My Needle Crafts: Knitting Carrier / Roll ... a tutorial!

At Christmas I had made my boss a knitting needle roll to store her knitting needles. I bought one for myself quite a few years ago from an Ebay seller and I just love it. My boss started knitting about a year ago and I've been sort of mentoring her along with some new projects. I thought the roll would be a great gift for her as she starts her needle collection :)

This is the needle roll I purchased some years ago

About a month ago she started a knitting social at the store on Thursday mornings. It's nice to sit with other knitters and enjoy a cuppa tea and some biscuts and talk about and share our lastest projects. I, of course, am always working on some tiny doll sweater LOL! They can't get over how small the work is :)

One of the ladies that attends had commented on the needle roll I made and asked me at a later private moment if I would be able to make her something similar to keep her project in, that she could take with her out and about. She wanted it designed similar to the roll where as it can be tied. I had the perfect idea. She picked out some fabric (she likes bright bold prints) and I told her I would have it for her at our next social.

Here it is:

If you'd like to make your own, this is how I did it...

Materials needed:

Pre-washed cotton or a medium weight fabric of your choice - 16 "x 45" (or width of fabric)
Two 30" lengths of satin backed satin ribbon
Light or Medium weight fusible Interfacing - half the size of your fabric, about 16"x 23"
MatchingThread

I start by folding my fabric in half with right sides together (RST) and selvage edges together.

Now lay your fusible interfacing on the fabric and cut it to the same size.

Now iron and fuse it in place (make sure to follow the manufacturer's directions).

Now pin the two raw edged sides and sew. Be sure to reverse stitch at each end to lock your stitching.

Here I have both sides sewn.

Once you have sewn both sides make sure to clip the corners at the folded edge.

Now we need to do the top edge. Get out your ruler and measure 4" in from the seams and place a pin through one layer of fabric to mark the spot. You can also use dressmaker's chalk or pencil.

Next, get out your two lengths of ribbon. Fold them in half and iron to keep the crease.

Place them in between the two layers of fabric at your markers so that just the folded edge peeks out. Pin in place.

Now sew in from either side edge to about an inch or so past the ribbon. I doubled back over the ribbon to give it more strength. Remember to lock your stitching at both ends.

Now your end should be sewn with an opening in the middle.

Now clip the last two corners.

This is how it should look now. Ribbons sewn in place, both corners clipped, and the center left open.

Now you can reach in the opening and turn you piece outside right. Get you finger right into the corners from the inside to square them up.

Next you need to iron it so that the seams are right at the edge. I find it easier to get the seam right to the edge by first flattening them out...like so.

I do this on all four sides first and then flatten it back out. Don't worry if you crease the rest of the fabric because you will iron them out once it is flat again.

Once you have all the sides and corners ironed so your work is flat again, the opening at the top should already fold itself in and you can iron it so that it isn't noticeable along the edge.

Once you are finished ironing, you can lay out the piece and fold the bottom end up so that the bottom edge is in the center...about 7" from the bottom.

Measure and pin the sides together. Make sure they are the same distance from the bottom so that the pocket doesn't pucker.

Also place a couple of pins at the top opening to hold it in place.

Now you will top stitch around three sides of the roll. Start at the bottom corner and make your way around, close to the edge (1/4" at most). I back stitch at the top of the pocket on both sides to give it a little more strength.