This little needle case is a stitcher's project from start to finish: instead of appliqué, the whole design is hand embroidered straight onto soft wool. A perky bird perches on a steaming teacup, both worked in dense rows of seed stitches, French knots, and woven roses using a range of Eleganza Perle cotton weights. The cover is a sunny lime wool bound in a blue polka-dot cotton, and the finished case folds shut to 4 by 6 inches with wool pages inside to keep hand needles sorted.

What the Pattern Includes

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

The pattern shows the bird-and-teacup design at full size with a stitch placement diagram, along with complete instructions for assembling the needle case. It does not include the embroidery stitch instructions themselves: Sue's Creative Stitching Second Edition (sold separately) teaches those stitches and is needed to work the design.

What You'll Need

This is a small, thread-forward project. The supply list calls for hand-dyed wool for the cover and the two inner pages, a fun cotton print for the lining, cotton batting, a blue polka-dot cotton for the binding, and a length of ribbon for the spine. The stitching uses Efina cotton thread for the finer outlines and a range of Eleganza Perle cotton in #8, #5, and #3 weights for the embroidery and embellishment. Optional extras include printed cotton needle labels and a Needle Nanny. The complete list with exact sizes and thread colors is printed on the pattern, and Creative Stitching (sold separately) supplies the stitch how-to.

Perfect For

• Hand-embroidery lovers who want a small, stitch-rich project with no appliqué
• Stitchers building skills with seed stitches, French knots, and woven roses
• Anyone who wants their hand needles kept between soft wool pages
• Owners of Creative Stitching looking for a focused way to practice a range of stitches
• A handmade gift for an embroidery or tea-loving friend

Why You'll Love This Pattern

For anyone who loves the embroidery part of Sue Spargo's work more than the cutting and fusing, this one is a treat. There is no appliqué to prep; the bird and teacup are worked directly on the wool and brought to life entirely with thread. That makes it a fast way to get to the fun stuff and a low-pressure place to try stitches that might feel daunting on a full quilt.

The design packs a real range of texture into a small space: outlined shapes, seed-stitch fill, French knots, and little woven roses on the teacup, worked in several weights of perle cotton so the surface stays lively. Because it is folk art, exact placement matters less than rhythm, so it stays relaxing rather than fussy.

The finished case folds shut like a small book and keeps hand needles tucked into its wool pages, which grip a needle far better than a pincushion edge. It is the kind of make that comes together over an evening or two of stitching and then earns a permanent spot in the sewing basket.

Product Details

• Brand: Sue Spargo Folk Art Quilts
• Item #: SS919
• Designer: Sue Spargo
• Category: Sewing Pattern
• Skill Level: Advanced beginner and up (no appliqué; comfortable with hand embroidery and willing to try a range of stitches)
• Technique: Hand Embroidery, Embellishment, Sewing
• Finished Size (closed): 4in x 6in
• Requires: Creative Stitching Second Edition for the embroidery stitch instructions (sold separately)
• Format: Printed Paper Pattern
• Made in the United States