from you if you make one so do let me know in the comments, or tag me @portialawrie over on Instagram so I can see!
Enjoy your new “luxe” needle wrap!!
What a sweet needle holder. I do love the leather one, but I tend to be a bit too practical sometimes. …and will probably just find a piece of pre-quilted fabric or possibly even fleece to use. I can see this working also. My fabric rendition would probably require a bit more work (to finish the edges etc…). We shall see, I may score some leather. Thank you for the pattern. I will have to download it to my computer.
Thank you!
You guys are so awesome. Thank you!
Pretty cool needle holder. Testing the comments section for you to see if this works.
You guys are so awesome. Thank you!
I love this idea, and it looks so neat too. Thanks for these thorough instructions!
You guys are so awesome. Thank you!
Fabulous
You’re biased, ha ha!
Test. Plus I love this needle case.
You guys are so awesome. Thank you!
Testing testing 1 2 3…
You guys are so awesome. Thank you!
Hi Portia, leaving this as a test comment. Hope you get/have got everything sorted
Thanks Tamsin 🙂 Getting there!
I hope your web troubles are over soon
Thanks lovely 🙂
Just checking in as requested. Love the simplicity of this project and thanks for the tip – I went out and bought one today, and it works very well.
Please keep on inspiring us with your blogs and Instagram postings.
Thank you!
Thank you so much Carol. Really appreciate it. 🙂
This is fabulous! I have a hide of blue leather for a gift project, I might have to squeeze one of these out the scraps!
Ooooh, sounds lush! (Thank you Natalie 😉 )
Leaving you a test comment in response to your Instagram request – all seems fine on my android phone! x
Thank you Wendy 🙂 You rock. 🙂
testing testing . 1 2 3 4 can your hear me at the back of the room?
this looks like a very bizzare comment
x
Ha ha! Yep, I spotted you right away!
Testing, testing!
Rebecca, you’re a star. Thank you 😊
Very nifty and particularly impressive to have that “invisible” closure.
Thanks Felicity 😊
Testing from Germany on android phone, so far everything is fine! And the needle case looks great 😃
Eva, thank you so much!
Testing but also admiring your work 😄
Thank you Aida 😊
Testing your security!
Thank you Jackie! Superstar!
Fab idea!
Testing!
Thanks Cara! 😊
Test comment. No problems so far. Now that I’m here I will add you to Feedly.
Sarah in California
Ah! Thank you Sarah 😊
I plan on making this as its so cute, but could you please explain how you glue the felt in, just around the edges or completely down. If completely down how do the needles go into the glued felt thanks
Hi Lesta. So if you’re using glue I would paint it on the back of the felt, and yes, all across the back of it and up to the edges. As long as you don’t oversoak the felt, then the top layer (ie where the needles go), will remain unaffected and still enable you to put the needles in. Hope this helps! Love to see a pic once you’ve made it! Px
Awesome idea, will give it a go. Thanks for posting.
I made this needle case. I used fabric on top of ultrasuede. I cut the fabric about a 1/4″ (6-7 mm) larger than the pattern. I used steam-a-seam strips around the fabric edges, turned the edges over the suede and ironed them down for nice, neat edges. I added an extra piece of wool felt to the center glued on 1 edge – basically giving me 2 ‘pages’ for needle storage (I have a lot of needles). To accommodate the extra thickness, I lengthened the strap.
Quick, cute and functional. I really love this pattern and I’m thrilled to finally have a solution to my needle storage problem. Thank you sew much for making it available to us!
Ah!!! Yay! You’re welcome Diana! Will you send me a picture??? Love to see it!
I will send you a couple of pictures later today to your email address since I don’t do Instagram. Whenever I post pictures or show this off to my sewing guild, I make sure your website is linked. I have a feeling my sewing group will want to make this.
Ooooh, lovely! Will look forward to seeing it!! Thank you!!
Wow. What a great idea! I will be trying very soon.
Awesome! Be sure to send me a pic!