Matchbook Needle Keeps- Tutorial

Last year, I found (HERE), some DIY Matchbook Needle Keeps. I made a few of them and popped them into the Christmas Cards I mailed to my "crafty" friends. They were a hit, so I thought I'd make some more for this year. You may have seen them before, but if not, I have put together a little tutorial, so you can make some too.

These keepers are so much fun to make and very quick and easy, using only a few supplies which you may already have in your craft cupboards. They are great to keep in your sewing/knitting or crocheting bag, the car, your handbag or wherever you need to have a needle or two on hand.

I decided to make them in two sizes this year. I kept mine plain but you could embellish them with some lovely scrap booking supplies or ric rac, ribbons, or buttons. You could also personalize them with a hand written message or quote on the inside cover; your choices are only limited by your own imagination.
So lets get started and grab some supplies. You will need:

• assorted card stock in pretty colours and patterns.
• felt
• rotary cutter, quilting square and cutting mat
• pinking shears (optional)
• stapler
• decorations (optional)

For the large needle keep you will need to cut:

• 1 x 3" x 5 3/4" rectangle of card stock
• 1 x 2 1/2" x 2 3/4" rectangle of felt 

For the small needle keep you will need to cut:

• 1 x 2" x 5 3/4" rectangle of card stock
• 1 x 2 1/2" x 2 3/4" rectangle of felt

After cutting the felt, I trimmed around three sides, with pinking shears, to give the felt a decorative edge. The following folding instructions apply to either size keeper:

With the wrong side facing you and using your quilting square, measure, mark and fold the bottom edge up 3/4" . Measure, mark and fold the top edge down 2 1/4". Ensure all your folds are nice and crisp.

Insert the felt under the bottom fold and staple into place to secure. Add a few needles, if you like and then slide the top cover under the bottom edge to close the needle keep :)

That's it! In just a few minutes you have a cute little gift to add to Christmas Cards or to pop in a stocking for your craft minded friends and I'm sure they will love them :)