Crumb quilting makes a spectacular needle case!

Yesterday I showed you how to finish the Snowman cushion and make a cushion form stuffed with Fairfield Poly-fil premium fiber fill.

Whenever I’m working on a design using fusible web, I always have lots of scraps leftover that already have HeatnBond fusible web on the back. In February 2020, I did a series of QUILTsocial blog posts about Crumb Quilting using scraps of fabric leftover from pieced quilts. I thought a variation of this same technique would work with scraps that already have fusible backing on them. I recently made this wall quilt with fusible pieces cut with my Brother Scan N Cut machine, so I had lots of pieces to play with.

Wall quilt with fusible applique shapes

Here’s a quick and easy needle case I made and was able to use up some scraps at the same time!

Needle case with fusible scraps

Here’s what you’ll need:

HeatnBond fusible fleece

  • (1) 4½” x 8½” piece of fabric for the inside of needle case
  • (1) 3½” x 6½” and (1) 3½” x 7″ piece of wool or felt. I used the Olfa wave blade in my Komfort Kut rotary cutter for a decorative edge.

Rotary cutter with wave blade

Fusible fabric crumbs (scraps)

  • 1 button
  • 14″ piece of cord or ribbon

Let’s get started!

Arrange your scraps on the 4½” x 8½” fusible fleece. You can use your scraps just as they are or trim them to a specific shape. When you’re happy with your arrangement, press the fabrics to the fusible fleece following the manufacturer’s instructions. Trim off excess fabric as needed.

Fusible fabrics are pressed onto fusible fleece

Press the 4½” x 8½” inside fabric to the other side of the fusible fleece.

Using Sulky variegated thread in the colors of your choice and a SCHMETZ non-stick needle, stitch along the raw edges of the fabric. The non-stick needle, with a non-stick coating, is specially designed to prevent skipped stitches and will help you sew through thick fabrics as well as regular weight cottons. You can use a straight stitch as I did or try out some of the decorative stitches on your machine. If you have an open-toe foot for your machine, this is a good time to use it so you can see exactly where to stitch.

Ready to stitch with SCHMETZ nonstick needles and Sulky variegated thread

Stitch with Sulky variegated thread

When the stitching is finished, square-up the piece so it measures 4″ x 8″.

Stitch all around the outside edges. I used a zigzag stitch, but you can use one of the other decorative stitches on your machine if you like.

Zigag finish the edges

Layer the 2 pieces of felt or wool, with the smaller one on top.

Center them on the inside of the needle case.

Stitch down the center through all layers with a straight stitch to join everything together.

Stitch the wool or felt in place

Sew 2 or 3 decorative buttons on the front, making sure one of them is in the center. This is a good chance to try the button sewing foot on your machine!

Wind the cord around the button and tie to secure.

Now you’ll be able to close and secure your needle case by winding the cord around the back of the needle case and around the button again.

Finished needle case

Please come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how to make a different style needle case, again using leftover fusible scraps!

This is part 3 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 2: A holiday cushion finished in a flash!

Go to part 4: 5 top notions stitch up a crumb quilted needle case

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