Got needles but nowhere to store them? You need a needle book!

These lovely needle-storage books from Daughter of a Seamstress are a modern take on a time-honoured storage solution. Store your needles and pins in style and separate them by function (embroidery, darning, leather, sashiko, etc.) or however you see fit.

Handmade locally from 100% rescued and reclaimed fabric and buttons, they are good for the planet, too. 

These needle books are made from:

• upcycled wool belting (cover) 
• colourful fabric remnants (cover and secret pocket)
• antique cotton sheets (needle pages)
• vintage button closures, most likely from Grandma’s stash
• rescued lace (ties)

Each book contains six needle pages to fit most hand-sewing and darning needles, with a secret pocket to accommodate tiny treasures: needle threaders and snag repair needles so great you’d cry if you misplaced them (ahem), lost-and-found buttons waiting to be reattached, or mini mending prayers.

If you’re thinking: “I could make that!” Let’s be honest. You and I probably won’t, and we wouldn’t make one this cute. Why not treat yourself or delight a new mender with a sweet gift?

NOTE: Each needle book features unique fabric scraps and buttons; books shown here are for reference only. Needles, needle threader and safety pin sold separately.

Made by Daughter of a Seamstress in Melbourne, Australia, from reclaimed materials.

Holiday update + shop closures

14 December 2023 (5pm AEDT):
Last orders for Christmas delivery in Australia

HOLIDAY BREAK: 14 December (5pm AEDT) to 2 January
Orders placed during this time will ship on 5 January.

10 January 2024 (5pm AEDT):
Last chance to order before the big break

BIG BREAK: 10 January (5pm AEDT) to late February / early March 2024 (tbc)
This shop will shut for at least six weeks (no purchases can be made during this time).

Read on for details...

 

HOLIDAY BREAK (December 2023)

2023 orders close at 5pm on 14 December, and I’m planning to be back at work on 3 January. During the holiday break you will be able to place orders as usual, but postal orders will not ship until 5 January. Gift vouchers will be available for purchase 24/7 and delivered automagically by email.

BIG BREAK (January/February 2024)

It’s time for the ELF herself to check in for repairs! I’m having major surgery and will need at least six weeks of recovery time, with lots of rest and no heavy lifting (including shop orders).

After 5pm on 10 January I will disable the shop checkout; you will be able to browse but not purchase anything (including gift vouchers) until the shop reopens in late February or early March – once I've made a full recovery. Mailing-list subscribers will be notified when the shop reopens.

 

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Weekly dispatch

This shop dispatches orders once a week so I can do alllll the things – including running this shop and running after two tiny tots – and enjoy my life. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

Place your order by 5pm Thursday Melbourne time (AEDT/AEST) for dispatch by Monday.
(NOTE: I drop off most orders at my local post office on Fridays, but I'm told they don't physically leave the post office and start making their way to you until Monday.)

Shipping carrier

I ship via Australia Post because it’s reliable, trackable and carbon-neutral. 

If you select Express Post at checkout, it will speed up Australia Post's delivery timeframe but won't speed up my process.

After your order has been packed, you will receive an email notification with your Australia Post tracking number, which you can use to check on the delivery status of your order.

International customers: click here for current Australia Post international delivery timeframes.

Shipping fees

I don’t offer free shipping because there is no such thing as free shipping. Someone has to pay the cost for postage.

Shipping is currently a flat rate of $12 within Australia ($17 Express Post); international shipping is calculated at checkout. Gift cards are delivered electronically and do not require shipping. 

International shipping

I ship worldwide with the exception of the UK, due to VAT regulations that came into effect on 1 January 2021. If you are in the UK you can order the UK edition of my book from your local bookshop.

Local delivery

Customers in Northcote, Thornbury and nearby suburbs (subject to capacity) can select local delivery at checkout. Local delivery is extra-slow and coincides with my pram-walking/kid-wrangling schedule, up to one week after purchase. ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶

I choose to reuse

When shipping orders my first priority is to reuse packaging materials whenever possible – boxes, padded mailers, cardboard, paper, tissue paper, bubble wrap and egg cartons from neighbours, second-hand shops and recycling centres. I cannot guarantee the materials used to ship your order will be plastic-free for this reason.

My tags and labels are stamped by hand onto compostable paper tape or preloved cardboard packaging.

I buy recycled packaging

If I don’t have suitable second-hand packaging to use for your order, my next priority is packaging made from recycled materials. It's important to me to support Australian companies making good products from our recyclables, and to make sure that material gets a second life.

Tape

I use compostable, gummed kraft-paper tape to seal my parcels whenever possible. I have a second-hand tape wetter that I love, purchased from my local op shop. Gummed paper tape is available at most art-supply shops if you want to make the switch yourself!

Express Post orders will have official plastic "Express Post" tape added.

International orders with many items will have a plastic pocket taped to them, to accommodate additional paperwork required by customs.

Individual product packaging

Every item for sale on this website has its packaging components listed and in most cases photographed, so you can make an informed decision.

Upstream packaging

When I speak to my suppliers I specifically ask that my orders be supplied to me without plastic packaging, whenever possible, to avoid waste and single-use plastic. This isn’t always possible, but I’ll keep asking, forever.

Here's how one of my suppliers has my name recorded in its database: