Crochet Thread Catcher

This Crochet Thread Catcher is easy to make and super handy to have around while you’re working on your crochet projects! A thread catcher is also known as a “scrap caddy” or “scrap bag”. This cute little bag hangs conveniently right next to you ready to “catch” all your yarn, thread, fabric and even snack 😉 scraps! I have been using a fabric one like this for years and I love it!

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Red Heart Super Saver Granny Square All in One Yarn

I have been wanting to try Red Heart’s new Granny Square Yarn for months and have also been wanting to crochet one of these thread catchers for a while. Since crochet granny squares are so popular right now I thought it would be fun to combine the traditional motif with this project! It was neat to work with this yarn and see how the color changes fall pretty close to the right spot in the pattern. “No Color Switchin’. Keep on Stitchin'” says their label! Not having many yarn tail ends to weave in was great!

All the Crochet Thread Catcher Can Do!

These little scrap caddies are popular with those who quilt and sew and many quilters make these to sell at craft fairs and on Etsy. This cute Crochet Thread Catcher comes in 2 sizes! Plus, there is a simple add-on to keep your scissors handy. The top smaller granny square is weighted and does not slide (due to a quick little crafty hack!) so your caddy stays put on the edge of your table or work surface. You can keep a few stitch markers, needles and hooks in the gaps of the top granny square, too so you have the essentials at your finger tips (but not on your lap where they are bound to get lost in the couch! 😉)

Stitches Used in the Granny Square Thread Catcher

This Granny Square Thread Catcher uses all basic crochet stitches: chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet. You’ll see that this project has a very simple construction and it works up quickly – especially the smaller version. I think this pattern would be good for a confident beginner all the way up to advanced crocheters. Everyone could use a crochet thread catcher by their side while working on projects! Plus, this would make a great gift for friends and family members that love to crochet, knit, sew, embroider, quilt and craft!

Let’s get started!

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Measurements:

Large: 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ for granny square; 4″ x 3 1/2″ for top smaller granny square

Small: 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ for granny square; 2″ x 2″ for top smaller granny square

Supplies:

Click on the supply name to purchase

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Red Heart Super Saver Granny Square Yarn – 1 skein in color: Soft White – Pink Punch

I/5.5mm crochet hook

Jumbo Tapestry Needle

Wonder Clips or straight sewing pins

9″ x 12″ square white felt (or any color you like that would look good behind both granny square motifs) – you can purchase felt squares in most craft stores – one of these ‘squares’ is plenty for both sizes of this project

Matching sewing thread and sewing needle (same color as felt)

Small stone or other weight – Approximately 3 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ for large bag and 1 3/4″ x 1 3/4″ for small bag

(Another option for weight – small plastic bag of plastic pellets)

Hot glue gun and glue sticks (to create grip on underside of weight)

(Another option for grippy section – sew on piece of foam shelf liner or special grip fabric)

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Abbreviations and Stitches:

Dc (double crochet) = YO, insert hook into stitch, YO, draw up a loop, (YO, pull through 2 loops on hook) twice

Sl st (slip stitch) = Insert hook into stitch, YO, pull through stitch and loop on hook

Hdc (half double crochet) = YO, insert hook into stitch; YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through all 3 loops on hook

Sc (single crochet) = Insert hook into stitch, YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through 2 loops on hook

Back bar of the Chain = When looking at the right side of a chain, you see many “V’s” and the chain looks like a braid. Turn the chain over and you see a series of bumps – it is in these bumps that you will work across the chain to produce a cord with even edges along both sides

Click here to watch a short video tutorial on this technique

Back Loop Only = Insert hk only into the back lp at the top of the stitch

Click here to watch a short video tutorial of this technique

Join with sc (join with single crochet) = With slip knot on hook, insert hook into stitch; YO, draw up a loop; YO, pull through 2 loops on hook

Click here to watch a short video tutorial on this technique

YO (yarn over)

Hk (hook)

Lp (loop)

Ch (chain)

St (stitch)

Sp (space)

Notes:

First a traditional granny square motif is crocheted

Then other sections are added with simple stitches to create the bag form

Small pieces of felt are sewn to the wrong side of the granny squares as a lining

Instructions for the Crochet Thread Catcher:

Special stitches are written in bold and italicized text and defined above

Large Caddy:

Granny Square:

Ch 5; join with sl st to form ring

Round 1: 

Ch 3, 2 dc in ring; (ch 3, 3 dc) in ring 3 times; ch 3, join with sl st to top of starting ch-3.

Round 2: 

Sl st in next 2 dcs and into next ch-3 sp; ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp) (Corner); [ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp] 3 times; ch 1; join with sl st to top of starting ch-3.

Round 3: 

Sl st in next 2 dcs and into next ch-3 sp; (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same sp (Corner); [(ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) across to next ch-3 sp; ch 1, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp] 3 times; (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) across to first corner; ch 1; join with sl st to top of starting ch-3.

Rounds 4 & 5:

Repeat Round 3 – do not fasten off.

Side Sections:

Row 1 – First section:

Sl st in next 2 dcs and in next 2 chs; ch 2, working in the back loop only, hdc in each st across up to next ch-3 sp (at next corner); hdc in next ch; Turn. (21 hdc)

Row 2:

Ch 2, now working in both loops hdc in each st across. Turn.

Rows 3 – 13:

Repeat Row 2 – Fasten off.

Row 1 – Second section:

With Right Side of granny square facing and working in back loops only, sl st in middle chain of ch-3 sp at a corner opposite side just crocheted; ch 2, hdc in each st across up to next ch-3 sp (at next corner); hdc in next ch; Turn. (21 hdc)

Rows 2 – 13:

Work as for other side. Do not fasten off.

Joining Back Seam:

With Wrong Side facing fold project in half and sl st end of both side sections together – Fasten off. (This creates a tube – the top will be the bag opening and the bottom will be closed up with a small rectangle)

Bottom Rectangle:

Ch 19

Row 1:

Hdc in 3rd ch from hk and in each ch across. Turn. (17 hdc)

Row 2:

Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn.

Rows 3-7:

Repeat Row 2. Do not fasten off.

Joining Bottom Rectangle:

Clip or pin rectangle to bottom of tube – Make sure Right Side of tube is facing and the bottom rectangle is behind crochet hook (This will help the bottom rectangle to sit inside the tube properly and the bag will look its best)

Sl st rectangle to tube making sure to work through both thicknesses and stitches are even

Top Edging for Bag:

At back seam at top edge with Right Side facing, join with sc; work sc around top edge making sure evenly spaced; sl st in 1st sc. Fasten off.

Top Weight and Hanging Length:

Work Rounds 1-2 of Granny Square – do not fasten off.

Edging Round:

Ch 1, working in the back loop only sc in each ch and each st around; sl st in 1st sc. Fasten off.

Row 1:

Join with sl st in any center ch of any corner ch-3 sp; ch 2, hdc in each st across to next corner. Turn. (11 hdc)

Row 2:

Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn.

Rows 3 – 15:

Repeat Row 2 – Put stitch marker in working loop

Adding Felt Lining to Granny Squares:

Using squares as templates, cut felt to same size as both squares

Sew felt to back of granny squares (on Wrong Side) using sewing thread and needle

Weight Pocket:

(See photo collage above)

Remove stitch marker and fold small granny square over

Sl st along hanging length edge and around 3 sides of small granny square making sure to work through both thicknesses and working in back loop only; sl st along other side of hanging length. (Right-handers will work from Point A to Point B as shown in collage above – Left-Handers will work from Point B to Point A; Fasten off with long tail for assembly.

*I liked how the blue-green color looked around the smaller granny square so I unwound the yarn skein until I got to more of the blue-green color and used that for my sl st edging*

Finishing the Crochet Thread Catcher:

Using yarn tail and tapestry needle sew hanging length to top back center of bag (use photos as a guide)

Scissor Holder Tab (optional):

(It turned out that my bag top edging was in the pink yarn so I wanted my scissor tab to also be pink. Simply wind off yarn from the main skein until you get to the color you want)

Ch 13

Working in the back bar of the chain, hdc in 3rd ch from hk and in each ch across. Fasten off with long tail for assembly. (11 hdc)

Sew tab to top center of bag on inside (using photo as a guide) leaving an opening where center 3 sts are

Insert weight into weight pocket and sew up opening with matching yarn and tapestry needle

Sew small piece of grip fabric or foam shelf liner to bottom of weight square – or you can add hot glue in a back and forth/”S” pattern and let dry/cool on the bottom of the weight square – This will also help it to grip the table top

Small Bag Version Adjustments:

Make as for the Large Bag with these adjustments:

Work only Rounds 1 – 3 for Granny Square for the front center motif

Work 8 rows for each side section

Work just Round 1 for Top Weight

Work 9 rows for hanging length (will have 7 sts in each row)

Your Crochet Thread Catcher is Complete!

Your Crochet Thread Catcher is complete! Which version did you crochet? I love the small version and it seems the perfect size for yarn tails made while crocheting. What did you think of the Granny Square yarn? I enjoyed working with it and seeing the granny squares come together so easily.

Granny Square projects are very popular right now – you can find more Granny Square projects here!

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Thank you for visiting – Happy crocheting!

Jennifer

Copyright – Jennifer E Ryan- www.celticknotcrochet.com- all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.

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