Once knitting has become a part of your life, it is likely that you will begin to accumulate a number of different sized knitting needles. These usually have their own individual slip cases, but often knitters prefer to have all of their needles in a single knitting needle holder. If you have basic sewing skills, you can make your own knitting needle holder from a few scraps of fabric.
There are two basic types of knitting needle holder. The first is a long thin bag, and the second is similar to a tool roll used by any number of crafts people to hold a variety of equipment.
To make a knitting needle bag you will need a piece of fabric that is longer than your longest knitting needle by around 2 inches (5 cm), and approximately 10 inches (25 cm) wide. You will also need 2 smaller pieces of the same fabric, approximately 2 inches by 2 inches (5 cm by 5 cm) square, sewing thread, and a zipper.
Press the long edges of the rectangle of fabric, wrong sides together, to form a seam allowance of approximately 1 inch (2 cm). With the right sides of the fabric together, pin and sew the short ends of your rectangle of fabric to the squares of fabric, so that the long edges of the rectangle meet in the centre of one side of the square. Mitre the corners of the seams and press with right sides facing.
Pin and sew the zipper in place. This will be easier to sew by hand rather than by using a sewing machine. You can now fill your bag with your knitting needles and keep them tidy in a single location.
To make a knitting needle holder in the style of a tool roll, you will need 2 rectangles of fabric with one side longer than your longest knitting needle plus at least 4 inches (10 cm). The other edge of the rectangles should be at least 24 inches (60 cm) wide. You will also need a further fabric rectangle, approximately 10 inches (25cm) wide and as long as the width of your main fabric rectangles, a length of ribbon, and sewing thread.
Take one of the large rectangles and lay it on your work surface right side facing you. Take the narrow fabric rectangle and press the edges wrong sides together with a ¼ inch (1 cm) seam allowance.
Measure from the bottom of the large rectangle up approximately 2 inches (5 cm). Mark this with tailor's tack stitches across the large rectangle. Lay the small rectangle of fabric on top of the large rectangle, with right sides facing you. Line up the bottom of the small rectangle with the tailor's tack stitches.
Consider the number and size of the knitting needles that you wish to keep in your holder. Thick needles will need a small gather or tuck to accommodate their size in your tool roll. Pin one side of the small rectangle to the large piece.
Keeping the lower edge of the small rectangle straight, pin the bottom of the small rectangle to the large piece. For thicker needles, include a small pleat or tuck along the bottom edge of the small rectangle. Pin the other side of the smaller rectangle so that it is parallel to the first side and the edge of the larger rectangle. Sew in place using running stitch just inside the edge of the smaller rectangle.
You will have what looks like a large pocket. Now sew vertical lines of stitches from top to bottom, evenly spaced all the way along the small rectangle to create small slots for your knitting needles. Make the slots gradually wider, with the widest slots having the pleats or tucks at the bottom of the pocket. Pull all thread ends to the wrong side of the fabric.
Lay the second large rectangle of fabric on top of the work, right sides together. Take the length of ribbon and fold it in half. Slip the ribbon into the seam allowance in the centre of one short sides of the rectangles, with the loose ends inside and the fold level with the edge of the fabric.
Sew all the way around the large rectangles, taking care to catch the ribbon securely in the seam, and leaving a gap of approximately 4 inches (10 cm) to turn the work right side out. Mitre the corners of the seams and turn right side out. Press.
Now slip your knitting needles into their pockets and close by rolling the rectangle of fabric up starting with the edge without the ribbon. When you have a roll, wrap one end of the ribbon around it and tie in a bow with the other end of ribbon.