Autumn is finally upon us! It’s time to get a cup of tea and a lovely embroidery kit from Crafty Kit Company to snuggle up and stitch. May we suggest the new Pumpkin Sampler Kit, and to help you keep your needles organised we have created this very cute retro Halloween cat needle case in honour of our beloved Morris.
Morris has been The Crafty Kit Company’s Public Services Announcement Officer since the start. He now enjoys his days in retirement.
Felt & Thread Supplies
Felt Fabric: Black, Dahlia, Yellow and Meadow
Embroidery Thread: black, orange, white, green, yellow
You can purchase the threads on amazon, the DMC Thread website, or in any sewing store!
Other Supplies
- Embroidery needle
- Fabric Glue
- PDF Beginner's Guide to Embroidery (optional)
- Blank Stick & Stitch Fabric (optional)
- Fiskars Needlework Straight Scissors
- Freezer paper (optional)
- White pen
Click here to download Morris’s Needle Case template! (Print out on A4 paper)
Step 1: Print the template and cut out the Morris’s Needle Case pattern pieces. Trace the patterns on freezer paper or on felt.
Note: If using freezer paper, trace the patterns, then iron on to felt fabric, then cut out.
Ana’s Notes: Because there are many small pieces, I found using a glue stick to adhere the piece to the freezer paper is the easiest way. Then iron them to the felt fabric. Reference photos.
Step 2: Cut out all the pieces then peel off the freezer paper.
Step 3: Cut out the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth on the cat head pattern. Tape the cuts.
Step 4: Place the cat head on a needle felting mat or a stack of felt fabric. With a needle poke holes in all the dots.
Step 5: Glue the inner ear, 3 parts of the eyes, nose, and mouth using 1-2 dots of glue to keep in place. Do not use hot glue.
Step 6: Using white pen, push through the needle holes to mark the embroidery spots on the cat head. Remove the cat head pattern.
Ana’s Notes: An alternative to this step is to print the cat head on Blank Stick & Stitch Fabric. Place it on the black felt fabric and cut out the head. You will still need two more cat heads.
Step 7: Use the finished embroidered cat head to help guide you. If you are an embroidery beginner, you can purchase our PDF Beginner's Guide to Embroidery Booklet which includes how to use Stick & Stitch Fabric!
Do the following stitches:
- Ears: tiny Straight Stitch, inner ear longer Straight Stitch
- Forehead: tiny Straight Stitch
- Brow: Stem Stitch and partial Lazy Daisy Stitch
- Outer eye: tiny Straight Stitch
- Triangle in outer eye: Straight Stitch
- Eyeball: Satin Stitch, outline Straight Stitch
- Nose: tiny Straight Stitch
- Whisker dots: French Knots
- Mouth: Arrowhead Stitch
- Cheek smile: Stem Stitch
- Whiskers: Back Stitch
Step 8: Use the remaining cat head to back the face of the cat. This will show when you open the finished needle case; this will will cover the back of the face embroidery threads. Cut out three circles as shown (it will become an extra place to add needles). Slightly overlap the circles (as shown in the photo), then use any stitch you like to secure them to the felt. I used the Arrow Stitch and Base Stitch.
Step 9: Pin the two cat heads back-to-back (circles should be seen on the back) just below the ears. With two pieces of black thread, stitch a blanket stitch from one outer ear to the other.
Step 10: Line up the ruffles on the edge of the back cat piece and the collar. Whip stitch around the entire cat collar.
Step 11: Fold the needle case page (make a crease with your fingers or press it).
Step 12: Embroider a Blanket Stitch around the edge. Line up the needle case page with bottom of the ear, and pin in place. Stitch a Back Stitch along the crease.
Step 13: Fold the needle case page down. Pin the cat face to the cat back, lining up the ears. Stitch a Blanket Stitch starting at the outer edge. Stitch up and around the ear, ending at the other ears outer edge. Be sure you are catching the edges.
Step 14: For the final touch, stitch a tiny button, bell, or bow in the centre of the collar. Open the needle case and add some embroidery needles and a couple of pins.
I sure hope you enjoyed making Morris’s Needle Case as much as I did creating it. Now sit back, grab an embroidery project with your new needle case, and stitch away. In October I will be flying from California to England and a trip up to Scotland. I can’t wait to see Jo, CKC Team and of course Morris! I will also be seeing many of my Crafty Friends throughout the two countries.
Fun tip: Change up the colours of the cat, remove the triangle from the eyes to make a non-Halloween version.
Please post your finished Morris’s Needle Case on Facebook: Crafty Your Way to Happiness!!
Happy stitching,
Ana