Magnetic Needle Cases & Cuffs

I've found magnetic needle cases to be a very helpful tool.  No, they are not absolutely necessary, but they can be very nice for large projects.  My small, metal case with the cat picture on it holds my tapestry needles and an extra seam ripper, so I always know where to find them.  It has a nice, strong magnet inside.  The larger, pink case is made of plastic and has a magnetic sheet with an adhesive backing.  Its magnetic pull is not as strong (I wouldn't be as comfortable up-ending the case, for example), but it does close securely.  A large, flat case like this is very helpful when you are working on a larger project, like the hoodie towel robe or the skylight covers, where you need to re-use a large number of pins, and do not want to risk the pins falling all over the place.  Again, the magnetic aspect is not absolutely necessary, but it is a bonus.

 If you're working on the floor, to take advantage of the greater workspace, any kind of case is especially helpful.  I never want a repeat of the time I was pinning a blanket, and an unsuspecting friend came in to check on me and wound up with a pin sticking out of his foot!  I always put my pins into their container immediately now...

I like that these cases are compact and easily recognizable storage cases.  I can quickly grab them from my tool bin and put them in my bag, or shuttle them to my workspace, or tuck them back out of the way.


A quick magnetic cuff that I made out of scraps.

Some crafters wear magnetic wrist cuffs (or pin cushion bracelets) for easy access during a project.  Similar cuffs are sold in some hardware stores with stronger magnets embedded in them, for easy access to loose screws and nails during construction.  I made this sample cuff one evening with scraps and a fridge magnet.