If you have problems with too few and too little usable flat surfaces in your sewing area as I have, you might be interested in this multiple-use device that is a combination pincushion and thread end collector. The pincushion occupies a small area (that might already be occupied by a ‘standard’ pincushion) and holds up the thread end collector in a location that previously was just ‘air.’ The pincushion is weighted to keep the entire assembly from winding up on the floor. There is a fundamental limit to the weight that the thread catcher can reliably support. We won’t go into the calculations that involve the weight of the pincushion and the surface frictional (not fiction) qualities of the pincushion material and flat surface material which ultimately determine how much weight in the collector will cause the entire device to descend to the floor.  Resist the temptation to put ‘heavy’ objects in the collector – just put thread ends into the collector (which should be placed in a location convenient to your machine) rather than trying to throw the thread ends across the room to the local wastebasket.

Supplies:
1 – 16 1/2” x 8 1/2” main fabric – collector bag
1 – 16 1/2” x 8 1/2” lining fabric
1 – 16 1/2” x 8 1/2” medium weight fusible interfacing
2 – 3 1/2” squares main fabric – hanging tab
2 – 6 1/2” squares main fabric – pincushion
2 – 6 1//2” medium weight fusible interfacing
17” of boning or other stiffener for top edge of the collector
filling for pincushion – crushed walnut shells, rice, or your favorite ecologically safe material that will not dull, contaminate, or create a sticky surface on your pins

Instructions:
Sew with a 1/4” seam allowance unless otherwise noted.

Hanging Tab:
1. Sew together the 3 1/2” squares right-sides together, on two opposite sides to form a tube.

2. Turn right side out and press.

Collector Bag:
1. Press interfacing to wrong side of main fabric
2. Fold main fabric in half with right-sides together and short ends lined up.
3. Sew down side seams.
4. Repeat  above steps 2-3 with lining fabric.
5. Press seams open.

6. Fold sides to form triangle at bottom corner.
7. Pin corner and mark a line 1 1/4” from bottom of corner.
8. Sew along marked line.

9. Cut off corner piece 1/4” from stitching line.
10. Repeat steps 5-9 with the lining fabric.

Pincushion:
1. Fuse interfacing to wrong side of both 6 1/2” squares.
2. Place right-sides together.

3. Between the layers, center the finished hanging tag.
4. Sew 1/4” around all edges leaving an opening for turning.
5. Turn and press.

Putting it all together:
1. With the outside fabric collector bag still right-sides together, mark the center of the space between the seams , approx.. 4”, on one of the  raw edges .

2. Center the remaining raw edge of the hanging tag over your mark from step 1 so the pincushion is lined up with the bottom of the catcher. Pin the tag to the collector bag.
3. Turn lining fabric collector bag right-side out.
4. Place lining unit inside the main bag with right sides together.
5. Sew around the entire opening, leaving about three inches open for turning.
6. Turn the collector bag assembly right-side out and press.

7. Create a casing by stitching around the entire cylinder of the collector bag about 1” from the top.

8. Insert the boning in the casing.

9. Stitch all around the top about 1/8” from top edge.
10. Fill pincushion with approx 1 ½ cups of filler.
11. Sew the pincushion opening closed, either by hand or machine.
12. Your completed pincushion and thread end collector should look something like this when viewed from above.