DIY Pincushions

Guest Post by Blair Stocker

There is a small section in most of the thrift stores I shop. It’s full of tiny cup-like vessels that aren’t quite cups… or bowls… or candle holders, etc. These little guys are so cute, but I didn’t know quite what they were for. After playing with them I’ve decided they make lovely pincushions! This is an easy project to do for yourself, or make several at a time for your crafty friends. You can use small cuts of your favorite fabrics that you’ll enjoy seeing while you’re sewing.

Materials

Thrift store orphaned ceramic cups in various sizes (the ones pictured are between 2”-4” in diameter across the top) I purchased all of the ones pictures for 50-99 cents each.
Pretty fabric scraps
Disappearing marker or pencil
Needle and contrasting thread
Scissors
Polyfil stuffing or wool roving to stuff the top
Strong glue, like E6000 or Superglue

Step 1: Clean the Cup

Clean the cup. Press out the fabric scrap if needed, and with a disappearing marker or a light pencil mark, roughly draw a large circle on the back of the fabric. This circle should be larger than the diameter of the cup’s opening by about 50%. Using a needle and thread with the end knotted, sew a running stitch around the drawn line as shown. Don’t knot the finishing end.

Step 2: Stuff the Pincushion

Pull the thread to bring in the edges of the circle and begin stuffing the inside with Polyfil stuffing. Stuff it firmly, keeping the round shape, but not too firmly. Check the size by putting it in the cup; it should fill the opening and mound over the top. Once its stuffed, tie off and stitch up the bottom to close it up.

Step 3: Finish the edge

Apply glue to the inside of the cup, almost all the way up to the top, but careful not to let it seep over the edge. Carefully place the stuffed fabric pouch in the cup, making sure all the sides come into contact with the glue and allow to dry.

Blair Stocker

http://www.wisecrafthandmade.com