Thursday, November 17, 2011

My First Tutorial: A Triangular Thread Catcher

When I was in Washington state last month, I bought a couple of these thread catchers at the La Conner quilt museum.  They are very handy for neatnicks like me who need a small receptacle to collect all the loose thread when I applique or do any other hand work.

My friend Hena saw this and being an engineer, figured out how to make one in 30 seconds flat.  After she successfully made herself a sample, she showed me how easy it is to make it so here is my first tutorial.

All you need is 2 pieces of fabric about 12 inch x 12 inch in size.  You can make this any size you want but I tend to like it a little bigger so my fingers can fit inside the hole.

First you draw a 60 degree equilateral triangle.  Each side measures 10 inches.  I made my template on paper so it is easy for me to demonstrate and I can also lay this template on my fabric and rotary cut along side the triangle.


After I cut my 2 pieces of fabric the same size as the triangle, I sewed them right sides together.   Be sure to leave a 4 inch gap on one of the sides so you can turn the triangle inside out.

Once you've turned your triangle inside out, top stitch around the triangle to sew up the gap.


After I topstitch all around the triangle, I use a pin to mark the midpoint between each side.  So referring back to my first photo, you would put a pin midpoint between A and B, B and C and A and C.

 
Then I fold each triangle peak down and pin it as well, making sure that the triangle peaks do not go lower than my midpoint pins.

Then I take one side of the triangle, fold them together and topstitch the sides.  Be careful not to stitch down the triangle peaks.  Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end to ensure that the sides are securely sewn together.


Take the other 2 sides and do the same.  The result will look like this.


Secure the triangle ears down with a button and you are all done.  Ta Da!!!


Thanks to my friend Hena for figuring out this little contraption.  Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and if you do make one of these threadcatchers, please send me a photo.




9 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for posting this tutorial. I had seen another one online and I couldn't figure out how the darn thing came together. The pictures on your tutorial really did the trick. Here's a link to the ones I made.

    Thanks again!

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  2. I'll try to translate this in "français" for my friends;It is so beautifull
    !
    Thank you ,and excuse my bad english


    Bravo for your " Around the world " seen at Papillon's Creations
    Kisses!Hélène

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  3. Hello!
    I was searching for something online one day when I accidentally ran across this tutorial. It's so cute and seemed so simple I had to try it. I made a couple and they turned out just as darling as can be! only after making 2 of them, I figured out something that would make them even faster and more simple to make. If you make the hole as small as you can and you get it in the center, then you don't have to sew it up or even top stitch it to close it. If you're careful when you're sewing the sides up, you can catch it and sew the hole up at the time. If that makes sense? =)

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  4. 12" per side makes a decent size pouch for threads....

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  5. I am working in the Gift Shop today at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum in La Conner, Washington. A guest purchased a thread catcher and asked if we also sold a pattern. I told her we did not but, being the computer geek that I am, quickly looked up "triangular thread catcher pattern" on the internet. What a surprise to find this tutorial from 2011! I am proud to say that through the efforts of many wonderful volunteers, the thread catchers sold in the Quilt Museum have raised well over $5,000 toward the restoration of the historic Gaches Mansion, our spectacular home!

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    Replies
    1. Patterns will be available at the Quilt & Textile Museum shortly.

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  6. I made a thread catcher, just a small one 8.5", but plan to make a larger one next. You can seen mine on http://railwaycottage.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/crafting-quilting-and-hand-sewing.html
    Thanks for the tutorial!
    kind regards Kath

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  7. Amazing - I was at the La Conner Quilt Museum last year - my first visit - it's a fabulous place - and bought two of these thread catchers! Thought they would be easy to figure out, but was having difficulty, so googled "triangular thread catcher". This was the first site to come up, and it's a great tutorial. Imagine my surprise, though, when I read that you bought YOURS at the La Conner Museum as well! Talk about a happy coincidence! I was destined to find this site! Thanks for the great pictures - I'm going to try making one tomorrow.

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  8. Thank you! I found this triangle bag on another blog and could not understand her directions (my bad) found you and TaDa! All done!

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