Shell Needlecase

I’ve been sticking my assorted needles into a pincushion for years. It’s been a right nuisance finding the right one when I needed one.

I saw this on Etsy :

from

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78901437/antique-art-deco-velvet-sewing-notions?ref=sr_gallery_14&ga_search_query=antique+sewing&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_order=date_desc&ga_page=8&ga_search_type=all

and wanted to make myself something similar. I read somewhere in my internet travels that this scallop shell shaped type of needlecase/needlebook was popular in Victorian times.

My fellow-casketeer Susan D. was kind enough to make up a bit of a pattern for me. I’ve never made a ‘proper’ finished object in my life – I always made panels of my work, or a cushion, or a bookcover. Square and rectangular things with basic backing.

Here’s the one I did :

I used some beautiful green silk dupion, and for the inside, a pink-with-a-bit-of-grey/green tone (ash rose) artificial fabric that was a nightie once. I hand-pintucked for the effect on the top, using the tutorial http://www.angelaosborn.com.au/learn-sew-pintucks/. I actually put the pintucks face side down on the card and foam core body because I liked it better that way. For the pages I used some Brazilwood dyed wool felt from Etsy, and decorated the tops of the pages with coral stitch in earth/pink toned variegated wool. I just wrote the needle type names on the pages in Micron pen.

Now I can find which needle I want!