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Pincushion thread catcher pattern and tutorial

DIY Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and tutorial. This is an easy beginner sewing project! Make one for your sewing machine.

The pincushion thread catcher that my mom gave me years ago is my sewing table’s best friend. Yeah, I know it seems a little grandma-ish but it’s no surprise that I’m a big fan of things that are both clever and cute. My free pincushion thread catcher pattern and tutorial is an easy beginner sewing project and makes a great DIY gift for any sewer. Are you ready to make your own pincushion thread catcher?

What is a pincushion thread catcher?

A pincushion thread catcher is basically a weighted pincushion on top like this…

Pincushion thread catcher with pins

…that anchors your own little trashcan for stray threads and empty thread spools and scraps that you throw in here like so…

Thread catcher garbage basket for sewing machine tables

Convenient, yes? I’m always a big fan of beautifully functional DIY gift ideas. This is a great scrap buster project and wonderful gift idea for any sewer that you can make in just one evening. Keep reading to see how to sew your own pincushion thread catcher for your sewing room!

See also: ‘The Best Way To Sew Bias Tape With Mitered Corners {plus a video}’ »

Free pincushion thread catcher pattern that’s fun to sew

I made this red weighted pincushion thread catcher thank you gift for my friend Susan who let me deeply dip into her fabric stash while getting ready for the 2008 Renegade Craft Fair. Yep, I said 2008. That makes this thank you gift 18 months late. Terrible, I know. But better late than never.

Sketch of pincushion thread catcher free sewing pattern

I reverse-engineered my mom’s pattern, doubled the pin cushion size, and voila! An easy beginner sewing project and free step-by-step tutorial for how to make a pincushion thread catcher. Keep reading to make your own!

DIY Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and tutorial

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Supplies for sewing your own pincushion thread catcher for sewing tables:

NOTE: All seams are 1/2″.




How to make your own DIY pincushion thread catcher to organize your sewing room:

1. Cut your pincushion and thread catcher pattern pieces

NOTE: All seams are 1/2″.

The weighted pincushion not only stores your pins but also holds a hanging garbage bag steady so you can discard any loose thread or scraps quickly. Use your self-healing cutting mat set to cut out the following pieces for your pincushion thread catcher:

Outside fabric (the red flowers)

  • Pincushion: Cut one 9″ x 10″ rectangles
  • Straps: Cut two 4″ x 3-1/2″ rectangles
  • Bag: Cut one 17-1/2″ width x 11″ height rectangle

Lining (black)

  • Bag: Cut one 17-1/2″ width x 11″ height rectangle

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

2. Make the weighted pincushion to sit on your sewing table

Fold the straps in half and sew a 1/2″ seam.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Maneuver the seam to the center and press the seam open. Turn right side out and ensure the seam is on the back of the strap (rather than on one of the sides or the front).

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Put the pincushion piece face up on your table. Place the straps 1.5″ from each side of the pincushion piece on one of the 9″ long sides.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Fold right sides together, sandwiching the two straps inside.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Sew the pincushion shut, leaving about 3″ open on one of the short sides so that you can turn it right side out. Remember that all seams are 1/2″. Trim the corners a bit but not too close.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Turn the bag right side out through the opening. Press your fingers into the corner.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Press flat and set aside.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

3. Make the thread garbage bag

Fold the 17-1/2″ side of the thread garbage bag in half right sides together. Sew the seam. Remember that all seams in this beginner sewing project are 1/2″. Your rectangle should now be 8-3/4″ width x 11″ height.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Press the seam open and move it to the center like you did above for the straps. This will put the seam at the back of your bag so it won’t be seen as much. Sew the bottom seam.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Make your thread catcher basket bottom by creating a triangle where the side seam meets the bottom. Your triangle should be 1-1/2″ wide with the seam flattened open. Mark with a pencil and sew across the bottom of the triangle. Then repeat this step on the other side seam.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Turn the bag right side out to see how it creates a soft bottom.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

4. Make the bag lining

Basically you do the same thing here as the bag outside with one important difference: You leave a hole in the side seam so that you can turn all of this stuff right side out.

Like the bag outside fold right sides together. But instead of sewing the entire seam, starting from the top, sew 4″ of the side seam. Backstitch.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Then go to the bottom and sew 2″ of the sides seam.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

See the hole? This is important later.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Now just repeat what you did for the bag outside to finish off this lining. Sew the bottom seam.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Sew 1-1/2″ triangles on the bottom to create a soft bottom.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Stop here though …leave the lining with the right side in, wrong side out.

5. Attach the pincushion to the thread catcher bag

Line up the pincushion straps on the back of the bag. The back of the bag should be facing (touching) the back of the straps (so in other words, the seam-side of the bag and the seam-side of the straps should be touching each other).

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Sew the straps to the bag.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

6. Attach the bag outside / pincushion straps to the bag lining

So your bag is right side out and your lining is right side in. This is going to sound weird, but put your bag inside your lining matching up the back seams, and pin. See how the right sides are together? Eventually you’re going to pull this through the lining hole that you made.

Make sure your straps are tucked between the lining outside and lining inside. Sew all the way around to attach the bag outside to its lining.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Pay no attention to my messy sewing table 🙂 Turn the pincushion right side out through the lining hole.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

6b. Add in the clothesline boning (optional)

So while this step is optional it helps your thread catcher bag stay open and generally makes the whole thing look nicer.

Cut a 17″ piece of plastic clothes line using wire cutters.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial



Make a circle with the plastic clothes line and secure raw edges with a piece of tape.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Slip the circle inside the lining hole and work it up to the top of the bag. Secure with pins.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Sew around the bag close to the “boning.”

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

I think the thread catcher looks great like this! And now it will stay open when it’s on your sewing table.

7. Stuff and weight the pincushion

Now my mom’s pincushion was filled with sand, but I’ve read that sand can dull pins. I picked up a couple metal door hinges for 89 cents each at the local hardware store to use as weights. Then I secured them together using floral wire.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Slip the metal door hinges into the bottom of the pincushion – it will keep it from falling off of your sewing table even with a full basket.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial


Stuff the pincushion with eco-friendly polyfill stuffing, keeping the hinges on the bottom as weights with the polyfill on top and on the sides.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Hand sew the pincushion closed using a slipstitch.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

8. Close the bag

Hand sew the opening inside the bag closed using a slipstitch.

Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

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Be sure to pin my free weighted pincushion thread catcher sewing pattern and tutorial for later:

DIY Pincushion Thread Catcher free sewing pattern and tutorial

Love to sew? Here are more of my top free sewing projects:

 

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Copyright stuff: You’re more than welcome to use this free project and tutorial for personal use. Contact me for commercial use and etsy sales.

Jacque

Sunday 17th of February 2019

Loved this! Your tutorial was great and easy to follow. Thank you! Wish I could post a picture of the one I made today!

Kathy

Tuesday 19th of February 2019

Hi Jacque, thank you so much for telling me that you liked the tutorial! I would love to see your picture ...I'd love to see your fabric choices and color combos. Are you on Instagram or Facebook? I'm at kathybeymer on Instagram Merriment Design on Facebook. I'm supposed to be working on a new dance bag pattern for my daughter. You're motivating me to get to it!

Cricket

Friday 12th of January 2018

I just finished making 3 of these. Great pattern! After the first one, I decided it was a little too big for me. I cut the pincushion 7 x 8, and the bag 17 1/2 x 9, and the other 2 turned out the perfect size for me. Your comments about the stuffing were interesting and after doing more research, I decided the hinges and the fiberfill were the best option. The hinges fit perfectly even though I reduced the size. Great idea!

Cricket

Tuesday 16th of January 2018

You're welcome! I tried to insert a picture, but I couldn't get it to work.

Kathy

Tuesday 16th of January 2018

I'd love to see your pincushions! I think the smaller size would be really cute on the sewing table. Thanks for commenting and being so sweet!

Wanda

Monday 6th of June 2016

Genius move using the door hinges and plastic clothesline. Thanks for the tute!

Kathy Beymer

Thursday 9th of June 2016

Thanks, Wanda! How did yours turn out?

Linda Simpson

Thursday 19th of May 2016

Thanks for a really great tutorial. I am teaching someone to sew & this will make a great beginner project. The question is: do I use up some of the mountains of old leftover fabric & be economical or buy something really cute for my sewing room. We recently remodeled & replaced our hardware, using the hinges was pure genius as I have a whole pail of them. Sand versus stuffing dilemma. My favorite pincushion that I have had forever is stuffed with poly- fiberfill. I only use Clover quilting pins which are very thin. I stuff them at a fast & furious rate as I sew in my nice & soft pincushion. I have a firmer pincushion which often bends their very thin shaft, so I think I'll pass on the sand.

Meagan

Friday 13th of May 2016

Hi Kathy, I made one of your pincushions a few years back for a good friend of mine, but i've just blogged about it on my new blog :) Thanks for the inspiration, and i've linked back to this site for your tutorial! Thanks, Meagan