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Thimble Pip Tutorial

Thimble Pip Tutorial

Welcome!

Whether you’ve arrived from Pinterest, CraftGossip, Total Tutorials or another of the wonderful sites that have linked to my Thimble Pip Tutorial…

I’m so glad you’re here!

How many times have you been working on a hand sewing project where you need to use your thimble only to search and search and not find it anywhere?

How many times have you removed your thimble to thread a needle only to have it roll away and then the search is on to find it again?

Well, search no more!

These little thimble pips are the perfect place to store your thimbles so that you’ll always know exactly where to find them.

Thimble pips are certainly not a new idea. During my research, I discovered that they go back at least one hundred years, if not more. The original ones were made using cardboard or card stock as a base.

Many were very elaborately embroidered or embellished with beads and lace.

They go by several different names: thimble buds, precious pods, precious buds, pipkins, pinch purse, clam shells and Kai No Kuchi. But as I mentioned in this post, thimble pip is my favorite as it’s such fun to say. Want a downloadable copy of this tutorial complete with the patterns? The PDF can be purchased in my shop for $5.00.

Thimble Pip Tutorial - Make a Pretty Home for Your Thimbles

I will provide you with step-by-step instructions to make any size pip you want to make.

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Thimble Pip Tutorial

Materials required:

 

For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll be making a 2 ½” pip. It comfortably holds 3 thimbles with room for more.

Completed 2.5 inch thimble pip

To make the pattern for the pip:

You’ll need a pencil, paper and a compass.

Don’t worry about having to use a compass! These simple step-by-step instructions make it easy!

Draw two perpendicular lines (lines that intersect at a 90 degree angle) in the middle of a piece of paper.

draw two perpendicular lines

Divide 2.5 inches in half, giving you a 1.25 or 1 ¼”. (To make a different sized pip… substitute the size you want to make for 2.5″ then divide that in half. For example:

1.5″ ÷  2 = .75″ (or ¾”)

2″ ÷ 2 = 1″

On the horizontal line mark 1 ¼” on either side of the center point. Label these points as A and B.

Mark on either side of center line and label A and B

Set your compass for 2 ½ inches. Place the needle of the compass on A. Trace an arc that overlaps the vertical line.

In the next several photos my husband agreed to be the hand model so that I could man the camera. He was compensated for those services with hugs and kisses.

Draw first arc

Place the needle of the compass on B. Trace another arc.

Draw second arc

You now have the pattern for the outside of the thimble pip.

To make the pattern for the inside of the thimble pip, decrease the compass setting by 1/8”.

Once again place the needle on A and trace an arc.

Draw first inside arc

Place the needle on B, trace a second arc.

Draw second inside arc

That completes the pattern for the inside of the thimble pip.

Now we’re going to make a plastic template that you’ll be able to use over and over again because trust me, once you’ve made one of these for yourself, you’re going to want to make more!

To make the templates, place the paper pattern under the plastic container you are repurposing and trace.

Trace larger pattern

Trace around the inside pattern

Cut out the plastic templates with a pair of scissors. Label them: large and small.

Next, trace around the templates to make the forms that will be used to make the thimble pips.

Trace around the template

You will need three of the large for the outside of the thimble pip and three of the small for the inside.

Cut them out following the line you’ve traced.

At this point, I like to clean off any of the black marker that may be left on the pip form after cutting them out. The marker wipes right off with a cotton ball dipped in nail polish remover. Dry the form with a piece of paper towel.

Spread glue evenly over each one.

spread glue on thimble pip form

Place them glue side down on a piece of batting.

Do this for each of the 6 plastic forms.

Glue plastic forms to batting

This is a good opportunity to use up some of those batting scraps you’ve been saving.

Allow to dry.

Trim away the excess batting using the edge of the forms as a guide.

trim batting

Now that the forms are ready, it’s time to cover them with fabric!

Place the large plastic template on the wrong side of the exterior fabric. Trace around it three times. Make sure to leave at least 1″ between traced patterns.

In the example below, I centered the form over the embroidered fabric.

You could also fussy cut fabric as I did on the floral pips pictured in the photo at the top of this post.

Trave around plastic forms on wrong side of fabric

Cut out leaving a ½” seam allowance.

Repeat with the smaller template on the lining fabric.

Next, sew a running stitch approximately 1/8” in from the edge of the fabric that you cut out.

Please note… it is important that you thread the needle with enough thread to go all the way around outer edge of the fabric.

Gather the fabric using a running stitch

Make a straight stitch across the point as shown in the photo below.

make a long straight stitch at each corner

Place one of the large forms, batting side down on the wrong side of the fabric.

Place plastic form batting side down on wrong side of fabric

Pull the thread ends until the fabric fits snugly over the form. Tie off the ends.Snip the thread close to the knot leaving ¼” to ½” tail.

Gather snugly and secure with a knot

Thread your needle again with a generous amount of thread. Sew in a zig zag back and forth like you’re lacing up a corset.

Sew back and forth in a lacing motion

This will help hold the fabric in place.

When you come to the points on each end, fold them neatly and secure with a couple of tiny stitches.

Fold and secure the corner neatly.

Repeat the above steps until you have all the large and small forms covered.

When finished you will have three large outer and three small inner fabric covered forms.

Back of six fabric covered thimble pip forms

Sewing the forms together:

Place the outer and inner pieces together, wrong sides facing with the small pieces centered on the larger.

center the smaller thimble pip form over the larger one, wrong sides together

Stitch the small inner form to the large outer one using a ladder/blind stitch.

Sew smaller form to larger form using blind stitch

Next, hold two of the forms together with the small forms facing each other.  Sew along the edge of the large forms using a ladder/blind stitch from one point of the arc to the other point.

Stitch two sections together using ladder stitch

For the next step… holding that third oval in position while sewing it in place can be a little bit tricky.

To make it easier, tack one corner in place like this:

temporarily know at one end

Then start sewing from the opposite end.

Stitch the third side of the thimble pip

Remove the knot and stitch the corners together securely.

Sew up the open side about ½”.  At that point, bar tack it together.

Sew up the third side about half an inch

This will help ensure that the stress of opening and closing doesn’t wear the fabric and cause it to tear in the future.

Here’s the completed 2 ½ inch thimble pip:

Completed 2.5 inch thimble pip

And here’s a close up of the thimble pips pictured on the top of this post.

Thimble Pip close up

As you can see, I fussy cut the fabric for several of them. Five of them have been embellished with embroidery.

The white thimble pip in the center of the photo has embroidered ribbon roses, leaves and french knots on white satin fabric. I wrapped a plastic ring with satin ribbon, sewed a bow to the top of the ring and attached it to the thimble pip with the same 1/8″ satin ribbon I used to do the ribbon embroidery.

Wouldn’t this make a pretty little container to “wrap” a pair of earrings or a necklace!

Want a downloadable copy of this tutorial complete with the patterns? The PDF can be purchased in my shop for $5.00.

Click the link below to add to your cart and then click checkout:

Once you’ve made one Thimble Pip, you’re going to want to make more.

From this same tutorial, I’ve made Christmas Pips to hang as ornaments and hold small gifts.

These Valentine’s Pips are perfect for holding and gifting small treasures.

Make sure to check out the cutest ever Spring/Easter Pips... as in frogs and bunnies!

As always, if you make something using one of my tutorials, I’d love to see a photo. You can either e-mail me by clicking on the little envelope in the upper left-hand sidebar. Or tag me on instagram @supermomnocape.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information please check my Disclosures and Disclaimers page. It doesn’t cost you any extra, but it does help support this site.

 

 

 

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19 Comments

  • SueC
    July 21, 2021 11:37 pm

    Thankyou for showing people the maths so it’s scalable.

    I’ve done them with thick felt as the inside instead of using a second set of plastic

  • Leanna
    April 9, 2019 5:55 pm

    Beautiful craft. I had never heard of a thimble pip, but they look so feminine and useful. Having pretty sewing accessories make its very pleasant to sew.

  • Lin
    February 21, 2018 8:03 pm

    I can not download the template
    to print why wold that be????
    help love the pips
    Linda Wetzel

    • Super Mom No Cape
      February 21, 2018 11:25 pm

      Hello Lin, in order to receive the email with the link to download the templates you need to sign up through one of the links provided in the post.

      If you’ve done that, click on the link in the email that you received. When you get to that page, move your cursor to the top of the page… a menu will drop down where you can choose to download and print the templates.

      If you can’t get to the download page for some reason, please try either clearing your cache or using a different browser.

      I hope that helps.

      I’m also sending you an email, in case you don’t stop back to read my reply. 🙂

      • Lisa Goetzman
        August 11, 2021 8:48 pm

        Hi. I can’t download pattern either. Email said I have to sign up with Grow

        • Super Mom No Cape
          August 11, 2021 11:12 pm

          Hello Lisa…

          Lin’s comment on this post was from 2018. The templates are not available at this time.

          I’m in the process of creating downloadable patterns of all my tutorials. Unfortunately I haven’t gotten to this one yet.

          But the instructions to make your own templates to make Thimble Pips are included in the blog post.

          The email you received was simply an invitation by the company that provides my email subscriber forms to sign up with Grow.me. You are under no obligation to do so.

          I apologize for any misunderstanding.

  • Robin Lancaster
    January 5, 2018 4:05 pm

    Hi! I just made my “Test Pip.” I did have several false starts, but then that’s why we do “test runs”, right? I wanted to see what contrasting inner and outer fabric looked like so I also did that. I’d love to send you a pic, but I don’t see where I can do that.

  • Mel
    May 11, 2017 8:15 pm

    Hi, love your blog. Please keep it up! Please also send me the 3 templates for thimble pip. Thanks!

  • Michele Timms
    June 2, 2015 5:20 pm

    These are so darn cute and your tutorial is very detailed so I don’t think that I could even manage to mess it up if I tried!! Thank you!!!

  • Vicki Richardson
    March 29, 2015 6:33 pm

    I love these they are sooooooooooo cute. I am here from Sew Many Ways, and being that I absolutely hate Math (currently having to take Algebra and cry every time I open the darn book) would you be willing to print a template of say a 1 and 2 inch shapes? I can handle it from there, LOL.

    Thanks so much for sharing,
    Vicki
    [email protected]

  • Melanee
    March 25, 2015 1:23 pm

    Thank you so much for these! Adorable to say the least! I am going to definitely make these. You have definitely captured my attention. I’m going to let my friends know about these!!

  • Zona
    March 25, 2015 10:09 am

    Great tutorial. Never heard of these before but will be making some soon. Thank you
    Beautiful work

  • Brenda Surface
    March 24, 2015 2:32 pm

    I would like to know what these are used for, I know what a Chatelaine is from way back, I have made those. These I am not familiar with.
    Thanks

  • Anne
    March 19, 2015 11:20 am

    What a great little pouch! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this evening that links to your tutorial:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-how-to-make-a-thimble-pip-or-clamshell-pinch-purse/2015/03/19/
    –Anne

  • Heather Grow
    November 3, 2014 11:23 pm

    I had to click to find out what a thimble pip is. Great tutorial. They are very pretty.

  • lori landenburger
    November 3, 2014 6:45 pm

    This is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Beautiful tutorial!
    When Katy at The Littlest Thistle asks for tutorials at the end of this Finish Along Q4, you should definitely submit this!!
    XX! Lori

  • Kate
    November 2, 2014 11:25 am

    Fabulous tutorial – thank you so much.

  • Wendy B
    November 1, 2014 7:03 pm

    Wow these look great! I’m going to try one of these now….your instructions are amazing! thanks so much…can’t wait! great Christmas gifts!

  • Lisa
    October 31, 2014 11:16 pm

    Those are impressive! Quit a bit of work went into them, but they’re beautiful.

Comments are closed.