MAKE of the month

Get buzzy and stitch up your bee needle case with our chart and guide below…

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 52 high x 35 wide Design size: 9.5 x 6.5cm (3¾ x 2½in) Stitch time: 5 hours Make a… bee needle case

Step 1

TAKE a 11.5 x 16.5cm (4½ 2 x 6½in) piece of 14 count white aida. Position your stitching on it to make into a needle case – first fold the aida fabric in half widthways to create the needle case cover. Press along the spine of the case to make a clear fold in the fabric. Unfold the aida, and leaving two blank squares between the spine and the stitching, centre your design between the top and bottom of the fabric to the right of the spine, to form the front of your case.

Step 2

COMPLETE the stitching, then fold the excess aida at the edges of the needle case, over onto the wrong side of the fabric – you should leave two squares of unstitched aida around the stitching, refolding the aida to check the turning at the back.

Step 3

CUT some yellow felt to the same size as the aida. On the wrong side of the aida, place a 56cm (22in) length of orange ric-rac braid around the edge of the needle case, so that it is just showing on the right side. When you come to your starting point, overlap the ric-rac ends and fold inwards – they will be hidden by the felt backing. On the wrong side, place the felt. Pin, then using matching thread and small, neat stitches, sew around the edge of the needle case, holding the layers together.