Needle Cushion Tutorial

Have you ever needed to switch to a different thread and needed to use a different size needle for that thread? But you don't want to put that good used needle in with the new needles in the package?

How do you keep track of the different sizes after they come out of the package?

A friend of mine had a tomato pin cushion that she wrote the different sizes of her needles in each section using a sharpie.  When she has to change needles, she just places the good used one in the correct section of the tomato.

I didn't have a tomato pin cushion, so I decided to make my own needle cushion with some fabric scraps.

I had these little dresden plate wedges left over from another project.

I sewed them into pairs using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I pressed the seams toward the darker fabric.

Then I sewed the pairs together. Then again pressed the seam.

I had this yellow print in my stash. I cut a 3 x 5 inch piece for the backing for my needle cushion.

Then with the top and back laying right sides together, sew a 1/4 inch seam allowance using the pieced top as my guide. I left one end open.  Then trimmed the backing to be even with the top after I stitched around the top.

Turn the cushion right side out...I used my purple thang to push the corners out.

Using my micron pen, I wrote the needle sizes that I use the most in different sections.

Then I stuffed the cushion with some left-over batting. Turned the opening under and pinned. Then I stitched the opening closed by hand.

This is a picture of my finished needle cushion with a couple of good used needles in it.

How do you keep your needles separate when having to switch needle and thread during a project?

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