How to Sew a Pin Cushion From Old Jeans

Recycle those old jeans instead of throwing them away by making them into something useful. Sew a pincushion from the salvageable material in your jeans or make several to give to friends as gifts. The following will show you how to sew a pin cushion out of old jeans.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jeans
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Bowl or compass
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Polyfill or wool roving
• Long needle
• Embroidery thread
• Button

1. Place a bowl that is about 5 inches in diameter top down onto the leg of an old pair of jeans and trace around it with a pencil or use a compass to make your circle. Cut out the circle through both sides of the leg of the jeans so you will have 2 circles or do it twice on different parts of the jean.

2. Place the 2 circles together with the right sides facing each other and sew around the perimeter of the circle on a sewing machine to hem the edges. Leave a gap about 1 to 2 inches wide between the beginning and end stitch. Do a backstitch at the start and at the end of your sewing to knot the thread.

3. Turn the material inside out through the gap you've left in the stitching. Stuff the pincushion a little at a time with polyfill or wool roving, both which you can purchase at a crafts or sewing store until it is as full as you would like it.

4. Hand sew a slip stitch to close the opening when you are satisfied with the fullness and firmness of your pincushion.

5. Thread all 6 pieces of embroidery thread into a long sewing needle and knot the end. Stick the needle through the very center of one side and pull it very tight.

6. Loop the thread around the cushion to the other side and go through the center again, which will complete one side. Do the same thing to the other side going through the center and looping around and going through the other side. You should now have a line of embroidery thread through the middle of the pincushion (you now have two petals).

7. Go through the pincushion again through the center and loop around to make another line through the center of the one you made and do the same on the other side pulling the thread tight. Your pincushion should now look as if it has a "plus sign" or "X" in it with the embroidery thread (you now have four petals).

8. Do the same thing again, splitting the pincushion up until you have 8 petals on the pincushion with your embroidery thread. Knot your embroidery thread tightly.

Tips & Warnings

• You can sew a button on the top and bottom of the pincushion in the center to decorate it. You can find denim-covered buttons at a crafts or sewing store or use a spare button you have.