A needle roll is one of those small projects that earns its place on the sewing table. Roll it out and every hand-sewing needle sits in its labeled spot; roll it back up and an elastic loop slips over a toggle button to keep the whole thing tidy. It finishes at 6 by 15-1/2 inches: a printed canvas exterior bound in cotton, wrapped around a wool interior where a simple wool appliqué motif and a little hand embroidery add Sue Spargo's folk art character. The cover sample shows a coral bird print with turquoise binding, though the outer fabric is yours to choose. It is a fast make with a genuine purpose, and a satisfying way to practice wool appliqué and a few embellishment stitches on a piece you will enjoy using.

What the Pattern Includes

This listing is for the printed paper pattern only. Wool, fabric, batting, thread, needle labels, and notions are not included.

The pattern provides full construction instructions, templates, and stitch placement diagrams for the wool appliqué and the needle roll assembly. It does not include the embroidery stitch instructions: Sue's Creative Stitching reference book (sold separately) teaches those stitches and is needed for the embellishment.

What You'll Need

Because it is a small project, it calls for only modest amounts of each material. The supply list covers a printed canvas or cotton for the outer cover (your choice of fabric), cotton for the binding, hand-dyed wool for the background and the appliqué, cotton batting, a length of ribbon, an elastic closure and a toggle button, and printed needle labels for the inside. The stitching uses Ellana wool and Efina cotton threads for the appliqué, with #8 Eleganza Perle cotton for the embellishment. The complete list with exact sizes is printed on the pattern, and Creative Stitching (sold separately) supplies the stitch how-to.

Perfect For

• Hand-sewing and wool-appliqué fans who want a small, finishable project
• Anyone who wants their hand needles sorted and labeled in one place
• A quick handmade gift for a stitching friend
• Owners of Creative Stitching looking for a weekend make to use it on
• Folk art lovers who enjoy adding embellishment stitches by hand

Why You'll Love This Pattern

The appeal here is the payoff for the effort. A needle roll is small enough to finish in a sitting or two, but it solves a real and recurring annoyance: loose needles wandering around a project bag. The wool appliqué is kept simple and the embroidery is light, so most of the character comes from the fabric and a few well-placed stitches rather than from fussy construction.

It also makes an approachable entry point into wool appliqué. The shapes are few and forgiving, the piece is flat and easy to handle, and there is no quilt-sized commitment before the technique clicks. For anyone who already owns Creative Stitching, it is a chance to put a couple of those stitches to work on something quick. For anyone with a wool scrap bag, it uses pieces small enough that the stash finally earns its keep.

Once it is done, it travels well. Roll it up, loop the cord over the button, and the needles stay put in the bottom of a bag or a sewing basket. It is the kind of handmade tool that gets used constantly and quietly shows off a little hand stitching every time it comes out.

Product Details

• Brand: Sue Spargo Folk Art Quilts
• Item #: SS893
• Designer: Sue Spargo
• Category: Sewing Pattern
• Skill Level: Advanced beginner and up (comfortable with simple hand appliqué and basic hand embroidery; the construction is straightforward)
• Technique: Wool Appliqué, Hand Embroidery, Sewing
• Finished Size: 6in x 15-1/2in
• Requires: Creative Stitching reference book for the embroidery stitch instructions (sold separately)
• Format: Printed Paper Pattern
• Made in the United States