TRY A NEW TECHNIQUE WITH A LITTLE BEE MADE IN RAW EDGE APPLIQUÉ

CUTTING OUT

1

From the binding fabric cut:

■ Two (2) 2in x 5in strips.

■ Two (2) 2in x 20in strips.

2

From the vinyl cut:

■ Two (2) 2¾in x 5in pieces.

PIECING THE HONEYCOMB

3

Follow steps 3–5 of the pouch instructions to prepare the ½in hexagon templates and construct the honeycomb section. Sew the hexagons together as in Fig 5 and baste to the right hand side of the 8in x 5in background rectangle.

PIECING THE BEE

4

Trace the one Small Bee Head, one Body and two Wing templates onto the fusible web. Fuse these to your fabric scraps and cut out each shape. Iron in place on your background rectangle, referring to the photography for placement.

QUILTING THE NEEDLEBOOK

5

Lay the front panel on top of the batting and baste the layers together. Quilt around the edges of each hexagon and add detail to the bee using metallic gold thread and a single strand of embroidery floss.

MAKING POCKETS

6

Take a 2in x 5in strip of binding fabric and press in half lengthwise, WST. Open and then fold the two long sides to meet this centre crease and press. Fold in half lengthways again and press so that your strip measures ½in x 5in.

7

Insert one long edge of the vinyl between the folds of the binding strip and topstitch in place.

8

Repeat steps 6–7 to make a second pocket for inside the needle book.

ASSEMBLING THE NEEDLE BOOK

9

Place the needle book exterior right side down, then place the lining on top, right side up. Place the pockets on top, aligning the vinyl edges with the outer edges of the rectangles and the bound edges towards the centre. Clip the fabric sandwich together and baste around the edges.

10

Place the felt on the centre of the needle book and stitch down the middle. You may wish to increase your stitch length for neatness here.

11

Sew the two remaining binding strips together, press and attach the binding to the needle book. Stitch the binding to the lining side first, mitring the corners as you work around the edge.

12

Turn the binding to the front and slip stitch to the outside of the needle book to finish.