Strawberry Needlecase Tutorial

This little needlecase is simple to stitch. You could make it up in any number of fabrics and with a variety of appliques on the front of the needlecase. Here's what you'll need to make one like you see in the photo above........

Cut two pieces of fabric 4-1/2" x 6-1/2"
Cut one yellow woolfelt piece 2-1/4" x 3"
Cut one green woolfelt piece 2-3/4" x 3-1/2"
Iron-on strawberry applique
Green Perle cotton thread and needle
Red thread and needle
Batting scrap that measures at least 4-1/2" x 6-1/2"
Quilt Basting Spray and Lapel Stick or Glue stick
Sharp scissors
Scrap of note paper and a marking pen
Small rule

Now you're ready to begin.........

Spray some quilt batting spray on your piece of batting and then position one of the 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" fabric pieces.
Next step is to make the oval for the front half of your needlecase. Cut a piece of paper 2-1/4" x 3". Fold it in half, then in half again. Draw an arc shape on the folded paper piece as shown in the photo below. Trim along arc, unfold pattern and pin to the piece of yellow woolfelt. Then cut oval from the yellow woolfelt.

Use your Lapel stick or glue stick to position the oval to the right half of the 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" fabric piece.

Thread your needle with a length of green Perle cotton and sew a running stitch all around the edge of the oval as shown in the photo above.

Take the second 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" fabric piece and place it face down on the piece with the oval. Pin these two pieces together. I wanted rounded corners so I used the corner of the applique card as a template. A credit card will work, too. :-) Mark the corners with a pen.

Trim the corners along the pen line and then head to your sewing machine. Stitch all the way around the needlecase with a 1/4" seam. Don't worry about leaving an opening for turning this inside-out. You will create your opening the next steps.
Once you have sewn all the way around the needlecase pieces, you will mark an opening. With batting side down, you will mark 3/4" from the top as shown in the photo below..........

Then mark 3/4" in from the left side as shown above and then make a straight line from this point that is 1-3/4" long.

I used a bag clip to bunch up and separate the fabric so that I could cut along that marked line. This is your opening for turning the needlecase "inside-out".

To make the corners less bulky, I snipped them with sharp scissors. You could also use pinking sheers.
To turn needlecase "inside-out", insert your thumb into one corner and then push it out through the opening. This is hard to describe. Please refer to the photos below. :-)

To make the corners smooth, I use my "Purple Thang" tool. I would not be without this little tool. If you would like one, too, just go here.

Next, press the needlecase.
Then turn it over and rub a bit of glue on each side of the opening you cut.

With needle and red thread, stitch the opening closed. This will be covered up with the green woolfelt that will hold your needles.
Time to apply the strawberry applique. I bought mine at Hancock Fabrics in Mankato. I checked on-line and they don't seem to have this one but I found a couple similar ones
here and here. Place a scrap of fabric over the applique as you iron it. Note: You could also cut strawberry shapes from wool or woolfelt or fussy-cut strawberries you might find in a cotton print fabric.

Now the outside of your needlecase is finished.
To press a crease in the needlecase, I folded it in half, then placed my small ruler inside and pressed with my iron.

The final step is to stitch the green woolfelt piece in place. Note that I rounded the bottom corners on the woolfelt piece but not the top. I pinned the piece along the top and then used a blanket stitch to sew it to the needlecase. And that's all there is to it! Your needlecase is finished!

Now you will have a matching set.....a pincushion and a needlecase just right for strawberry season!
Would you like to know who won the kit from the Strawberry pincushion tutorial? It's Deserae !!! I've sent her an e-mail and will get the kit in the mail to her on Monday. Now, Deserae wasn't the first winner. The first name I drew had no way to contact her. She had a profile, but no blog and no e-mail link. I'm going to tell you about another giveaway in just a minute but first, here's the info you need to add an e-mail link to your profile so that when you enter a giveaway you can be contacted when you win!

First, go to your blog and sign in.
Then click on "View my profile" on your blog.
On your profile page, click "Edit profile".
The "Edit Profile" page will come up and you want to scroll down to "Identity"
Enter your e-mail address where indicated, then scroll down and click "Save Profile".
Now go check your profile and your e-mail link should appear. This will allow readers to send you a private message and if you comment on other blogs and/or giveaways, those bloggers will be able to contact you.

So, I mentioned another giveaway and here it is..........

That's right. The pincushion and needlecase set that is shown in the photo above is going off to one of you that adds a comment to this post. How to enter.........

Leave a comment and tell me something about strawberries or a memory of summer food fun. You must mention strawberries or any other summer food. Include your e-mail if you are not a blogger or blog in another format. If there is no way to contact you, your name and comment will not be entered in the drawing. You have from now until Tuesday June 7th at 7:00 p.m. to get your name in the drawing. And if you stop by tomorrow, Sunday, June 5th there is going to be a really fun giveaway and then another one on Tuesday. I just want to make sure I celebrate my blog anniversary and show my appreciation to all of you that keep me blogging. :-)

Have a great day!

Sandi

Edit:  The winner is..........Marcia/Mommarock who shared this strawberry memory..........
This is REALLY cute!  you are so talented.  I planted strawberries this year in my garden.. Bummer.. nothing grew.. I won't stop trying though.. maybe next year.  I love strawberries :)  Congratulations!!!!