Pincushion and Thread Catcher Organiser - Brother

Pincushion and Thread
Catcher Organiser

Designed by Angie Wilson of GnomeAngel.com
Read instructions carefully before starting the project.

Tools Required: Organiser:
• 1 x 4” x 4” ceramic tile
• Brother Sewing Machine • 1x 5” x 5½” Exterior Fabric (linen)
• General Sewing Supplies • 2 x 5” x 12” Exterior Fabric (linen)
Optional: • 1 x 5” x 12” Light Weight Interfacing
• Cutting Mat, ruler and rotary cutter • 1 x 5” x 4” Exterior Fabric (linen)
• 1 x 5” x 3½” Light Weight Interfacing
Materials: Pin Cushion:
• 2 x 3¾” squares of Exterior Fabric (linen)
Thread Catcher: • 1 x 3¾” square of Light Weight Interfacing
• 1x 2” x 9” Feature Fabric (pastel dots) • 1 x 13½” x 1½” rectangle of Feature Fabric
• 1x 11¾” x 9” Exterior Fabric (linen)
• 1x 2¼” x 9” Exterior Fabric (linen) (pastel dots)
• 1x 9” x 14” Lining Fabric • 1 x 19mm Magnetic Snap Closure
• 1x 2½” x 17” Exterior Fabric (linen – for • 1 x Decorative Buttons (at least 19mm wide)

facing) Polyester Stuffing
• 1x 2½” x 17” Light Weight Interfacing (for

facing)
• 1x 19mm Magnetic Snap Closure
• 1x Decorative Buttons (at least 19mm wide)

Construction Notes: 6. Stitch along the line you have drawn. Use
your ruler to mark a ¼” seam allowance on
• Please read entire pattern before the side of the stitching line closest to the
commencing the project. corner and trim the excess to make a box
corner. Repeat with the other corner.
• All seam allowances are ½”, unless stated
otherwise. 7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the lining bag.

• Seams can be pressed either open or to the 8. Place the bottoms of the bags together,
darkest fabric. matching the box seams and baste stitch
in the seam allowance for each corner. This
• When drawing line markings on fabric use a will hold the exterior and the lining in place
fabric pen or chalk. during use.

Thread Catcher: 9. Turn the bags inside out so that the right
side of the exterior bag is on the outside and
1. Take the 9” x 11¾” rectangle and with right the right side of the lining is on the inside.
sides together join it along the 9” side to the You may want to baste the top raw edges of
9” x 2” feature fabric rectangle. Press seam the exterior and the lining together to assist
towards the feature fabric. you with the assembly.

2. Take the 9” x 2¼” exterior rectangle and 10. Iron 1 x 2½” x 17” interfacing to the wrong
join it, right sides together, to the 9” side of side of the 2½” x 17” (facing) rectangle as
the feature fabric. Press seam towards the per interfacing instructions.
feature fabric. You should have a panel that
goes linen, feature fabric, linen. This is your 11. With right sides together fold the 2½” x 17”
exterior panel. rectangle in half matching shortest edges
together. Join along shortest edges with
3. With right sides together, fold your exterior a ½” seam to create a loop. Press seam
panel in half, matching the short edges. Use open.
a ½” seam to close both ends, stitching
from the fold out towards the opposite edge 12. Turn the bottom edge of the facing loop up
from the fold. Repeat with the 9” x 14” lining (wrong sides will touch) by ½” to create a
panel. hem. Press hem.

4. Clip the corners (near the fold) and press 13. With right sides touching, fit the facing
side seams open. Repeat with the lining. loop over the outside of the thread catcher.
The facing loop’s hem will be parallel to
5. Open up the exterior bag and squash the the bottom of the thread catcher and the
sides together to make a point at one of the unhemmed edge of the facing loop will align
clipped corners. Mark 1 ½” from the corner with the top of the thread catcher bag. For
point with fabric pencil and draw a line a neater appearance line up the facing loop
perpendicular to the seam. seam with one of the side seams of the
thread catcher bag. Pin and then stitch in
place.

14. Turn the facing loop to the inside of the Pin Cushion:
thread catcher bag and press. Stitch the
facing loop 1/8” from the bottom of the hem 1. Adhere interfacing to the wrong side of one
to secure it in place. of the 3¾” squares as per the interfacing
instructions.
15. The feature fabric strip will be on the front
of your bag. Attach one side of the magnetic 2. Take one 3¾” square and mark a dot a
clasp to the back of the thread catcher, the quarter of an inch in from each corner on
clasp will need to be centred between the the wrong side of the fabric. Repeat for the
top of the thread catcher and the hem line other 3¾” square.
of the facing. The magnetic clasp will be
on the exterior of the thread catcher with
its prongs and washer on the inside of the
thread catcher. (see image below to confirm
placement – prongs have been covered with
button.) See pincushion method for tips on
attaching magnetic clasps.

16. Once magnetic clasp is secured, cover 3. On the wrong side of the 13½” x 1½”
the prongs and washer by stitching in place rectangle, ¼” from the longest edge place a
the decorative button. Be sure to securely dot at the 1⅞”, 5⅛”, 8 ⅝” and 11⅞” point.
attach the button, as it will be under Repeat for the other longest side of the
constant wear and tear. You may also like to rectangle. Carefully clip ⅛” from the edge to
use hobby glue to add additional strength to each dot (this will allow the fabric to stretch
the button. into the corners of the pincushion).

17. The thread catcher is complete and can 4. Fold the 13½” x 1½” rectangle in half with
be used attached or unattached to the right sides together and matching the
organiser. shortest edges together. Join the shortest
edges with a quarter inch seam. Be sure to
back stitch and secure your stitches at the
start and end. Press seam open.

5. Take the 3 ¾” square with the interfacing on
it and mark the centre point (it will be 1⅞” in
from the side and 1-1⅞” in from the top or
bottom). Use this centre point to attach the
metal clasp as per the item instructions.

Tip: 6. With right sides together, pin the rectangle
to the pincushion top (the square without
• The metal closure pictured has 2 parts the metallic clasp), centring the rectangle
consisting of either a male or female closure seam on one edge and aligning the dots
coupled with a round washer. Separate the at the corners. Each clip in the end of
male and female parts of the closure and rectangle will align with a corner of the top
attach one of these to the square that will be square. Using a quarter inch seam stitch
the underside of your pincushion. the rectangle to the square top. Be sure to
secure the start and finish of your seam and
• To do this use the round washer centred
on the middle dot to mark snip lines (as do not stitch into the gap left by the snips.
pictured). Carefully snip the lines and fit
the prongs of the closure through the snip Tip: use a pin to match the dots on the
marks on the right side of the fabric. rectangle to the dots in the corners of
your square (as pictured – please note
the rectangle is lined up on the wrong
side of the square, the fabric should be
right sides together).

• The closure will be visible on the right side 7. With right sides together, pin the rectangle
of the square. Slide the washer over the to the pin cushion bottom square (the
prongs on the wrong side of the fabric square with the interfacing and metal clasp),
and fold the prongs down to secure the centring the rectangle seam on one edge
closure. You can always add a couple of and aligning dots with the corners. Start
fabric squares between the wrong side of stitching ¾” from rectangle seam (remember
the square and the washer to reinforce this to secure your seam) and continue sewing
point as it may get a lot of wear, however pincushion to bottom square as per step
the interfacing should be enough to help 6 until you come within ¾” of band seam
with this. (remember to secure your seam). You will
need to leave a gap for turning.

8. Turn pincushion right sides out, being
carefully of the metallic clasp. Find the
middle of your top square and stitch your
decorative button to this spot.

9. Stuff your pincushion with your chosen
fill until moderately filled to your liking. Be
gentle when stuffing corners to prevent the
stitches unravelling or the fabric fraying.

10. Using small stitches, slip-stitch the turning
open closed. Be sure to knot and secure the
thread to prevent the seam coming open.

11. The pincushion is complete and can 5. On the wrong side of the 5” x 12” interfaced
be used attached or unattached to the rectangle mark a line 5” from the shortest
organiser. edge. Draw a diagonal line from one corner
to the other corner, and repeat for the other
Organiser: corners. As per diagram.

1. Take the 5” x 5½” rectangle and fold over
(right side to wrong side) one of the short
edges ½” to make a hem. Stitch the hem in
place. Press. This is the tile pocket.

2. Take one of the 5” x 12” rectangles and
adhere the 5” x 12” interfacing to the wrong
side of the rectangle as per interfacing
instructions.

3. Take the 5” x 4” rectangle and adhere the 6. Use the centre point (where the lines
5 x 3½”interfacing to the wrong side of the intersect) to attach the other half of the
fabric as per interfacing instructions. Line up pincushion magnetic clasp as per its
one 5” edge of the interfacing to one of the instructions to the right side of the fabric.
5” edges of the exterior fabric, this is so that (See pincushion method for tips on
you can fold the edge without interfacing
over to make a hem. attaching magnetic clasp).

4. Fold the 5” edge without interfacing on it
down ½” to make a hem. Stitch in place.
Press. This is the utensils pocket.

7. On the utensils pocket mark a dot 1” from 19. Carefully clip all four lines. Put attach the
the bottom and 1½” in from the side of the magnetic clasp prongs through both layers
bottom left hand corner (the bottom is the as per its instructions. The magnetic clasp
unhemmed edge) on the right side of the will not secure the utensils pocket to the
fabric. Use this dot to mark the clip lines for main panel of the organiser to allow for
attaching the magnetic clasp. (See diagram stitching in place.
for confirmation).
10. Stitch a vertical line ½” distance from
magnetic clasp from the bottom of the
pocket to ¼” above the pocket hemline.
Backstitch at the start and the end to secure
threads and to help prevent tearing with use.

11. Stitch a horizontal line ½” distance above
the magnetic clasp from the left hand side
of the pocket to the centre stitch line.
Backstitch at the start and the end to secure
threads and to help prevent tearing with
use. See diagram to confirm placement.

8. On the 5” x 12” interfaced rectangle mark a
dot 1” from the bottom and 1½” in from the
side of the left hand corner opposite the end
with the pincushion clasp attached on the
right side of the fabric. Use this dot to mark
the clip lines for attaching the magnetic
clasp. (See next diagram to confirm correct
placement of clasps).

12. Take the 5” x 12” non-interfaced rectangle
and baste the tile pocket to the shortest edge
at the top of the rectangle on the right side of
the fabric. See next image for confirmation of
placement.

13. With right sides together stitch the two large
rectangles together, leaving a 3” gap on one
side for turning. Be sure to backstitch the start
and end of the seam stitches so they do not pull
apart when turning the project right sides out.
14. Turn project right sides out and press.
Neatly slip-stitch, or top stitch, the turning gap
closed. Press.
15. Slid the ceramic tile into the tile pocket
at the top of the organiser. This will act as a
counter weight to help keep your organiser
in place. Using the metal clasps attach the
pincushion and thread catcher.
Congratulations your Pincushion and Thread
Catcher Organiser is complete!

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