Martha Washington is believed to have made this needle book. Although the embroidery is purely decorative, the form it covers is elegantly functional. Intended to be hung from the waistband by the grosgrain ribbon, the needle book safely stored needles in the layers of wool between its stiff walls. The receptacle was opened by applying pressure on either side of the "mouth," causing the buckram to resist and buckle open, thus allowing the needle worker to push in or take out pins.