When I made all the Essential Wristlet variations, I included this large one to hold my sewing kit when I need to take it out with me. I used this fab fabric from Frumble called “Sewing Machines Pop Art Squares” by Timeless Treasures
It made me realise how old and sad my needle case was, so I made myself this new one
I picked one of the many colours for the lining and it looks just as good inside!
Ever since then I have been looking at my ugly block of black stuff I’ve been using as a pincushion for the past few years, and dreaming of something prettier – and big enough to take the flower head pins I now prefer to use. I finally sat down and worked out how to do it, and thought I would share it with you all – after all, it is Christmas!
Making the Pattern
1. I drew a circle the size I wanted the pincushion to be (around the bottom of my little lint bucket)
2. Then I drew another larger circle to add the depth (around the top of my little lint bucket which is 5″ across)
3. I divided the circles into half, then quarters, then eighths to make my segments.
4. Using one segment, I added a seam allowance of 1/4″ onto both sides of the point
5. I drew a straight line across the bottom to make a triangle. This bottom line will be placed on the fold and doesn’t need seam allowance added.
6. I traced off my pattern piece trimming off the 3 corners (in red) as the top half, and mirrored it to make the bottom half.
7. Then I cut out my pattern piece and traced it onto some template plastic. It’s easier to trace and cut (and fussy cut if necessary) than to pin the paper (especially as I always end up shaving slices off my paper pattern!).
Just in case you can’t be bothered with all that, here is my pincushion pattern as a pdf file, complete with authentic smudge marks! If you print it at 100% or Actual Size the large circle will be 5″ in diameter. You can custom print it larger or smaller according to your needs. The small pieces (including the self-cover button) make it a great stashbuster!
Here it is sat on my circle pattern so you can see it finished up just the right size!
Making the Pincushion
1. Cut out your 8 pieces and sew together a pair at a time, using a 1/4″ seam. Press seams open. (I pinked my seams too)
2. Sew two pairs together to make a half. Repeat with the other two pairs to make the other half. Turn one half inside out.
3. Fit one half inside the other, right sides together. Stitch together, leaving a half an inch opening for turning.
4. Turn right side out, and gradually fill with polyester fibre filling through the half an inch opening, until firm (I used a bamboo skewer for this). Slip stitch closed
5. For decorative effect, run some thick thread down each join (I used some red (Col 46) 10 g Anchor Pearl Cotton (Size 8)
6. To finish it off (and hide any wonky stitching) make a self cover button and sew it on the top (I used a nylon 22 mm one which is around 3/4 inch)
and add a flat one on the bottom to anchor it
My new sewing kit
Would you like me to do the same for the Needle case?
