This is an old sewing basket which belonged to my grandmother.  The handle is gone from the basket and the raffia flowers have faded away since the 1970’s.  My favourite item in the basket is the little leather sewing kit or needlecase.  The leather is beautiful and has the amazing patina from years of wear and use

I decided to set about making my own little leather needlecases.  I harked back to the little handsewn and embroidered needlebooks we made at school as a child – a cover of embroidered and fringed Binca fabric with a sheet of felt sewn inside to take the needles. 

I used felted wool from a vintage blanket for my centre and punched holes in the leather outer and blanket inner so I could lace them together with a strip of leather.

I’d folded over the ends of the leather to make the case more sturdy and provide two useful pockets for threads etc.

These little needlecases are proving very popular and are available online in my Folksy and Etsy shops.  In the meantime I’ll leave you with a close-up of my Nana’s old needlecase which inspired me.  “‘Tis plenty in small fortune to be neat”!   We do our best.