Last week when I launched these lovely turned wood needlework tools, I mentioned the use of the needle “tube” key chain for help with thread organization.
Today, I’ll show you what I mean…
I’m test stitching a kit from another designer. It’s just a little cross stitch kit, good for beginners and beyond, and especially for those who want something easily portable, small, relatively quick, that results in something useful (in this case, bookmarks).
I’ve been thinking about carrying these types of little kits in the shop, because, even though we don’t do a lot of cross stitch, it’s a popular pastime that lots of folks love. Since I don’t have time at the moment to design our own cross stitch kits, I’ve toyed with the idea of bringing some other ones in. (Still toying with the idea.)
But before I ever stock anything in the shop here on Needle ‘n Thread, I try it out!
Lately, since I’ve had a lot of time at home with dad-care, it has worked out well to have small portable projects with me. I could kill two proverbial birds with this kit – trying it out for possible stock in the shop, and having something useful to do that’s quick to take out and put away, while dad-sitting.
You can see the turned wood tube key chain in the first photo. Inside it, I have a few needles tucked away for this little project. And the ring holds all the threads I’m using, each color on its own thread drop. It’s so handy!
All of it tucks up nicely into a little pouch.
A gorgeous little pouch, by the way! The fabric on the outside of this lovely zipper case was hand-woven (thank you, Lori!). Isn’t it stunning? It’s become my new favorite accessory!
(I’m admittedly a bag lady at heart – I do love a good pouch, tote, or bag!)
The whole project and the pouch are small enough that they pack right up and take up no notable space at all. It’s easy to take out the project – threads organized, needle at hand – and pack it up quickly.
So that’s how I use these lovely turned wood key rings.
All the tools sold out pretty quickly, but I’m working on arrangements for more. If all goes well, I’ll be restocking them!
Happy Monday!
I love these needle cases and wouldn’t have thought to use the ring in this way. Thanks again Mary for sharing your inspiration with us
Oh, that’s gotta be one of Krista West’s designs! Her color palette is instantly recognizable. ☺️
I’ve done some of her designs and they’re always fantastic.
Yes, it is! LOL! Should I stock them?
I think the small ones would be great to stock for beginners. I find her Greek traditional ground cloth to be extremely easy to stitch on.
One problem I’ve had with some of her larger kits (and it recently came up in a Facebook thread with lots of people sharing the same experience, so it’s not just me) is that sometimes the fabric included in the kits is cut an inch or two smaller than it’s supposed to be. I’ve had to modify designs to fit. (Pretty easy with the repeating geometric ones, but probably daunting for new stitchers and certainly off-putting for anyone.)
Eeek – that can be a real problem, if the finishing technique suggested is a hem, as I see that many of them are. I do have a few kits of one particular piece on order, but I will make sure to measure the fabric cut before stocking them. Thanks for the heads up on that!
Hello from New Zealand! Goodness finding you Mary has really made me smile!
Looking forward to getting a good read around
Needle n thread
Regards Gilly
Welcome aboard, Gilly, and glad to have you here! I’m happy you’re enjoying Needle ‘n Thread!
I love folk embroidery, but cross stitching just makes me crossed-eyed. I don’t find it relaxing at all. My go-to portable project is huck embroidery. I get the toweling pre-cut but unhemmed from the Monk’s Cloth Lady. It’s repetative and requires little consentration because the fabric doesn’t get pierced by the bodkin. Makes for relaxing and mostly error-free work. And bonus, it’s cheap and pretty.