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You can't tell very well from this picture, but the pincushion with this thread catcher is actually velcroed to a 3"x6" ceramic tile (they call them subway tiles) purchased from Lowe's for less than 50 cents. I made a sleeve that the tile fits in and sewed the hook part of the velcro on it, inserted the tile and hand-stitched it closed. Then I made a rectangular pin cushion with two pieces of fabric and two pieces of batting, sewed the other part of the velcro to it, sewed three sides (left one of the short sides open, turned it right side out, filled it with crushed walnut shells and sewed the end shut. In this picture, the base is connected to the thread catcher, but I can remove the pincushion if I need to.
I have started making simple 4" square pincushions and my sister is going to crochet motifs to go around them. They will be made in the same way as above -- two pieces of fabric, two pieces of batting and walnut shells.