Good morning! I hope you are all ready for a home economics lesson today because I’m sharing a tutorial for an easy thread catcher. My girls each made one for their new sewing machines and I made one too!

So what is a thread catcher?

It’s basically a super cute trash can with a weighted pin cushion on top. These hang nicely by your sewing machine and come in very handy when it comes to keeping little pieces of thread, and fabric contained. Plus you can quickly access your pins while sewing too. And who doesn’t need a cute little trashcan in their sewing room?

This post got a tad long, but I wanted to give you as many details as I could. By the way, this is a great project for younger sewers! My girls (9 and 11) each made their own bags. I did cut the fabric for them, but they did the rest all on their own.

Sound like fun? Let’s get started!

IMG_1965web

Supplies:

    • –> Download a FREE printable pattern for the Thread Catcher <–
    • Pins
    • Rotary cutter
    • Scissors
    • mat and ruler
    • sewing machine (Or a needle and thread but who has time for that?)
    • Fabric (Fat quarters work nicely, but you’ll need 1- 17.5”x11” of the outside fabric, and 1 full Fat Quarter or 18”x 22” piece of the lining fabric.)
    • 1/2” x 18” of any type of stabilizer for the top edge of the bag. I used a cotton belting similar to this one from JoAnn’s, but you can use plastic or anything else you have on hand that will give it some stability.
    • Rice, sand, or crushed walnut shells for pillow filling (walnut shells can be purchased at the pet store, they are used for lizard cage bedding.)

All seems are sewn at 1/4” unless otherwise indicated.

IMG_1887web

Cutting Instructions:

From your outside fabric cut:

    • 1 – 3.5”x 10” strap piece**
    • 1 – 4.5” x 10” pillow piece
    • 1 – 17.5” x 8.5” bag outside piece

(**NOTE: The strap in the PDF Pattern size has been updated to make it tad smaller. It is now 3-1/2″ x 6″. You can use whichever size you prefer!)

From your inside lining fabric cut:

    • 1 – 17.5” x 11” bag lining piece

IMG_1878web

The Strap:

The first step is to create the strap that holds the pin cushion to the bag. To do this simply fold the strap piece in half length wise with the right sides together, so your piece measures 3.5” x 10”. Sew down both sides using a 1/4” seam. Make sure to leave one end open.

Turn the strap right sides out and push out the corners with a pencil, or your scissor tip. Just be careful not to cut your fabric!

IMG_1880web

The Pillow:

Next lay the strap you just created on the piece of pillow fabric as shown below. Fold the pillow fabric right sides together in half so it measures 4.5”x 5”.

Adjust the strap so it’s centered on the pillow. Pin all of the layers together. Stitch down both sides, and about a 1/2” in on each end, but make sure to leave an opening in the end so you can turn your pillow right sides out and fill!

When stitching, make sure to catch your strap in the bottom seam (shown below), but fold down your strap so you do NOT stitch your strap in the top seam.

IMG_1882web

Turn your pillow right side out. It should look like this…

IMG_1884web

Take a quick minute to press your pillow and strap. We also tucked the pillow opening seam in to make sewing it up a little easier.

IMG_1885web

If you’d like, do a 1/4” top stitch around the outside of the pillow edge to give it a more finished look. This is a picture of my daughter’s project, I forgot to top stitch my pillow Sad smile Again, make sure to leave one end open to fill!

IMG_1923web

Next fill your pillow with either rice, sand, or crushed walnut shells.

IMG_1916web

Then tuck in your edges and top stitch to close the seam. This is much less noticeable if you top stitch like I did in my daughter’s project shown above. Set your completed pillow and strap aside.

IMG_1917web

The Bag:

Next pin your lining and outside bag fabric right sides together along the 17.5” sides and pin. Sew together with 1/4” seam.

IMG_1888web

Press your seam open so that you have a nice edge.

IMG_1889web

Next turn your project sideways and fold in half like shown below. Pin along the edge and add in the stabilizer for the bag rim so it goes all the way around the project as well. Line it up so it’s just along the seam of the inside lining as shown below and pin in place.

IMG_1890web

Stitch around all three sides as shown below, making sure to catch the stabilizer in your seam. Trim the stabilizer off even with your bag fabric when done sewing. Make sure to leave about 3” at one end open so you can turn the bag.

IMG_1894web

Next fold your ends like shown below.

IMG_1895web

Mark about 1.5” up from each corner tip and sew along your line. This will create a box look on the bottom of your bag. Do this on both tips of your outside and lining fabric.

IMG_1896web

After you’ve sewn along your line, trim off any excess fabric like below.

IMG_1902web

Your bag should now be looking like this…

IMG_1903web

Next turn your bag right side out and stitch up the end seam to finish it off.

IMG_1905web

Tuck your inside lining down into your bag so it should look something like this, with about an inch of your inside lining showing along the top edge.

IMG_1909web

Next run a quick top stitch around the edge just to keep the lining and stabilizer strip in place.

IMG_1912web

The Big Finale:

Adding your strap to your bag is the last step in completing your project! Place your strap along the center back side of your project about 2.5” down and pin it in place.

IMG_1913web

Just make sure you only pin it to one side of your bag, and not both sides or your bag won’t open when you’re done!

IMG_1914web

I just stitched a square around the strap and then an “X” inside to make it a little bit more secure.

IMG_1922web

And that’s it! This project took us about an hour and turned out really cute!

Now go and make some more because they’re fun!

IMG_1979web

Oh and don’t forget to get some fun pins to add to your cushion. No sewer is complete without a cute set of pins.

IMG_1966web

Then it’s time to put your new bag to use! Any small scraps, threads, bits, and bobs can go in here.

IMG_1979web

IMG_1967web

–> Download a FREE printable pattern for the Thread Catcher <–

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and happy sewing!

71 Comments

        1. Hi Sheila,
          The link is still working, try RIGHT clicking the link and then select ‘save file as’ and see if that helps! If you are on a mobile device, some download automatically so you will want to check your downloads folder 🙂

  1. Thank you. I put a piece of plastic tubing from the hardware store in mine. I left a hole in the side seam and inserted it into the bag then sewed the strap on. I ran the tubing so that it was in a semi circle and held the bag open. it makes it handy for dropping my clips into as I sew as well as threads. Your girls might want to try a sewing machine pad, they are quick and easy and keep me from picking my scissors off the floor with the front pockets. I also attached a cloth bag to the pad with snaps as an extra catch all.

    Carol

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.