Tutorial: Thread catcher and pin cushion & $50 fabric GIVEAWAY

Welcome Gen X Quilters readers and Sew Fresh Fabrics friends! 
Please scroll down for a giveaway, at the end of this post.

If you are like me, you have fabric scraps that you intend to use, but you really don't know what they should become. Today I turned some leftover apron fabric into some thread catcher and pincushion combos for my pay it forward giveaway.

Yes, that's right. You can get rid of that plastic grocery bag you use to throw away scraps, and replace it with one of these beauties. This is a quick project that's easy for beginners, so let's get started.

Thread catcher and pin cushion tutorial

Supplies:

• 1 piece of fabric (about 24" x 6") for thread catcher
• 1 fabric scrap (about 8" x 3") for pin cushion
• Fusible interfacing (about  16" x 5.5")
• Velcro strip (about 2.5" long)
• Double fold bias tape (optional)
• Polyfil (about a handful) to fill pin cushion

Finished project size: This is totally up to you. I suggest just finding a long scrap of fabric and seeing where it takes you. This is a great project for leftovers because it can be any size you want.

Step 1:

Take your long piece of fabric and fold the top piece about 1/4 of the way down. Iron on a piece of fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the exposed fabric. (It's okay if interfacing does not reach left and right edges--this is just to make our thread catcher sturdy.) If needed, stitch around edges of interfacing like I did here, to secure to fabric.

Step 2:

With interfacing now attached, fold bottom edge up to meet the edge of the top flap. When you look at it, the ratio should be about 1/3 (top pocket) and 2/3 (bottom pocket).

Fold under rough edges of both flaps and secure with pins. Stitch a finished edge.

Step 3:

Sew fuzzy side of velcro to left or right side of top flap.

Which side? Well, I put my thread catcher on the right side of my sewing machine, so I also put the pincushion on the right. For lefties, the left side might be a better choice. (Your sewing machine will actually sit on the opposite corner to hold it in place.)

Step 4:

With flaps finished smooth and velcro attached, it's time to seal up those ragged left and right sides. I chose to seal with cute binding, but it's a choose your own adventure here. You could easily  just hem the sides in and then fold and stitch up the long sides.

When you attach binding, just make sure your two flaps are folded in the one-thirds/two-thirds ratio (like in step 2) and that the finished edges of the flaps are touching each other without overlapping.

Step 5:

Pin on binding and stitch. When you get to the end of the binding, remember to fold under the edge like you are wrapping a present.

You now have a finished thread catcher, which should resemble a small pillowcase of sorts. The longer pouch is heavier because of the interfacing, and this is where you'll deposit all your unwanteds.

Step 6:

To make the pincushion, take your fabric rectangle. Sew scratchy side of velcro to one half of rectangle, like this.

Fold in half (right sides together) and stitch up longer sides.

Turn inside out and stuff with a handful of Polyfil. Stitch up open end of pin cushion (by hand or by machine).

Step 7:

One corner of your new thread catcher can sit underneath sewing machine (with pin cushion attached) for easy access. Just toss tiny pieces of thread, fabric, selvages and anything else you need to get rid of in the pouch!

Introducing... my thread catcher, which is super handy with an extra compartment for a seam ripper. It was made for me in my very first craft swap. I really can't imagine sewing without it, because I was always losing my pins and seam ripper. It's perfect.

Anyone else love their thread catcher? P.S. I got the green polka dot bias tape at Holland Fabric House on Etsy.

$50 Fabric Giveaway from Sew Fresh Fabrics

Sew Fresh Fabrics and I are teaming up to offer TWO lucky readers a $25 gift certificate to their shop. Each person can earn up to 4 entries (You must leave one comment on this post for EACH entry):

1. Required: Become a public follower of this blog, Lindsay Sews, on Google Friend Connect and leave a comment (Required - 1 entry)
2. Become a public follower of Sew Fresh Fabrics on Google Friend Connect and leave a comment (1 entry)
3. "Like" Lindsay Sews on Facebook (1 entry) and leave a comment telling me you did.
4. "Like" Sew Fresh Fabrics on Facebook (1 entry) and leave a comment telling me you did.

Using Random.org, I'll choose two winners from all comments on Monday night, after I'm done watching The Bachelor (10pm EST). Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. I must have a way to reach the winners by Wednesday, or I'll redraw. Good luck!

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