Updated December 31, 2021.
Do you needlepoint someplace other than your favorite place at home?
Even if you move your stitching from room to room you may need to carry along some tools. For me, figuring out how to do this is a problem. I do one thing for a while, then I get frustrated and try something else.
You may try one or more of these ideas. Many of the products I discuss are inexpensive. if one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to be better organiuzed, this is a perfect place to start!
The simplest solution is to put your tools in your project bag. I like project bags that are reinforced or very thick plastic. I have many from loads of different companies. Alice Peterson, I think, is making great canvas bags with snarky stitching-related quotes on them. Add a small pair of scissors to it and put an extra needle on your needle minder.
Fabric Tool Caddies can range from the elegant ones from Atenti to ones in various sizes made for scrapbooking. They always have pockets as well as one or more bins to hold larger items. My friend Pat carries hers to our guild meeting and it has everything she might need, down to band-aids and a nail file.
The Handy Caddy (reviewed here) is similar but made from plastic. You could also look for caddies made for knitters sewers or other kinds of crafters. I keep looking longingly at the beautiful knitting bags I see.
A common characteristic of these caddies is that they sit flat on a table, floor or work surface.
Cosmetic Bags are another type of small bag that comes in many sizes shapes and styles. Many stitchers love the roomy and plastic-lined ones from Elizabeth Bradley. Others like whimsical Japanese pencil cases. Currently I’m using the one pictured here from Out of Print. The fabric is the cover from the edition of Little Women I had as a child. It’s small enough to fit in most of my project bags but can hold needles sorted by size in three containers, two pairs of scissors, an extra needle minder, my portable ORT box, and lots more.
Last but not least, consider a decorative tin or even a cigar box. You can line them, embellish them, and outfit them to make a great gift.
How do you carry your tools?
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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