Workshop · WS-020
Counted-needle sewing book
Keep a small counted set of sewing needles in labeled felt pages.
Editorial construction draft. Original digital diagrams; no physical build or load certification. Read dimensions, fit and use limits before making changes. US customary dimensions control; metric values are references.
Before marking and cutting
- US inches; feet where appropriate. Metric values are rounded references. Written inch values control.
- 3/4 in means measured 0.750 in actual thickness wherever used. Recalculate mating lengths for other sheet thicknesses; do not substitute nominal stock blindly.
Use limits
- A storage organizer, not a puncture-proof sharps container; broken needles require suitable separate disposal.
Materials and cuts
| Part | Qty | Size to cut | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Outer cover | 1 | 8 × 5 in 203.2 × 127 mm | Dense washable felt. Cut blank before seams or fitting. |
| B Needle pages | 2 | 7 × 4 in 177.8 × 101.6 mm | Dense felt in contrasting colors. Cut blank before seams or fitting. |
| C Closure strap | 1 | 3/4 × 5 in 19.05 × 127 mm | Hook-and-loop strap. Cut blank before seams or fitting. |
Hardware and consumables
- 1 × Strong thread. For two spine rows.
Tools
- Rule with fractional inches
- Pencil or appropriate material marker
- Scissors or cutter suited to the actual material
- Straightedge
- Sacrificial cutting backing
- Sewing needle or suitable sewing machine
- Scissors
- Pins; remove and count after sewing
Assembly
- Choose a closed indoor storage location inaccessible to children. Set a maximum counted set of twelve needles for this example.
- Cut A 8 × 5 in and two B pages 7 × 4 in. Felt needs no turned hem; trim loose fibers.
- Center the B pages on A with 1/2 in margins on every edge. Mark the common spine at X = 4 in.
- Pin the layers along the spine, with pin heads kept visible and outside the later needle positions.
- Sew two parallel spine rows at X = 3 7/8 and 4 1/8 in, each from Y = 1/2 to 4 1/2 in; secure thread ends.
- Remove and count every construction pin. Fold the book on its centerline and check the pages lie inside the cover.
- Draw six numbered needle positions on each page face, spaced at least 1/2 in apart and at least 1/2 in from cut edges.
- Insert needles with two shallow passes through felt so points remain inside the page and cannot reach the outside cover. Use the twelve chosen positions only.
- Close and wrap with C without pulling tightly on a needle. Record the current needle count on a paper label inside.
- Open over a clear table before and after mending; count needles in and out and stop to find any missing one.
Checks
- Felt pages are centered with 1/2 in edge margins.
- No needle point protrudes through the closed outer cover.
- Actual needle count is written and agrees with the contents.
Cleaning and maintenance
- Account for needles before brushing.
- Replace thin or pierced pages and opening spine stitches.
Primary context
These sources inform the context and do not endorse the original construction design.