Friday, June 14, 2013

Flora Needle Book pattern is in the shop! (And a giveaway to celebrate.)


At last, the Flora Needle Book pattern is finished and available as an instant download from both of my shops: Etsy and Craftsy. I hope you enjoy it!


The twelve-page pattern shows you how to easily make these wool felt needle books which feature:
  • Colorful floral applique
  • Hand embroidery
  • Button/string closure
  • Grosgrain ribbon spine
  • Four felt pages to organize needles and pins
  • Handy hanging loop
  • Light coating of stiffener to give it a more body and durability
My technique combines both hand and machine sewing so the books come together with as little fuss as possible. I'm all about getting it done. I've made a large number of these needle books so I've included all my tips and tricks to make construction uh-oh free. See Etsy or Craftsy for more details and a materials list.

I'd like to thank my lovely and generous pattern testers, Marissa, Nancy and Stephanie for their timely and thorough work. They were a joy to collaborate with! Marissa and Stephanie plan to publish a pattern review soon, so I'll be posting those links for you when they are available. I won't steal their thunder now by showing their beautiful needle books!

There were so many who wanted to purchase a Flora Needle Book over the past few years, but so few hours in the day for me to make them. This pattern was the perfect solution. Plus it meant I got to draw a bunch of awesome diagrams. Y'all know how I love me some diagrams.

And they are so satisfying to make. I really love putting the rich hues of wool felt together, and then adding the contrasting colors of the embroidery, which gives it so much pop. And of course the small scale just adds to the charm. You know how I feel about little things. You can view an inspiration gallery of needle book color combinations I've used in this Flickr set.

Soooo to celebrate properly, I thought I'd give away a handmade needle book. How does that sound? Winner's choice of one of the four final samples I made for the pattern:

 This golden yellow number if you love warm fall hues. I surely do. It makes me feel all cozy.
 Look familiar? This color scheme is from the first needle book I made which has been pinned ever so many times.
 Turquoise and orange always make me feel happy. That button is from the vintage button jar at Stitch Lab in Austin. I miss that button jar. I stayed elbow deep in that thing for about thirty minutes.
This is one of my favorite color combos. I love the way the yellows, greens and blues pop on this charcoal gray felt.

* Thanks for participating! Comments for the giveaway are closed. *

Did you make your choice? If you live in North America, all you need to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on this post and make sure you have some contact information in your profile. I'll pick the winner by random number generator on Tuesday, June 18. My apologies to those who live on other continents! The shipping is just too dear and the reliability can be shaky. (I'm still trying to locate a doll that was lost in France.)

And I'll also choose two winners to receive the Flora Needle Book pattern. Of course, shipping is no issue there so that's open to everyone! Good luck to you.

75 comments:

  1. I adore your needle books!! Thanks for the chance to win one.:)

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  2. Love these! I especially like the charcoal gray background but all are winners! thanks for the chance to win.

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  3. They are just lovely! Thank you for putting together the pattern- can't wait to try my hand at it!

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  4. They are all so gorgeous! And I love the name you chose for your pattern!

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  5. The turquoise and orange most certainly is happy. Whenever I say the word turquoise I laugh because when my daughter was 4 yrs we went to Crater Lake and her pronunciation of turquoise was so funny. Congrats on the pattern. Look forward to it!

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  6. they are all so amazing! I like the last one best!

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  7. I've been needing to make a needle book!

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  8. OHMYGOSH I've loved these books for so long!! But then, I love everything you do.

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  9. Is it super greedy for me to enter this giveaway? I want one made by you! :)

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  10. So excited!! I've been waiting for this pattern. Guess I'll wait until after the 18th to buy!!

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  11. How fun! They are all such great color combinations!

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  12. Oh! I can't decide between the original and the gray, they are all really lovely.

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  13. Oh these are gorgeous :-) Thanks for the chance to win a pattern!

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  14. Pick me! I LOVE your needle books. They are so beautiful!

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  15. I can't get enough of these little books. The colors in your very first needle book are my favorite -- but they're all adorable.

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  16. Yay! The pattern looks amazing. Your work is so fine. I'd love to be the proud owner of an original.

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  17. Congrats on the pattern. Your needle books are so beautiful

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  18. Oh - I'd love the chance to win one of your beautiful needle books! Thanks so much!

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  19. LOVE LOVE LOVE them ALL!!!! Congrats on getting the pattern done and making it available for us to purchase. I will wait (but not patiently...lol) for the winner to be announced...(crossing everything I have that can be crossed). Thanks for the chance to win.

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  20. Piękne, piękne , piękne!!! Wspaniale, że można tworzyć na tym wzorze :)
    nie mogę się doczekać, żeby nie spróbować :)
    Ja jestem z "innego" kontynentu, ale patrzÄ™ i podziwiam :)

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  21. I live in Europe so I'm keeping my fingers crossed to win your amazing pattern!

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  22. Congratulations!
    I love the green needlebook but I'm in the UK so it looks like I'll have to make my own : -(

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  23. A pattern, great news! Have admired your beauties for a long time, would love to make one for myself.

    Congratulations!

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  24. I love your needlebooks! I'd love the chance to win a copy of the pattern (I'm in the UK) so I can make one for myself :)

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  25. Each needlebook is beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  26. I love your needlebooks and was so excited when you said you were making a pattern available!! If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the turquoise and orange one, but I love them all! Thanks for a chance to win!

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  27. Your blog is so inspiring! Winning a little piece of your creativity would be such a TREAT!

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  28. This might just be the best giveaway ever! Every time you post new needlebooks, I sit and stare for hours! I love that you have the pattern available now!

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  29. They are absolutely beautiful. I would love to win one! Thanks for sharing with us :-)

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  30. These are lovely - thanks for the chance.

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  31. Oh, I've been waiting for so long for this pattern to come out! Can't wait to get started on some needle books for holiday gifts!!

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  32. Love, love these. Please enter me in the drawing.
    Thank you!
    Pat Carreon

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  33. i love these so much. they are not only helpful but small enough that you could carry them in your purse & they are just so pretty, like i said i love these & hope i win one. thanks for the chance

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  34. I have been anxiously waiting for the pattern ever since I discovered your blog a few months ago. These needle books are stunning and would be such a fun project to do while watching TV. Of course, I'd love to win one from the master. Thanks for the opportunity!

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  35. More delicious creations ... one day soon I will give it an Alabama try with my peeps!

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  36. These are beautiful! I am always inspired by your projects. I'd choose the orange and turquoise one! Love that color combo.

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  37. This just makes me smile all over! Especially like the 2nd one!

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  38. Lovely, though if I were lucky enough to win, I would have a hard time choosing a color, which is so, so typical.
    Thanks for the giveaway and congrats on completing the pattern.
    I can be reached at blackcat two one two at g mail dot com.

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  39. Hello,

    Thanks a lot for the giveaway, Larissa. I try my luck for the pattern. Have a nice weekend.

    Nanou

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  40. Perfect in every way - I love ALL the color combinations.

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  41. Oh, been really looking forward to this pattern- love your work. Wish I was in the geographic location to win one of the completed ones- but the pattern will be fabulous. Love working with felt and can never have enough needle holders for quick moments at hand sewing.

    Lorraine info@lorrainemarwood.com

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  42. I admire everything you make & have bought some patterns of yours. You are very creative

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  43. I have always admired your needle books and I would love to learn to make one on my own. I would be a real treat to win the pattern. Also,I really love the Turquoise and orange needle book.
    thank you!
    syeda
    syeda_lubabah@hotmail.com

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  44. The charcoal one is so beautiful, it looks like a midnight garden in the moonlight! I can't wait to sew some of these:)

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  45. completely gutted I cant win a needle book as they are so adorable, but I would dearly love to win the pattern also as I'm itching to give it a try, thanks Larissa x

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  46. SO great that you got it on paper for others to enjoy. THanks so much for sharing. I've been inspired by your colour choices, so last time I bought felt, I chose your colour palate!
    cheers

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  47. What a lovely book! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  48. My fingers are crossed that I might win the needlebook which makes it so difficult to work on the needlework I have in my lap. LOVE the charcoal book.

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  49. YES! I am so excited about this pattern! LOVE all the books but love the tan and turquoise ones a little extra. Thanks for the lovely giveaway and for the pattern - yay!

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  50. Love these! My fav is the gray one too!

    Hugs,
    Gina

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  51. I love your work and my favorite is the turquoise and orange! Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  52. These are beautiful and would make such special gifts for the other sewers in my life! Thanks for creating the pattern and for the chance to win!

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  53. Wow! what a great way to use felt. I plan on giving these away as gifts. I'd love to win a pattern, but I'm buying one now to support you as an artist and If I win I know what I'd do with that one too.

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  54. These are so adorable! The last one is my absolute favorite. :)

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  55. You needle books are just wonderful! I love the color combination on the Turquoise and orange needle book. Thank you for the chance to win!

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  56. I have always loved your needle books since the first time I saw one..... they are so beautiful and I would be honored to win one of them.... :)

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  57. Beautiful! I think the turquoise and orange is my favorite, but the charcoal is beautiful too. Would love to win one!

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  58. I fell in love with these cute little needle books the first time I saw them. It would be awesome to win one, but if not I will Definitly buy the pattern.

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  59. The fourth one is my favorite but they're all beautiful!

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  60. i love all! :) so pretty! !!!!

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  61. I love these! The fourth is my fave but only by a hair! LOVE THEM ALL! Must have!! bethanhoffman@hotmail.com

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  62. Yay! I've been getting really excited about your pattern release. My favorite is the yellow flower on charcoal background. Thank you for sharing this with us!

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  63. Have to throw my comment into the ring, too! ;) These are just lovely-- I'm partial to the second one, but your color choices are all just perfect! (I'll also have to have the pattern, regardless-- I truly love your work!)

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  64. Got the information for this giveaway off of Stephanie's blog. She said some really nice things about your patterns and, her work is also impeccable I just don't know how she gets so much done. Just in case my name is picked, I am christine@teenmariequilts.com. Thank you for the opportunity.

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  65. Your needle books are absolutely adorable!!!! If I am lucky enough to win, my favorite is the turquoise and orange...who am I kidding?? I would love any of them! Thank you so much for the chance!!

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  66. So adorable. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  67. Gotta have yellow! But all are very beautiful! Great work!

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  68. Wow - I love that it actually looks just like a BOOK! Since I love books as much as stitching, these made me smile!

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  69. Lovely little needle books! Hope I win!! I'm partial to turquoise and orange. The vintage button bowl is by the back door these days, I was at Stitch lab a few weeks ago digging in it :)

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  70. Love this pattern............... My friend Stephanie does beautiful work, doesn't she!!

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  71. Larissa, thanks for the shout out! I am so in love with this pattern. Thanks for everything! Great job on this. Don't include me in the drawing for obvious reasons! ;-)

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  72. I love love love these needle books, and am so happy you are offering a pattern! I love the turquoise and orange one especially, but I am just so impressed with your work!

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