Pin Cushions

I love pincushions.  Aside from being utilitarian, they’re fun to make, collect and admire.  I have a few favorites that I use regularly, the others I display in groups in my sewing room on shelving, table tops and in baskets.  These pear and apple pincushions are my favorites.  I gave the apple to my mother and kept  the pear for myself.  I involved my husband in this craft.  He was my stem finder.  He didn’t have to venture very far into the back yard to find suitable specimens.

I have a penchant for wool felt and think that it is an ideal material choice for pincushions.  It has a little give to it and it heals nicely when stabbed.  I use pearl cotton to blanket stitch the front and back sections together and then I tightly stuff the cushions with fiberfill before closing them.  Embellish with a few beads and voila!  I like how the glass headed pins add texture to this crab’s shell.

I suppose that I have a penchant for the sea as well as I couldn’t help but to memorialize these little creatures in wool felt too.  Again, pearl cotton, blanket stitch, fiberfill and a few beads.  Nice weekend projects.

Arf, arf!

I made this rustic pumpkin for my mother for her birthday.  She was born in October.

Sometimes I use wool roving to make pincushions.  The larger pumpkin and the strawberry were made by wrapping, then needle felting the roving around a core made of decommissioned wool sweaters.  The pear and snowman are wool roving throughout; they were small enough to forgo the more economical core.  I love to use mini pincushions when hand sewing.  Sometimes, all I need is somewhere to stick a single needle.  I find that a mini cushion is a better option than using my pant leg or the arm of my chair!

These are two antique pincushions that I adore.  The rabbit cushion was purchased at an antique auction.  I do not know its age or value nor do I recall what I paid for it.  I do remember bidding fiercely against someone else who also appreciated how cute it was.  I also love the little hand made crazy quilt cushion.  I found this one at an antique mall.  I have no idea how old it is or where it came from.  It is filthy, moth eaten and just plan charming.  I wonder if some day, someone will buy my pincushions in an antique mall!

I’m working on a giant pin cushion that when finished, will adorn one of my living room end tables.  I got the idea for this type of cushion while dropping off a show quilt at a fellow quilter’s home.  There, gracing her coffee table was a 12” in diameter, wool appliqué, beaded pincushion that I drooled over.  It was a thing of beauty, a fixture, a permanent tool that never needed to be put away, relegated to the sewing room or hidden from company.  It was an accessory, a piece of sculpture, a work of art!  Soon, I will have one too!  I am going to fill this cushion with crushed walnut shells.  I have never used these shells before but I have seen other cushions made with them.  They have a nice heft to them and are typically loosely filled in the cushion, much like a bean bag.  I bought the shells in a pet supply store.  They are sold as reptile litter and needless to say, they are very affordable.  I understand that they work much like emery, keeping pins clean and sharp.  We’ll see.

Needle books are a great way to store and organize hand sewing needles.  I use many different types and sizes of needles and never have trouble finding what I need.  I was fortunate to have access to an electric punch when I made this book.  The precise, clean cut holes made binding a cinch.

I made this needle book for my mom.  She likes flowers.

I use this needle book for my beading needles.  Have you made any pin cushions or needle books?