I wanted to make a special little gift for a sewing friend/teacher/mentor of mine but hesitated because I didn’t want to send something that would not be useful or beautiful or that might end up as clutter. My dear friend Joyce, knowing that I had just finished a needlebook for myself, suggested that might be both useful and beautiful, and could house my teacher’s favorite Japanese hand sewing needles. Using the directions for my Hari Kuyo needlebook as a jumping off place, I created this smaller version.
While hand embroidering the silk ribbon irises on the front cover, I was reminded how simple and effective a little touch of hand embroidery can be. It adds a specialness that nothing else matches. Try adding a bit to your next project. If you need some books for inspiration try Beginner’s guide to Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Ann Cox or Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano.
