I made myself one and made one for my sister and I lose pins in mine all the time so what I do is reach down in it carefully and get the pins out and then empty the thing. I tried to make it so it would stay open and I had no luck. Tried wire and that did not work so I pinned it open and that has worked for a spell, but I still get some pins dropped into it and some times my seam ripper too. So I have to be very careful when I empty it and a lot of scraps do end up on the floor also. Have a great day, Now to find a glass that I can put into it. Thanks for the idea, Huggies, Fay