Brooch/pin Display and Protector Case

Do you (like me) have beautiful brooches and pins that are tucked away in some case and never used? Or maybe you go to a convention once a year and get a pin there that you keep and throw in a box when you get home?

I like my pins and brooches, but unfortunately they have been tucked away in a box so I never remember to use them. Some of them I bought as part of a collection and it doesn't do them justice to be laying in some box in a drawer. Didn't even realize I had so many until I made this tutorial. Let's just say I need a bigger frame and I will make one for gold- and one for silverbrooches :)

It is a very inexpensive project that takes about 2-3 hours to make. I actually found the white frame in a thrift store for about one dollar so yey!

This tutorial shows how to make the whiteframed display. If you want to make the black one:

Use thin black fleece instead of fabric.

Use a slightly thicker piece of cardboard as the pins will be pierced through it.

Other than that the steps are pretty much the same.

Have fun!

What you will need:

Materials:

• A 3D display frame
• Fabric (preferably cotton, not any stretchy fabrics)
• Ribbons
• A piece of thin cardboard (like the front/back of cheap notebooks)
• A thin iron-on batting

Tools:

• Sewing machine + matching thread
• Glue (I use scrappy glue that works with all sorts of materials)
• Scissors

Time spent:

About 2-3 hours

Start by taking off the back from the frame. Take your thin cardboard and cut it slightly smaller than the back of the frame (just about 1mm around will do). The reason you need it slightly smaller is because later you will add the fabric with ribbons. This makes the cardboard part thicker and if it is too big it won't fit into the frame.

Use the thin cardboard as a template and cut your fabric. Leave about 3cm around (about 1.5"). With the cardboard still inside fold the fabric and iron around. Take the cardboard out. This makes it easier to see exactly which part of the fabric will show through the window of the frame. It helps when arranging the ribbons in the next step.

Choose your ribbons and arrange them in any way you like. When you're happy with the layout sew them on. For the thicker ribbons - sew both edges. For the thin ones (like the zigzag ones) - sew along the middle. I sewed on a ribbon horizontally for those brooches that have a vertical needle.

Cut out a piece of iron-on batting that fits INSIDE of the frame. This to avoid the whole thing to be too thick. (If it's too thick it will be hard to attach the backside of the frame with the anchors when assembling it all later.)

Iron on the batting on the backside of the fabric. As you can see it will leave a tiny edge where the fabric is folded (see pic).

Put the thin cardboard on the batting and glue the edges around. Start with the long sides making sure they lay snugly and look good from the front. Cut the corners at an angle and glue the short sides too.

Here you can see why it's good to have a horizontal ribbon (for the brooch that has a vertical needle). Make sure you have enough room around the edges so the brooches show properly through the window when it's all assembled.

Put in the fabricpart with the brooches into the frame and close with the anchors. Hopefully it isn't too thick and closes properly.

Take time to admire your work and give yourself a pat on the back for how great it turned out (I sure did).

Use your display as a combined decoration/protector case. I love the way you can both show off your precious trinkets and keep them safe at the same time.

If you make your own brooch display please let me know. I'd love to see your collection!

Hope you liked my tutorial. If you did, please consider voting for me in one of the contests.

/Katarina a.k.a. kamadesign