The year I’m making a resolution I make every year – to get and stay organized! And a super fun way to start is with making something pretty for your craft supplies… Introducing the free Nifty Needle Case crochet pattern!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links.
The Nifty Needle Case keeps your yarn and tapestry needles in one place – that isn’t the carpet! Easy enough for beginners, and handy for all, this free crochet pattern can even store a small pair of scissors – making it the perfect grab and go item for your crochet bag!
Nifty Needle Case
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- US – F, 3.75 mm hook (Furls Odyssey recommended)
- 55 yds Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (Worsted/10 ply; 100% cotton; 186 yds/170 m; 3.53 ounces)
Colorways: Tangerine (40 yds) and White (15 yds) - 1″ Button (Crafting with Buttons Coral Dot shown)
- Stitch Markers (Clover Lock Ring Markers recommended)
- Gauge: 11 sts x 10 rows = 2″ in sc, but gauge is unimportant as long as you get tight, solid fabric
- Finished Size: 7″ x 4″ unfolded; 3″ x 4″ folded
- Helpful Tutorials: BLO (back loop only), working into the edge. Also see the Crochet Abbreviations page if needed.
PART 1: This is the inner (white) portion.
Row 1: Ch 11, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in the remaining 10 chs; turn. (10 sts)
Row 2 – 19: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (10 sts)
Row 20: (edging round) Ch 1, sc in each st across, then turning corners and working around piece, sc along side, bottom, and last side, joining to first sc of row; break yarn and finish off.
PART 2: This is the outer (tangerine) portion.
Row 1: Ch 21, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in the remaining 20 chs; turn. (20 sts)
Row 2 – 14: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (20 sts)
Row 15: Ch 1, blo sc in each st across; turn. (20 sts)
Row 16 – 30: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (20 sts)
Row 31: Ch 1, blo sc in each st across; turn. (20 sts)
Row 32 – 38: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (20 sts)
Row 39: Ch 1, sc in the first 8 sts, ch 4, skip 4 sts, sc in the last 8 sts; turn. (16 sts, 4 chs) NOTE: This creates the button hole – you will need to adjust the number of sts skipped/chained if your gauge or button is different.
Row 40: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch across; turn. (20 sts)
Row 41: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (20 sts) THEN before proceeding with the next row, attach Part 1 to the center panel of Part 2, as shown in the photos, using stitch markers to hold it in place.
Row 42: Ch 1, sc in each st across, then turning corners and working around piece, sc along side working through both Part 1 and Part 2 in center section, sc along bottom, and sc along last side working through both Part 1 and Part 2 in center section, then join to first sc of row; break yarn and finish off.
Assembly: Sew button to first section of Part 2, opposite the button hole. Weave in all ends.
And that’s it! The white inner part isn’t attached on the sides, making it that much easier to put the needles in/out, and leaving a space to slip a small pair of scissors as well! I can’t wait to see what you all make with this pattern – it’s ripe for personalization! Add appliques, surface crochet initials, or even sew on a patch or extra fun buttons, it’s up to you. Here’s to a more organized craft room!
Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2015, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. To print this pattern for personal use, please use the green Print Friendly button at the bottom of the pattern. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!
Albertine says
I love the way it looks! You could also use it for something else, like small crochet hooks.
It’s pretty simple but very effective 🙂
Have a crocheting new year!
Gillian says
Thanks for the sweet pattern. Completed the project in a couple of hours and is in use. Happy new year x
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you Gillian!
franak says
Tamara God bless U. I m from India 57 years old . My mother used to send me to an aunt to learn crochet when i waas a school girl two years back i picked up the art and now i m crazy to crochet and knit toys. Please share patterns like these. I m truly grateful . Franak
Tamara Kelly says
🙂 Thank you so much Franak! If you search toys in the search bar on the right hand side of the screen you’ll get some great options! 🙂 I also have finger puppet patterns on the Free Patterns page!
Marielle says
I loved to make this needlecase. I made one for myself, and nkw i am going to make one for my friend as a thank you gift.
Thank you for this lovely pattern.
Happy new year from Holland.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Marielle! Happy New Year!
Missgwend says
Took just a couple of hours to whip out. Thanks for the idea. Now on to cleaning all my milk crates for my skeined yarn.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you! I’m glad you liked it!
pam says
Cute! gotta make this one. I was wondering what you keep your crochet hooks in. I have the plan ones and some with the wooden handles in them. Please share your ideas. Thanks for sharing the pattern.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you!! I have a LOT of hooks, and a set of drawers for sorting them in my craft room. 🙂
Paula says
The green print button doesn’t show up any more at the bottom of the patterns. Is there something I can do on my end to make them show up again? I love the pattern and can’t wait to make some!
Tamara Kelly says
I’m sorry it’s not showing up for you, I don’t know what that is. You can go to PrintFriendly.com and enter the URL there to print it out.
Sheryl says
Love this cute and very useful case! Whipped it up yesterday and stocking it now. I’ll be making more for my friends. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Sheryl, I’m so glad to hear it!
Cheyanne says
This is pretty much a LIFE SAVER. I’m the worst at keeping my yarn/tapestry needles organized!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m glad you like it!
Yoka Bazilewich says
Love the needle case and it will give me inspiration to make my own crochet case for my hooks..
Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Happy New year and happy crocheting,
Yoka
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Yoka! Happy New Year!
Brittany says
Awesome pattern! I’ll definitely be making at least one to hold my needles and little scissors (they’re always first to get buried in my hook bag if I’m looking for them!)
I was wondering if you could describe the feel of the yarn (24/7 Cotton). Is it the same feel as mercerized cotton crochet thread, like Aunt Lydia’s Fashion 3? Thanks so much for the lovely free pattern!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you! 😀 It’s a little bit like mercerized thread, though being bigger it is of course softer to the touch. It’s not as shiny as thread.
Brittany says
Thank you for the reply, Tamara! 😀
june says
You say not to sew up sides- for white part- but if scissors go in there, and one side is not sewn, won’t they just fall out? Maybe I’m missing something, and I cannot see clearly on the bright orange side? Maybe the orange side is where there’s some pocket open on only one of 3 sides to put scissors in? I wish your pic would have a pair of scissors showing up in the area where ever they will be going-can you change pic here to show them please?
Tamara Kelly says
The scissors don’t fall out because when you button up the case, the white part holds them in on the top and bottom, and the orange part on the sizes. Does that make help?
Floy says
How do you make blo sc? I have been working with yarn along time and I don’t remember that strich
Tamara Kelly says
Hello Floy! Blo is Back Loop Only, and sc is single crochet. 🙂
Kimberly Johnson says
Love this pattern! A much needed accessory. About to try my hand at this right now. Thank you!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Kimberly, I’m so glad you like it!
Jenna says
How do I attach the white piece, just sew it on?
Tamara Kelly says
The instructions for attaching the parts are in Rows 41 and 42. 🙂
Kimberly johnson says
Hi again! I have been working on this since last night. Have a little funny story. Let me start off by saying I have been crocheting since I was a child so I consider myself to be pretty skilled. As I was going along with the inner part, it just seemed off. Then I realized I was counting my rows all wrong. Long story short, I have a very nice new bookmark! Already started the outer part and am paying special attention to my rows. Going to do the inner part again once I’m done with the outer. THANX r letting me share with U and everyone!
Tamara Kelly says
Whoops! 😀 Ah well, bookmarks are handy too!
Kimberly johnson says
Me again 🙂 When I first found your pattern, my mind registered ‘crochet HOOK case’. Now that I am almost finished with the outer part, I was wondering why it is so small. Then it all hit me! Its for needles not hooks. I really do love this pattern so with your permission I am going to extend it to fit crochet needles. Finding your pattern has really helped me to broaden my creativity! Thank you again!
Tamara Kelly says
Ahh! Sorry about the confusion! 😀 Some people have indeed “up-sized” it for hooks, I think it’s fantastic! Thank you so much Kimberly!
Kimberly johnson says
Oh no need to apologize! My confusion was due to not paying attention in my excitement!! I have completed the first case and working on the next. The original one works fine for my small hooks. Getting my measurements together for the 2nd to fully cover my larger hooks. Started the outer part first by chaining 36 instead of 21. I’m on row 3 of 35 sc stitches. So I got the length on point. Still figuring out if I want the same width for both pieces. Any and all suggestions welcomed! Is there a way to post here or send U a photo of my finished piece? I look forward to your response.
Tamara Kelly says
Awesome! You can share photos on the Moogly Facebook page, or email me at [email protected]! 😀 Thank you!
Kimberly johnson says
I will post a few to Facebook. Thank you!!
JoAnn says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this pattern, I had a bit of yarn left over from a project and am ALWAYS getting made I loose my yarn needles and stitch markers How sweet this is!! nd made in a little over an hour, would have been faster but I was talking on the phone too..haha I am going to sew the one long end up to keep my tape measure in there too. THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL FREE PATTERN!!!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much JoAnn! I’m so glad you like it!!
Carol says
I loved it! Quick and easy and so useful. Thank you, I love all of your patterns.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad! Thank you Carol!
Emma says
So simple yet so so effective! I love it! Made 2 yesterday for my needles and im making another for my stitch markers. Thank you so much for sharing!
Tamara Kelly says
thank you so much emma!
Jo says
This is the prettiest needle case! And great stash buster for the times when I need a break from a big project. Thank you for sharing!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Jo!
Jana says
I made mine last night and today. Turned out great. I have a little plastic case that I’ve been keeping these things in, but I’m always fumbling around trying to get that one needle out! This solved the problem. For the edging, I went up a hook size to avoid any puckering.
How can I post pics?
Tamara Kelly says
I’m so glad to hear it! Unfortunately I cannot host photos in the comments, but you are welcome to share them on the Moogly Facebook page!
Jana says
Cool! I just wondered where the pics came from in your newsletter.
Tamara Kelly says
Ah! I have a link in the newsletter to email them to me! If you’d like to do so, it’s tamarakelly at mooglyblog dot com. Thank you!
ilna castelyn says
Thanks for this cute pattern. I made the needle case a few weeks ago and use it ever since. It is so handy. I’m a very beginner at crochet and found the pattern easy to follow.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Ilna! I’m so glad to hear it!
Suzie says
HI Tamara. I don’t know if I am missing something , I have followed the pattern but only ended up with the centre and button hole part what have I missed?????
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Suzie! I’m not sure what parts you have from your description, so I’m a bit confused. There are instructions for Part 1, which is the white inner rectangle, and Part 2, which is the outer orange section. Rows 15 and 31 of Part 2 are worked in the blo to create the folds. Does that help?
Debbie says
Cute pattern! What are the red and blue items in your case and what are they used for? I’ve never seen them before and I’ve been crocheting my whole life.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you Debbie! Those are Susan Bates Finishing Needles (on Amazon (aff link) at http://amzn.to/2sll2Ab ) – they are another style of yarn needle, quite handy when you are dealing with short ends, and so much easier to thread since the eye runs the length of the needle!
Debbie says
Thank you so much Tamara! I definitely need these in my life! And thank you for sending the link, they are in my cart now! Maybe the smallest one will help with cross stitching. You have just made my life so much easier, and tucking in threads less dreaded. Have a great crafty day!
Tamara Kelly says
You are very welcome! I always keep them with my other needles – so handy to have the right needle at the right time for each project! 🙂 You too!
Madeleine Maddocks says
It looks great. I keep saying I must get organised too, so have been looking for ideas. Thank you.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much!
Verna goldsmith says
I love this, I use mine all the time, very handy, thanks much.
Lesley Innes says
Hi Tamara, love this pattern. Made one for myself and one for each of my friends. It is always in my current project bag.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much, I’m glad you find them useful!
Mary Alice says
Thank you for this project, Tamara. I am having fun searching my yarn stash and button box to make this needle case. Several of my friends will receive these as gifts.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I hope you enjoy making it!
Sharon M. says
I made this for myself in April, 2016, and I loved it. So I made one for my mom for Mother’s Day the next month. It was so easy to follow and to make. Thank you.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Sharon!