Merry Maker Needle Books

Greetings, friends! It’s Belinda from Blue Ribbon Designs, and I’m thrilled to bring you a brand-new holiday project featuring a few of my favorite HeatnBond products. Today, I’m sharing my “Merry Maker Needle Books”—a cheerful, handmade gift idea that’s as practical as it is charming.

With Christmas just around the corner, the search for thoughtful gifts is in full swing. This month’s tutorial is all about creating something special for the crafters, sewists, and needleworkers in your life. These little needle books may be small, but they deliver big joy! You can keep them simple or dress them up with embellishments—hand-stitch details for a personal touch or use glue for a quick finish. The beauty of this project is that you get to decide how much time and creativity to invest.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through making one needle book step by step, but I’ve included templates for four unique versions so you can mix and match styles. The instructions are beginner-friendly and perfect for using up fabric scraps and wool felt. Raid your button box, ribbons, and trims to add personality to your design—then pair your finished needle book with a small pair of scissors, a package of needles, some decorative pins, or even a gift card (yes, it fits inside!) for a delightful holiday gift set.

So, let’s get creative! Gather your materials, download the PDF templates, and follow along as I demonstrate how to make one needle book. Whether you choose classic or whimsical embellishments, each version is sure to become a treasured keepsake.

What you need (for one needlebook):

• HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets
  • 1 sheet
• HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing
  • 2 – 6½” x 4½”
• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
  • 1 – 6” x 4”
• HeatnBond Fabric Fuse PeelnStick Fabric Adhesive Tape, 5/8
  • 1 – 3” piece
• Cotton Fabric (models use a selection of Poppie’s Basics from Poppie Cotton)
  • 2 – 6½” x 4½” (cover and lining)
  • 1 – 6½” x 4½” (inside pocket)
  • Scraps of small pieces for appliqué shapes
• Wool Felt in coordinating colors (models use Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design)
  • 1 – 5” x 3”
  • Optional – small pieces for appliqué or embellishment
• Baker’s Twine or Ribbon or Twill Tape (for ties)
  • 2 – 9” pieces
  • Optional – additional lengths for embellishment
• Embellishments (buttons, sequins, charms, bells, small candy canes, etc.)
  • See my tiny Baker’s Twine Candy Cane tutorial here.
• Basic Supplies/Tools (small sharp scissors, embroidery needle, marking pencil, coordinating sewing thread, iron, wonder clips or pins, etc.)

How to Make a Needle Book
(Closed 3” x 4” – Open 6” x 4”)

Directions:

Download and print the Merry Maker Needle Book PDF.

Merry Maker Needle Books – A Project for the Therm O Web Blog

• Print actual size – do NOT “fit to page” or “shrink to fit.”
  • Print Page 1 (cover) on regular printer paper.
  • Print Page 2 (templates) on a HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheet (or trace shapes on HeatnBond Lite).

Prepare Cover

1. First, center and apply HeatnBond Fusible Fleece to the back of cotton fabric selected for the cover.
   • Pre-heat iron to a medium setting, no steam.
   • Place the rough side of the Fusible Fleece on the wrong side of the needle book cover fabric.
   • Cover with a lightweight, dry pressing cloth.
   • Press and hold iron with medium pressure for 10-15 seconds. Repeat by lifting iron to new area, slightly overlapping previous area until the entire surface is bonded.
   • Allow it to cool.
2. Next, fold Cover Unit in half to measure 3¼” x 4½”, then press to set the crease.

Create Inside of Needle Book

1. Apply HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing to the back of cotton fabric selected for the inside of the needlebook.
   • Pre-heat iron to a high setting, no steam.
   • Place the rough side of the fusible interfacing against the wrong side of the inside of needle book fabric.
   • Cover with a lightweight, dry pressing cloth.
   • Press and hold iron with medium pressure for 10-15 seconds. Repeat by lifting iron to new area, slightly overlapping previous area until the entire surface is bonded.
   • Allow it to cool.
2. Following the same instructions, apply HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing to the back of cotton fabric selected for the inside pocket.
3. Fold Inside pocket fabric in half lengthwise to measure 6½” x 2¼”, then press. For a professional finish, top stitch ¼” from the fold.
4. Baste the pocket in place, lining up the raw edges of the pocket with the bottom of the Inside of Needle Book unit.
5. Fold Inside Needle Book Unit in half to measure 3¼” x 4½” and press a crease.
6. Fold wool felt in half to measure 2 ½” x 3” and press a crease.
7. Center wool felt and line up creases. Sew the needle book page in place, by stitching on the crease. Continue stitching down to the bottom of the Inside Needle Book Unit—this creates two pockets, one on each side of the felt pages.

Prep Appliqué Shapes

1. Apply HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive to the back of cotton fabric(s)
   • Print or trace the applique shapes (page 2 in the pattern PDF) on HeatnBond Lite Iron-on Adhesive.
   • Loosely cut the shapes apart.
   • Pre-heat iron to medium heat, no steam.
   • Place the printed/traced template shapes on the wrong side of fabrics (printed paper, smooth side, should be face up).
   • Place and hold the iron on the paper for 2-3 seconds.
   • Allow it to cool.
2. Cut or trim the shapes on the printed/traced lines to create the desired shapes. Leave paper in place until ready to fuse in place.

Apply the Applique Shape(s)

1. Fuse the appliqué shape in place on the right side of the Cover Unit (be mindful of the seam allowances, if centering).
   • Preheat iron to medium heat, No steam.
   • Remove paper backing from the template shape.
   • Place the template shape, adhesive side down, on right side of Cover Unit.
   • Press and hold iron for 6 seconds on each section until the entire appliqué is bonded.
2. Use your favorite appliqué stitch to sew the appliqué shape(s) in place. The model used a Blanket Stitch to sew the tree shape and a Straight Stitch to sew the trunk shape.

Optional: Embellish the Needle Book

• You can leave the cover as-is or decorate it with your favorite embellishments. For the model, a star button, small ¼” buttons and a small piece of baker’s twine were used to decorate the tree. Sequins would be another great choice!

Finish Needle Book

1. Tack a piece of baker’s twine (or ribbon or twill tape) in place on either side of the Inside Needle Book Unit, as shown. Model used a 9” piece of baker’s twine on each side. Tack it in place right above the pocket on either side about 1/8” from the edge (in the seam allowance).
2. PRO TIP: Use painter’s tape to tape ties out of the way, so they do not get caught in the seam allowance when assembling your needle book.
3. Place Cover Unit and Inside Needle Book Unit right sides together and stitch around the perimeter, leaving a 2” – 3” opening for turning. For best results, leave opening on the bottom backside of the needle book.
4. Clip the corners and turn right side out, and press.

Close the Opening

1. Sew the opening closed or use HeatnBond Fabric Fuse PeelnStick Fabric Adhesive Tape, 5/8 in, to seal the opening left for turning closed (no sew, no heat).
   • Adhere the tape inside the opening along the edge.
   • Peel off the paper liner.
   • Press opening closed with firm pressure. For best results, use the rounded side of a metal spoon or a wooden iron and press down with your thumb while applying heavy, consistent pressure. The harder you press, the better the bond. Repeat this step on the back side of the item.
   • Press one final time, being mindful of embellishments.

Thank you so much for joining me for this Therm O Web tutorial! I hope these Merry Maker Needle Books inspire you to stitch up a little joy this season—they’re quick, delightful, and endlessly customizable for heartfelt holiday giving. Tuck in a pair of scissors, a bundle of needles, or a few festive pins, and you’ll have a gift that’s sure to make spirits bright. If you’d like to see more of my creative adventures, visit my blog, website, or Instagram—I’d love to celebrate your makes and cheer you on, so be sure to tag me in your creations. Wishing you a holiday filled with handmade happiness, cozy moments, and plenty of creative cheer!

Greetings! - I'm Belinda from Blue Ribbon Designs. I am a needlework and sewing/quilting designer from Spring Hill, KS. I specialize in original counted thread cross stitch designs, quilting and sewing patterns, specialty hand finishing of needlework smalls, custom sewing/quilting, and teaching handwork/sewing techniques. Etsy Shop: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com Blog: https://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com