When I was in high school (l955) our home ec teacher had us make 1-1/2 x 2-1/2" pin cushions that we put elastic on and they fit on the top of the machine, always out of the way and handy. Since the machines are so much bigger now, I just made a smaller one, put velcro on the bottom and the other end of the vecro on the machine and there it sticks, again, up out of the way...works for me!