The Trouble with Traveling Circs...

It's just a ball of yarn and one sock, in progress with 2  24" circulars.  How can that get into sooooo much trouble?!

I place everything carefully into my purse, one whole side of which I reserve for this use, like a built-in project bag, so I can pick it up during kid's hockey practice or whatever.  Like ya do...

What on earth is going on in there, I do not understand but it is mayhem!  You have all the needles neatly in your hand, place them in the bag but somehow, they just go crazy!  I was constantly getting stabbed, having a tangled mess, or not noticing one needle got loose and woe to anyone who was behind me in line at the grocery store!  

                          

So, I came up with this solution

A small sleeve, easy to make, works perfectly!

If you drop it, it still stays on...

And sanity is restored!

I have made a bunch of them and find that the same sleeve works for any size needles or cable...

Here is the same type thing on my Denise needles with the big fat cable:

It is such a pleasure to now reach into my project bag and find more friendly, squishy, tidy, goodness!  No more stabs or tangles!

Here's how to make one:

Main fabric:  2.5"  x  15"  (cut 1)

Lining fabric:  2.5"  x  8"  (cut 2)

Fusible interfacing:  2.25"  x  7.5"  (cut 2)

Small loop:  1.25"  x  4.5"  (cut 1)

Velcro:  .75"  x  scant 2.25"

NOTE:

Regarding the Velcro, or whatever hook and loop tape you have at hand, it should be the fluffy kind for this project, not the really flat type, which is now available for jackets and such.  The fluffy one is more effective for surrounding and grabbing the cables inside the case.  Also, not the adhesive kind, can't sew through it without gumming up your sewing machine needle!

First,

center and press fusible interfacing pieces to wrong side of each lining piece according to the directions for your interfacing.  And while you're at the ironing board, press one end of each of the pieces up .25". That will make it easier for a later step which is the bottom hem for the lining.

Make your loop:

Stitch down both sides.

Press in half lengthwise.

Press edges into center.

Next, sew the Velcro pieces onto the right side of each of the lining pieces, centered and .75" away from the not pressed hem end. I like to use washable glue stick to baste the Velcro on, instead of pins.  Just a dab keeps it from wiggling around while you sew it.

You want all the edges of the Velcro firmly attached.  I use a zigzag stitch, right over all the edges.

And just tack the loop on to one end of the main fabric piece, within the .25" seam allowance, like an eighth of an inch or so.

Flip those lining pieces up over onto the main fabric, right sides together and sew both the ends with a .25" seam allowance

Press those seam allowances open.

Now, it should look like this!

 For this next part, it will be a bit easier if you just cover one side of the Velcro with some masking tape! I just discovered this trick today!  Make sure to keep it out of the .25" seam allowances though!  You don't want to sew through it.  Just cover the Velcro only.

Next, fold the right sides together, matching the seams and the lower folded end.

Like this:

Yikes!  This one is kind of blurry, sorry!

But at least you can see where you are meant to pin!

\

Sew both long edges with a .25" seam allowance.  Go slow over those matched center seams so they don't get shoved wonky.  Trim corners.

Ready to turn!  I find a hemostat works super great for this task!  

Reach it in, pinch the other end and pull it on out! 

Push out the corners, tidy it up, and give the main fabric a little press at the ironing board.

Then you can sew it shut at the lower end opening.

Now, again, the hemostat comes in handy to pinch the end and push the lining into the sleeve. You can also use a stick to do it just as easily. 

That tape is still doing a great job! The main thrill of the tape is that while you are getting this lining in, the Velcros are not grabbing each other and being annoying!

Once you have the lining all the way in,  remove the tape.  You could be done now, but I think it looks a bit nice to have the topstitching around the top edge.  You don't really have to do this step, and it is a bit fiddly, but here is how it is done, in case you would like to try it!

 Ta-Da!  Ready to go!

The Velcro holds the cables securely.  And the loop is handy, not only to hang the case and to hook your clippy stitch markers to, but also functions as a tab to more easily open the top when inserting the needles.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and have fun making lots of these handy needle cases for yourself and your friends!

You can make some to match your favorite project bags, omg it is so cute!

A quilted one is really nice also, by using light batting, 2.25" wide x 14.5" and quilting it to the main fabric, you can then omit the interfacing.

So, there you have it!

Please, if you have any questions, let me know!  Of course I am happy to clarify any step you haven't understood.

Please also, if you would like to share this, be sure to credit me with the invention by linking to this tutorial, and ask my permission before selling completed items.  This is a free pattern and not for resale.

Copyright 2016, Sarah K. Martin

Let's Knit!