How to Create Pin Cushions

Everyone who sews needs a pincushion.

Pincushions serve two main purposes: they keep all of your pins in a safe spot and they have a built-in sharpener to keep the tips of your pins pointy. Everyone who sews should have a pin cushion. Pin cushions can be simple or ornate. Create your own easy-to-make pincushion that requires little more than scrap fabric and a couple of other common household items.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine or sewing needle
• Scissors
• 2 6-by-6-inch scrap fabric squares
• 2 4-by-4-inch scrap fabric squares
• Coordinating thread
• Steel wool pad
• Polyester stuffing
• Rice or dried lentils (optional)
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Place two 6-by-6-inch squares of fabric together with the right sides of the fabric touching. Use either a sewing machine or needle and thread to stitch the fabric pieces together, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Leave an opening of approximately 2 inches to insert stuffing.

2. Carefully turn the fabric square right-side out.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with two 4-by-4-inch squares of fabric.

4. Fill the larger fabric square with stuffing. Add some rice or dried lentils for weight if you like.

5. Stuff the smaller square with pieces of a steel wool pad to serve as a sharpener for your pins.

6. Close the opening on each square pillow by hand-stitching the fabric.

7. Place the smaller pillow on top of the larger pillow and wrap with ribbon. Wind the ribbon around the pillows as though you were wrapping a gift, and tie it into a bow on the top of the smaller pillow.

References

• Things to Make and Do: Easy Pin Cushion
• Flickr: Pincushions