Sewing Machine Needle Organizer Pincushion

For those of us who can no longer read the teeny numbers on sewing machine needles, this is a lifesaver! The bands of color are for different sizes of machine needles that have been used but not used up... The yellow head pin is a placeholder for the needle that is currently in my machine. If I get a different needle either from the pincushion or from a package, I put the pin in that size's spot. You can make as many stripes/categories as you'd like. Mine are, from left to right, size 70/10 needles, size 80/12, size 90/14, size 100/16, hand needles, and beading needles. This is adapted from an idea in a Quilting Arts publication, not sure which one...



Directions:
I cut my strips 1 3/4 inches by 5 inches, 6 of them. Stitch them together in the order you'd like. Lay on a piece of batting and quilt. Square it up, then fold it in half, right sides together, and stitch the long side. Stitch across one end, with the previous seam in the middle of the end one, so the long seam ends up on the bottom. Turn right side out, fill with sand, handstitch the other end.
If you use different types of needles, as well as different sizes, you could divide each section into sections going the other direction as well.
A 30 minute project that will save you hours of aggrivation! :-)

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