My current knitting needle storage solution is terrible. There’s a large plastic cup that holds the circular and straight needles, stolen from an old housemate. Well, not really stolen, I was using it and she moved out, then I moved out, then she came back to get her stuff and I still had the cheapo cup. Anyway, it serves its purpose and desperately needs a cozy of some sort.

What’s truly the issue is the small red pouch. Purchased very cheaply, it holds my dpns and knitpicks options tips. Barely. Only the 6-inch and unders fit, and then they’re so squeezed in that I needed to remove all the needles in order to pick out the ones I need. Clearly a better solution is in order. So I told Rob that he should buy me a DPN case from the Organized Knitter, in this pretty fabric. Rob, always thinking ahead, ordered it less than a week before christmas. The cases are made-to-order, and it finally arrived!

I absolutely love it, and it suits my needs very well. Things I especially like:

1. It is very well made. Seriously, I would never have created something so neatly sewn.
2. The little pockets with paper inserts where you can write the needle sizes. At first I poo-pooed them, but once I put all my itty-bitty needles in the left pockets, it was really nice to note which color and pocket corresponded to which size.
3. It fits all my needles, plus some assorted notions. I even have a knitpicks circular cord in there for knitting-in-the-round emergencies. The only thing I didn’t migrate to the new case is my scissors - they are very small, and I can feel them slipping out of their pocket and rooting around when I tip the case upside-down. I may buy a larger pair that fits in the case better.
4. The double-decker construction. Two sets of pockets for each size let me put dpns in the back and Knitpicks Options tips in the front. It also lets me separate out the cat-gnawed-on size 2 dpns from the ones with less bite marks. The only thing, knitting-wise, more irresistible to Silver than sock yarn is the damn needles. I seriously need to buy yet another set of size 2 dpns because she gets to them when I’m not looking.

The only (teeny, tiny, minor) issue I have with the case is the button and elastic color. The fabric is browns and blues and creamy tan, and the button is a glaring white in comparison. Even the lining fabric is off white, but that button is super bright white. But really, it’s no biggie.

Why buy a needle case when I can make one? I have my $15 sewing machine and I’ve even made a needle case for a friend, so what gives? Well, the truth comes out: I dislike sewing. Gasp! A crafter that doesn’t like sewing! Reasons:

1. I hate, hate, hate using a seam ripper to tear out stitching. Ugh, I’d rather poke the damn thing in my eye. Knitting is so much easier, you just take the needle out and zip, you’re done! I cry a little inside every time I frog my knitting, but it beats stabbing my eyeball.
2. Sewing involves very little sewing. It involves much more measuring, ironing, lining up, pinning, basting, and cutting. The finishing and prep work of sewing far outweigh the actual time you sit in front of the sewing machine. There’s also measuring and finishing work involved in knitting, but I’m putting in much more with the knitting needles than with the darning needle.
3. I don’t know what I’m doing in sewing, so I have crazy short expectations on how long a sewing project will take. OMG, this skirt is taking for-ever, and I have no idea how to set in the zipper! Gah! I should find a sewing class in the area and just buckle down and learn the ropes.

The case wasn’t cheap, but it was the perfect thing to receive as a gift. I brought it to the Stitch and Bitch last night, and I think I may have convinced Staci and Laura that it’s the perfect gift for them, too!