I don't usually feature single products, but this is very exciting, you guys. As an embroidery enthusiast, I generally travel with a full sewing kit: fabric in a hoop, tiny scissors, thread, and- most treacherous of all- needles. Sharp needles just floating around or in one of those annoying little envelopes, soon to somehow both stab me and get lost. Is this kind of spool the solution?
The Hideaway Spool is available through Twine, and it is pretty cute. The only problem is that it comes with thread not of your choosing, and if you're anything like me, you're very choosy about your thread. Maybe something like The Small Object's Saw See Sew Needle case would be more practical? It doesn't have that two-in-one thing going on, but perhaps that's better than cluttering up your sewing kit with thread you won't use. Or would you re-wind the Hideaway Spool with your own favorite thread or floss? But come to think of it, the Hideaway is only 2 3/8" tall including the end-caps, and is that even long enough to hold the long gold-tipped needles I prefer?
I can't tell you how often I go through this very drama: from "It's everything I've ever needed!" to "Wait, maybe it won't work..." to "What was I thinking?" in three short acts. Please feel free to guide me! Have you used a spool like this? What's your method for carrying needles around? Any other sewing life-savers I need to know about?
(Image: Twine)
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My grandmother had a spool like this back in the day. I though it was so cool. She had a bunch of different threads and only had one with a hollowed out storage spool. She never used it for needle storage. It's good if you travel with a spool of white or black thread as an emergency spool. Hers was a bit longer than a normal spool to fit the needles, a few buttons and I guess you could put a thimble in.
I laughed out loud at your progression from Must Have to What Was I Thinking. I've been there so many times.
On a practical level, my Grandma had a felt needle book which was really the best way to keep needles. Martha Stewart, naturally, has instructions for making them:
http://www.marthastewart.com/272509/felt-sewing-book
I've had one of the adorable little wooden ones and I lost it almost as soon as I bought it. It's just too small.
Yes, cute post.
I keep a few spare needles in my wallet. Usually there's one slid in next my drivers license. They stay in the fold there or you can thread them through the wall of the coin pouch. Very handy & you're less likely to lose them. As a knitter, I keep a yarn needle next to my license so I have it if I'm working a on project away from home.
Yes, a needle book (handmade or not) is the way to go. I made myself a needle book a few years ago and it's the handiest thing ever.
In the absence of a needle book, just stick a few needles in a scrap piece of felt.
I just read the description on the sight and it said the thread you see is decorative...so I am wondering if it might be glued down to the spool?
yes on needle book or felt scrap!
another object I've tried is a small wooden cylinder with lid - once owned by my grandmother. It's elegant, fits easily in a purse or travel bag, but alas ... not as good as the needle book(s) I've also inherited from her and also made for myself. One beauty of a needle book is the ease of inspecting for length, eye, & gauge.
My favourite for embroidery is a flat metal disc shaped container about the size of first finger and thumb touched together. It previously had herbacin kamille handcream and is just big enough for a bit felt with variety of needles and a needle threader. I also use small prescription pill bottles. I made one into an emergency sewing kit for my husband's suitcase. If you glue a bit of cork under the lid you have a pincushion. You can often find interesting shaped containers in drugstores, where they sell sample sizes. My favourite purse size sewing kit is an old fashion tiny metal aspirin box. We spray painted them and made the kits as a class project in the 1970s and I still use mine! It is small enough for the tiniest purse.
I use a small plastic medicine bottle with a snap lid. It's exactly the right size. And I always keep one needle threaded with about 8 inches of black thread for the emergency button repair. And in our family, pins can ONLY go in a metal sucrets box. I don't know why.
They make small wooden tubes with covers for this.
I have an antique covered metal box (maybe meant to be a candy dish?) and I glued a magnet inside the cover for pins and needles. (The rest of the box holds sewing machine bobbins, random recently used thread, etc.) Works great for me!
Funny about coincidence, this afternoon I came across a kind of small wooden tube at Lee Valley. Boxwood storage tubes. I am going to get one, hmm is it too early to think about stocking stuffer gifts.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/gifts/page.aspx?p=68353&cat=4,104,53217&ap=2
I used to use film canisters for needles. Now, with the digital age, I have switched to the tubes that diabetes test strips come in. They have an attached cover, are the perfect size, and any person with diabetes is bound to have a few empty ones.
I'm a quilter and those needles are tiny! I use a sterling silver needle holder -- might as well have something pretty if you are going to use it all the time. I also have a needle book that I made. They are quite easy to make as suggested above, and it's a great way to keep track of the different sized needles you may use.
I use a Chibi, a little green and white plastic tube. I got it at a yarn shop filled with darning needles, but have edited and supplemented the needle collection over the years. It's a neat little thing, but not nearly as cute as that wooden case.
I forgot to mention, one plus side of the Chibi case is that the top screws on, so no need to worry about it coming off if it falls into the bottom of my bag and forget about it for a few days. The needles are secure.
I use my old eyeglass cases. Every time I get new eyeglasses, they come in a new case, so I use the old ones to hold my small sewing and knitting items. Just use a sticker or label to differentiate.