Valentines Day is just around the corner. Today we wanted to share a quick tutorial on how to make these sweet little Valentines Matchbook Needle Holders. They make fun little gifts, and are perfectly sized for a travel sewing kit or to pop into your stitching kit. Made in under 10 minutes – you probably have most of the materials on hand in your sewing room!
The Valentines Matchbook Needle Holder are made from fabric and cardstock, and feature a heart motif embellishment on the outside. Inside you will find a piece of wool felt that can be used to store some pins and needles. They measure 2 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches.
If you would like to make your own, you will need:
- piece of cardstock measuring 2 3/4 x 7 inches
- scrap of fabric measuring 2 3/4 x 6 1/4
- double sided adhesive paper measuring 2 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches (also known as JAC paper)
- wool felt measuring 2 1/2 x 3 inches
- heart motif (or cut a heart from felt)
- stapler
- bone folder (optional)
- scalloped scissors or pinking shears (optional)
- fabric glue
Method:
- Peel off the backing paper for the adhesive paper, and adhere to the wrong side of the fabric. Smooth in place. Peel off the remaining paper backing and position the fabric on the piece of cardstock so that the edges are aligned along one short edge.
2. Using a bone folder or scoring tool, score a line that is 3/4 inch from end that is not covered in fabric. Score a line that is 3 inches from the remaining end. Refer to image below.
3. Trim one end of the wool felt using scalloped scissors. Insert into the needle holder as shown below, and secure with a staple. Adhere the heart motif to the front of the needle holder with a small amount of fabric glue.
I have previously made some small mini notebooks using the same method and paint chips. You can find them on this post from our archives (2008).
The Valentines Matchbook Needle Holder is made using fabric from the Old New 30’s Collection 2017 by Lecien fabrics (available in stores in March). If you are looking for the heart motifs, search on Etsy for heart lace applique and you will find some similar motifs. Alternatively use a felt or crocheted heart for the front of your Valentines Matchbook Needle Keeper.
You can find more of our Valentines projects here.
These are so lovely – thanks for the tutorial and info on where to find the crochet hearts.
Mary
What a fun idea. They’d make great stocking stuffers for crafters or part of a gift basket. I’ve been looking for a cute way to keep my favorite sewing needle attached to my sewing machine for quick grabs. Thank you for this tutorial.
You are so welcome! They would be perfect as stocking stuffers – must remember that! Lisa
So sweet and very useful! Thank you for the idea.
Thanks Ann for stopping by! They are a fun and quick little project and perfect for those scraps.
Lisa your presentation is always amazing. Love the little needle cases.
Thanks so much Jenny for your sweet message. Lisa
This is lovely. I keep re reading but cannot find where to buy the pins? Thank you.
Hi Annabel – thanks for your message. I bought the pins several years ago from Typo (I think they still stock them). They are pretty with their heart shape but I don’t actually use them for sewing as they are too thick and the point isn’t really sharp enough. They make lovely photo props though 🙂
Thank you! I found you can get them on eBay in vast numbers very cheaply. I have ordered some. To me they are the finishing touch! Thanks for replying.xx
I’ve purchased heart pins-needles at JoAnn’s Fabric Stores. 🙂
Thanks so much Monica for letting us know that they are available at JoAnn’s.
As always a idea and lovely fabric! ..and the wheels are in motions for other Valentine projects! Thanks for sharing with us. 🙂
Where did you purchase the scoring tool shown in your tutorial? I have the larger Scor-Pal, but this smaller one is perfect for sizing fabric strips, etc. And I think this needle holder would make an excellent favor to give at Christmas if you used Christmas fabric and a flat ornament–or even the heart, since hearts are universal.
Hi Carol – It is a Martha Stewart one that I bought from Michaels, around 2 years ago, when I was on holiday in the USA. Great idea to use them for Christmas favours.
We celebrate the New Year by having Chinese food with about 18+ friends on New Year’s day. We meet at a local Chinese restaurant and I mail out handmade invitations with the Zodiac sign of the coming year. I’ve always made some sort of usable favor for each couple as part of the celebration. So far, I’ve made bookmarks (3 years), mug rugs, sets of coasters, pocket tissue holders, and Christmas fabric folded ornaments. This needle holder case will be a nice addition to my favor/gift choices. I found the Martha Stewart scoring tool online! Many thanks!
This is such a sweet idea–I need to make myself some ASAP! 🙂
xx Hannah