Cross Stitch Needle Minder

A simple magnetic widget that securely holds cross-stitch needles and threads to the piece of fabric being worked on. Works in pairs. One needle minder goes on top of the fabric and one goes on the bottom, directly underneath the one on top, holding it in place. Needles can then be set on top of the minder and thread can be wrapped around it. Each top/bottom pair requires a total of 8 8x3 magnets.

Design

Fusion 360 (F3D provided) parametric model. Parameters provided for magnet size, clearance around the magnet, wall thickness, etc… 

As mentioned the needle minder(s) work in pairs. One goes on top of the fabric, one goes on the bottom to hold the top one in place. With this in mind there are two parts. The NeedleMinder is intended for use on the top side of the fabric. It has an overhang or lip making it easy to wrap threads around it. The NeedleMinderBack lacks the overhang and can be used on the back side of the fabric or on the top side when the overhang is not wanted.

Printing

Should print fine on any machine without need for supports. Make sure to place the parts on their backs (as shown in the photos).

Supplies

• Super Glue, epoxy or some other adhesive to hold the magnets in place. (I used Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel Control)
• Magnets - 4 per part (8 per top/bottom pair). 8x3 magnets used in the design. Changeable in Fusion 360.

Assembly

The magnets end up being pretty close to each other and can be a pain to install. Here's the procedure I ended up using.

1. If you can, work on a surface that will attract the magnets (removable steel build plate would be perfect)
2. Place the parts on their backs with the magnet holes up.
3. Keep the magnets in a stack, this makes them easier to hold on to and helps to keep the orientations right.
4. Place a drop of glue in the bottom of each of the magnet holes 
5. Hold the magnet stack in one hand, griping it like you would a small screwdriver
6. Push the end of the stack into one of the holes
7. Use the fingers of your other hand to hold down the magnet that you just placed and slide the stack off the top of it
8. Keep holding the placed magnet down while you slide the stack over the next hole
9. Repeat for the other magnet holes, being sure to keep holding the placed magnets down until all holes are filled
10. Set the stack down someplace far enough away that it won't disturb the magnets you just placed.

I used the same orientation for all the magnets the minder and back pairs (in other words the top side parts are oriented magnets toward the fabric and bottom side parts are magnets away from the fabric).