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Make Tomato Pincushions from Scrap Materials

These vintage style pincushions make great winter crafts projects—and excellent gifts.

Jaymi Heimbuch

By Jaymi Heimbuch
San Francisco, CA, USA | Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:30 AM ET

final pincushion photo

The final product: Homemade pincushions. Jaymi Heimbuch/Planet Green

  1. final pincushion photo The final product: Homemade pincushions. Jaymi Heimbuch/Planet Green
  2. cutting the fabric photo Step One: Cut the fabric. Jaymi Heimbuch/Planet Green
  3. stuffing the pincushion Step Two: Stuff the cushion. Jaymi Heimbuch/Planet Green
  4. decorating the pincushion Finally, decorate it to your liking. Jaymi Heimbuch/Planet Green

While we wait out winter, we have a great, easy craft that makes staying indoors a little more fun. Using scraps found around the house, whip up a few vintage-style tomato pincushions. They're an easy craft that lets your imagination loose, and they are perfect for gift-giving.

What You'll Need


  • Fabric: Leftovers from previous projects, pillow cases, and old linen napkins work well.

  • Embroidery Needle

  • Regular Cotton Thread

  • Embroidery Thread (or very thin strips cut from your scrap fabric)

  • Scissors

  • Stuffing: Gutting an old pillow or stuffed animal works perfectly.

Step-By-Step Tomato Pincushion Instructions


  1. Cut a strip of fabric twice as long as it is wide. Easy sizes are 3"x6", 4"x8", and 5"x10".

    Fold it wrong-side-out and sew the ends together with cotton thread. Sew a running stitch around the top edge and pull tight so the end gathers into a bunch. Secure with a few stitches.

  2. Turn pouch right side out and add stuffing. Make sure to add plenty so your pincushion is very firm when finished. Sew a running stitch around the open end and pull tight. It's very important to secure this end well—you don't want it popping back open!

  3. Thread your needle with embroidery thread. Start at the top (the end you just finished) and pull the needle through the core, wrap the thread around the outside and push the needle back through the core several times. When you pull the needle up from the bottom to the top for the last time, leave the needle there and set aside. Cut several small strips of fabric for the top. Lay them over each other in a star formation, right side up, lay over the top of your pincushion and pierce through the center with your embroidery needle. Secure with a knot under the strips.

  4. You can embellish by adding a button to the top of your pincushion, or making the strips of fabric different lengths.

More Ideas for Sewing Projects:
Copy These Glamorous Celeb Styles
Learn to Sew
Hem Jeans Like a Pro in 5 Easy Steps
Make Your Own Zippered Makeup Bag

 
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