Looking at my collection of darning needles, I realized I needed more organization.

Each needle is blunt. The good news is blunt needles are harder to poke yourself with. The bad news is, they don’t poke through the fabric on my pin cushion. <Sigh …>

Darning needles — and most sewing needles — come in cardboard and plastic packages.  To use the needles, the plastic usually needs to be ripped from the cardboard. While the plastic can be used as a tray, it’s a short-term not a long-term solution.

As I was considering what to do with my needles, I suddenly remembered one of my mother’s pin cushions.

It’s made from a discarded aerosol can top, and a crocheted oblong that’s rolled into the top. Darning needles easily go into the crocheted stitches. Should be easy enough to substitute a knit oblong for the crocheted. But then, I realized I don’t have any empty tops lying around. Probably because I rarely buy aerosol cans any more.

But I do have several measuring cups from laundry detergent.

Its sides aren’t square. I like the clear plastic that will show more of the knitting.

So, it was off to my basket of yarn scraps, and my knitting needles. I decided to make as much of a customized roll as I can. I love the idea of using bright colors. Hopefully they will make the pin cushion be more visible on my cluttered work surface.

My knitting gauge is 7 stitches in 2 inches, with size 7 needles and worsted weight wool. Actually the wool is hand spun doubles.

I cast on 8 stitches, and started garter stitch with a slipped stitch garter edging. The edging instructions are in the video on this web site. I made a slipped stitch along one edge, and changed colors as I ran out of yarn or as it suited me. The slipped stitch edge is the top.  All color changes were made along  the bottom edge.

I knit 10 inches of garter stitch. I bound off 3 stitches on the edge opposite the slipped stitch. Then continued garter stitch with the slipped stitch edging on 5 stitches for another 6-1/4 inches. Followed by binding off the remaining stitches.

I fit the roll into the container as I worked. I didn’t weave in any ends, just tucked them into the roll.

And, voila!

And another view:

I scrunched the roll into the plastic cup. The knitted roll very nicely fit inside it.

With a single project I’ve organized my darning needles, and recycled (reused) an otherwise non-recyclable.

Storage Tip:I like to store all my needles with yarn or thread attached. When one drops, they’re so-o-o much easier to find!

You can download a free pdf of this pattern here.

Now that my darning needles are organized, it’s time to tackle the clutter on my workspace …

Check out the fiber artists at Alpaca Farm Girl’s Fiber Arts Friday.

Be Sociable, Share!

•