DOUBLE POINTED KNITTING NEEDLE HOLDER

DP Needle Holder is a handy way to store your double point needles.
Materials: 1” wide decorative ribbon, ¾” wide elastic (I prefer black), iron on mending tape any size will do.
Directions: Cut two pieces of ribbon wide enough to cover tips of needles about 2 ¼”. Cut elastic 5 ½” long, cut two pieces of iron on tape the same size as the ribbon. Lay ribbon face down place elastic on top of ribbon centered half way up, lay iron on tape on top press with hot dry iron. Do the same with the opposite end. Fold ribbon in half and whip stitch seems on top and side. Leave bottom open for the needles. NOTE: typically dp needles are 7” long. If you have any that are longer or shorter cut the elastic about 1 to 1 ½” shorter than the needle.

WOOD MADE CROCHET CADDY

A basic wood craft project that creates a very usable crochet caddy.
Materials:
1 piece of 1"x 10"pine 3ft. long
1 wood dowel 3/4" x 8"
1 piece of 1/4" MDF or Plywood about 12" x 12"

8 wallboard screw nails 1" long1 brass cabinet knob

Wood stain, wood glue, and clear lacquer finish
Tools:
Table saw, router & bits, drill & bits, clamps, screw driver
Steps:
1. Cut sides, top, bottom, back, and uprights for the caddy as shown in the drawing below.
2. Sand all pieces and assemble caddy by attaching the uprights to the top with glue and 4 wallboard screws, glue and clamp sides to top, bottom and back to form main body of caddy with the front open for the drawer as on drawing.
3. Cut 4 feet as on drawing and sand then glue and screw to the 4 corners of the bottom of caddy. 4. Sand assembly and stain to desired taste(Photo shows a pecan stain), apply several coats of lacquer.
5. Cut drawer front and router 3/8" by 3/8" notch all the way around one side of front. router an additional 1/4" wide by 3/8" deep section from both sides and bottom edge of drawer front(allows for sides and bottom to lap onto front).
6. On the opposite side of front piece router a decorative edge(this will be the out side face of the drawer).
7. Cut the sides, back and bottom of drawer from 1/4" material. Router the 1/8" deep by 1/4" wide notches from sides and back as on drawing.
8. Sand pieces and glue and clamp all pieces together to form the drawer as on drawing. When sides, back and front are together correctly there should be a space for the bottom to fit into.
9. Apply stain and finish to the face of the drawer front.
10. Drill a hole in the center of drawer front and attach knob.
Note: I originally saw one of these caddies for sale in Crochet Digest 1995 Winter issue.

CRAFT TOOLS CADDY TURNTABLE

Organize your crafting tools with this handy tool caddy with turntable.
Materials:
1 Rubbermaid Twin Turntable(Walmart)see photo below
1 decorative hook
1' of 1" wood dowel
1.5 sq. ft. of 1/4" MDF finished white on 1 side
2 screw dowels 3/16"
1 #8 x 1" round head screw
Black paint and wood glue
Tools:
Saber saw(band saw), drill & bits, screw driver, and compass for drawing circles
Steps:
1. Layout all the circles and hole pattern as shown on drawing below.
2. Cut all circles and drill required hole as on drawing, sand until smooth.
3. Cut 1" dowel into lengths shown and drill required pilot holes.
4. Sand and paint dowels as desired.
5. Use the bottom section of the twin turntable(our next post has a use for top half) and find the center, drill pilot hole.
6. Assemble pieces starting with #8 x 1" screw through the bottom of turntable into longest 1" dowel, screw 3/16" screw dowel into opposite end of dowel, place largest circle over screw dowel(wood glue can be used on each joint), screw next longest wood dowel onto screw dowel, thread other screw dowel into opposite end, place next largest circle over screw dowel, thread last wood dowel onto 2nd screw dowel, place last circle over end of wood dowel and screw decorative hook through circle into wood dowel(drawing shows order of wood dowels, screw dowels, and hook).
7. Assembly should look like photo above, and your new craft tool caddy with turntable is ready to go.

NECKLACE NEEDLE HOLDER

Make your own needle holder with your own pictures or designs. Great for those doing embroidery and cross stitch.

Materials:

2 pieces of magnet cut or punched in heart shape(old magnet business cards work)

1 picture or design cut or punched in heart shape

1 piece of card stock in heart shape(color to match picture)

2 jump rings 5/16" diameter(like a small key ring)

1 chain or decorative cord

Double Stick Tape(not required if peel and stick magnet material is used)

Tools

Heart Shape Punch, Scissors, 1/16" Hole Punch, and Needle Nose Pliers

Steps:

1. Cut 2 heart shape magnets using punch or scissors.

2. Cut or punch heart shape with a picture or design you like(works best if on card stock).

3. Cut or punch heart shaped piece of color coordinated card stock.

4. Attach the picture and card stock hearts to the 2 magnet hearts(glue,tape, or peel & stick)

5. Laminate the 2 card stock surfaces with clear packing tape and trim excess tape.

6. Lay the front picture heart assembly on top of the card stock heart assembly with magnets face to face.

7. Using hole punch 1/16" or larger, punch 2 hole in the 2 facing heart assemblies as in the photo.

8. Using pliers insert the 2 jump rings into the 2 punched holes joining the assemblies together.

9. Thread a chain or decorative cord through the 2 jump rings as in photo.

10. Now you have a heart shape needle holder you wear like a necklace, that flips open to hold needles as in photo.

PIN NEEDLE HOLDER

I gave one of the necklace needle holders to a friend and she had problems with it getting tangled with her glasses that she hangs around her neck. So I made her a new needle holder as a lapel pin. Use the same materials as above with these additions.

Materials:

1 decorative button to make the pin, IE the fan & purse in photos.

1 jewelery pin

1 piece of decorative cord

Supper Glue or Hot glue

Steps:

1. Follow steps 1 - 8 from necklace needle holder.

2. Thread decorative cord through the jump rings on the completed heart assembly.

3. Thread the 2 ends of the cord through the holes in the flat part of jewelery pin, one end of cord through opposite hole in pin.

4. Tie the 2 ends of the cord together and flatten down.

5. Clip off the shaft button hole and sand the back .

6. Glue button to the jewelery pin as in the photos.

7. Pin to your blouse etc.

BOTTLE CAP PIN CUSHION

Bottle Cap Pin Cushion

Materials & Tools
Bottle cap
Thread & needle
Hot glue gun
Pre made yoyo or
Round piece of scrap material
3” piece of elastic
Stuffing
Drill with sm. Bit.

1. Drill two small holes in top of bottle cap,
this will be the bottom when you are done.
2. Thread the elastic through the holes and tie
a knot inside the cap after measuring your
Finger to make sure it is a snug fit. Pull the elastic so
it fits snug in the cap.
3. Stuff the yoyo or thread a needle and baste
stitch around a round piece of material, then stuff
with batting (some people use saw dust if they have
it). Tighten and secure thread.
4. Glue bottom of the cushion inside the bottom of
the cap.
5. A piece of decorative trim glued around the cap
makes for a niece finish. I left this one pink for a reason.

You could glue the elastic to the sides of the cap
But I find the holes work much better.

There is another finger pin cushion pattern on another site.
Dontlooknow.typepad.com

CROCHET HOOK & SCISSOR HOLDER

This item is one I find handy when I am crocheting. I came up with the idea and my husband made one for me in his shop. The design is very simple and can be made with a hand saw and a cordless drill. The pictures are self explanitor, but all you need for materials is a piece of wood 1 1/2" x 1 7/8" x 5 1/2" . Drill a 1/2" hole and four 3/16" hole in one end in pattern shown in the attached drawing. Cut the opposite end off at a 45 degree angle and glue the small piece to the short side of the main piece as shown. Sand the resulting glued piece and paint or finish. Glue a magnetic strip to the front of the smaller section(this makes a handy place to keep a sewing needle), stick four felt pads on the bottom and start using your new holder.

FLOSS ORGANIZER

Back a few yrs. ago while doing my cross stitch I hated the little floss holders. They would have folds in the floss where it wrapped around the cardboard. If I left the floss loose they would get tangled so I needed something that fit my way of doing things. That is when this floss holder/organizer came to be.
There are benefits with this organizer that you don’t have with spools, boxes, pockets, or cardboard holders. These sheets hold 11 skeins of floss. You need not rewind the floss. Simply hook each end of the skein as is on the tabs tuck the tabs in it is secured. Floss can be stored with or without the name and # labels. I find working without the labels is easier. I simply write the floss # about the floss in pencil. Lengths of floss can be removed without removing the floss from the organizer sheet. When you take off a length of floss you simply place it in the hole provided below the floss. By placing the sheets in a zippered notebook you can effectively organize all DMC floss colors in two to three notebooks. This makes them dust free, fade free from exposure to light, and able to see at a glance, the floss, its number and when new skeins are needed.
I have all my floss in two notebooks which not only serves as my organizers but my work space as well. When I am finished I only have to zip up the book and put it back on the shelf.
To make it into a travel size you simply cut one sheet in half punch holes in the side and place them into a small notebook.
I have had my books for over ten yrs. I’ve replaced a few pages in that time but must say it has been one of my better craft ideas.
I sent the idea to DMC back in 2001, they weren’t interested.

The pages can be made from card stock or Mylar plastic stencil sheets bought at most hobby shops. If you copy the design sheet make sure to have a finished sheet that measures 8 ½” x 11”. You can then punch holes in areas provided and cut tabs with an Exacto knif. When you print this pattern it will print about 10% smaller than the original.

Sheet Pattern