... and a Pincushion Boat (with Trawler Net Thread Catcher!)

Ahoy there! Today's post has a nautical theme.... with a boat pin cushion and thread catcher.

If there was a prize for messiest sewer, I'd definitely be in the running. Despite my best efforts, I always end up with threads all over the floor and pins stuck randomly in cushions, jeans etc. So whilst sorting out my new craft room(!) making a pin cushion and thread catcher seemed like a sensible idea!


To make your own version, you will need.....

Materials

• Assorted Felt
• Twine
• Fabric scrap
• Knitting needles
• Stuffing material
• General sewing materials

I found a great boat pattern which I used as a template to cut the pieces of felt to size, then sewed them together using a blanket stitch.

To stuff the boat, I chose a variety of materials including wire wool (to keep pins and needles sharp), toy stuffing and rice (at the bottom to give it weight).

As I wanted it to look vaguely (!?) like a trawler boat, I stuffed and sewed another piece of felt onto the top. For a bit of extra decoration, I added some needle felted waves to the bottom. (You can see our other needle felting post here)

I then went onto the thread catcher - I wanted to make look like a net being towed along by the boat. For this I used a 22 x 15cm piece of blue cotton and hemmed the top with a 2cm allowance.

To give the top some stability and help keep it open, I used a plastic parcel tie (is that what it's called?!?) to thread through the hem. Then turned inside out and sewed the sides and bottom together.

At this point, it was looking a bit plain... so I decided to knit a net using size 10 needles and twine!

I wrapped this around the fabric, secured by sewing to the fabric on the inside hem and used a wool needle to sew the sides and bottom together using twine.  

I made the ropes by plaiting together twine and then cut out some felt fish to finish it off! I decided not to attach the net permanently to the boat as I can then use each piece separately and it can also fit in different places - for example next to my sewing machine!

So now I have no excuse for making a mess and just need to tackle the rest of the 'organised chaos' in my craft room!!

5th June 2013: Update - this post was featured here at Vintage Zest and here at Sugar Bee Crafts

 

10th March 2014: Update - this post was featured here by the Sewing Loft