Sewing

the most complicated pincushion

Okay, it really wasn’t that bad, but it seemed like so many steps when I was cutting apart the most precious Heather Ross fabric scraps. I almost chickened out and didn’t use them, but I’m glad I did. 

I did participate in Amy‘s Pincushion Pass this summer and received a super lovely one, but I also was in need of a workhorse.  You know, the kind of pincushion that can take some serious abuse. 
So I found Elizabeth’s tutorial on Sew, Mama, Sew and thought it would be a perfect fit.
See the little gnome peeking out next to my seam ripper and scissors?  He was just too cute not to include. 
And the little scrap bucket is going to be so nice.  You see, I’ve got into this bad habit of throwing all my threads and small bits of fabric on the floor while I’m sewing.  Not so bad, sure, but then I walk through all the mess with my socks and re-distribute it evenly throughout the house while I go about my usual business.  Now hopefully I’ll see less threads wrapped around my vacuum cleaner brushes!
I’m glad I finally bumped up this project up on my list and finished it!
I also wanted to mention that I did a little crafting reading book post at Whip Up yesterday if you missed it!
{one of my first projects when getting back into sewing: Square Bear, out of Jenny Ryan’s book Sew Darn Cute, bear complete with missing eye}

53 thoughts on “the most complicated pincushion

  1. Love it, love it, love it Puts my little Harvest Pumpkin Pin Cushion to shame :), but then again, mine was just for a little Halloween fun :). Love the little scrap holder!

    http://www.mesewcrazy.com

  2. ooh…i missed that tutorial and TOTALLY what i need!
    yours is so cute!
    thanks for the link…will add it to my pages long “to sew” list 🙂

  3. Your little set up is so adorable! Love that gnome. 😉

    The threads I throw on the floor are a nightmare!

  4. Love this! Beautiful. The scrap catcher sure is handy too!

  5. Taylor says:

    Haha that makes me feel sooooo much better that i’m not the only one who throws her threads and stuff on the floor and then walks through it!

    The bear is totally adorable too!

  6. amy says:

    I made one of those pincushions and love it! Your gnome is lovely!

  7. They are both awesome! I really like that pincushion!

  8. Kourtney says:

    OMG! I need to make one of these. I totally have the same problem with the threads and scraps in my craft room.

  9. Very cute and creative …
    Congratulations!
    Me visite.http: / / coisinhastatricot.blogspot.com
    Bjks.

  10. meg says:

    I’ve given up on the threads and scraps in my studio and have convinced myself I’m making a new kind of rag rug (one that can’t be vacuumed!).

  11. Amy says:

    That’s a great pincushion! It was definitely worth using precious scraps for because you will see it all the time.

  12. Is it sad that I only own one pin cushion? I think it is and I will have to rectify that immediately. What better use for your precious scraps than to see it out everyday?

  13. Suzanne says:

    I love your pincushion. What a lovely gift that would make. It’s on my “to do” list already! THanks for sharing your wonderful ideas.

  14. I love the pin cushion I use but may have to make my own sort of caddy. I love the scrap bucket! Beautiful 🙂 It is much more appealing than my stainless steel bowl!

    And I’m incredibly jealous of those Heather Ross scraps. I would die for a yard of that goldfish fabric right now 🙂

  15. Elsa says:

    love this pincushion … it is so cute! thanks for sharing … needing to make myself something like this!

  16. QuiltyGirl says:

    I’ve never noticed this tutorial before. Thanks for pointing me to it, I think this is going to the top of my to do list!!

  17. Chris says:

    I am tackling unpacking the office today…I would love one of these for my new little sewing space. Thanks for the link. Yours looks fabulous.

  18. amzmiq says:

    I was just going to sit down to make this very same project after my morning tea and blog visits!

  19. Megs says:

    So fun to see this! I also need to stop tossing threads and such on the floor. Now this is on the tippy top of my to-do list!

  20. alissa says:

    Love it! I am really in need of a scrap bucket next to my sewing machine. I have the same bad habit as you!

  21. Trista says:

    I need one of those sooooooo bad. I just have a tomato and I have been looking for a good pattern, and this is the winner. I love the extra little caddy!

    Thanks for posting this

  22. seaschell says:

    Yours turned out great! I just made one, too:

    http://seaschell.blogspot.com

  23. Tami B says:

    I always enjoy your projects and posts! This turned out so cute – maybe it’s time to give up (throw out!!!) the old red tomato!!!

  24. Looks fabulous! This has been on my to-do list for awhile also. Kudos for getting yours done!

  25. Jess says:

    sooo cute! i need me one of those-my threads always like to fling themselves onto the floor…silly little buggers.

  26. Jacqui says:

    I’m a thread and scrap-flinger too but it’s always been my shameful secret. I feel quite liberated going public! And amen to the sock-clingers and the sweater-clingers and the pant-clingers. I need to pick myself over sometimes before going out. :-/

    I love the fabric/colour combinations with the little setup, it’s seriously tempting to do one myself. One of the things I love about the overlocker is that has the little catcher that is perfect for throwing bits into as you sew, I don’t know why it never occurred to me to make one for my sewing machine!

  27. Amy says:

    Oh…..I have an 8 yard cut of that Heather Ross Goldfish fabric. I have been saving it for years…….

  28. BubzRugz says:

    That fabric is fantastic and makes such a great pincushion – something to keep you smiling whilst you sew!!
    Hugz

  29. Sarah says:

    I need one of those set ups!! You made it so beautiful with the perfect fabrics. So glad you cut into them. Love the little gnome! Your square bear is really cute too. The floral fabric is very pretty. Well done.

  30. Jenny says:

    This project would be great to have when taking your machine with you to a workshop or something. Its hard to use your favorite fabrics, especially when you just need little pieces…but with a project like this that sits out where you can see it all the time, its better to use fabrics you really like. Love It!

    http://downtosew.blogspot.com/

  31. Katie says:

    That is so cute – and a great use of scraps! I do the same thing, throwing my thread on the floor while sewing! 🙂

  32. Anna – so cute! I made this last christmas for my mom who loves to hand quilt. It was fun but time consuming for such an item. I love how yours turned out. Here’s mine:
    http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/01/makin-it-in-mommyhood-xmas-pressies.html
    My mom hearts greens/blues. Don’t you just hate looking back at old camera shots? Oh how I heart my new camera…hahaa.

  33. You’ll be smiling at your beautiful work all winter long! Adorable!! Love the scrappy HRoss fabrics, so fun. *Kicking myself* Cute quilt shop closed right after I saw a section of Heather Ross fabrics and said, oh, I’ll get all of those next time. ARGH!!

  34. Jeannie says:

    Love it! It’s nice you will always get to look at it.
    I have that book and need to make something out of it too. Your bear is adorable and would make a cute shower gift for a new mommy!

  35. One of the best looking pincushions I have seen!

  36. I love this, Anna! I love that you used so many different fabrics… it looks perfect. I especially like the little gnome. Thanks for sharing the link to this tutorial.

  37. Thanks for the link to the pincushion tutorial. I LOVE the fabric you chose for yours – so pretty!!

  38. Karen says:

    Yours turned out wonderful! I made this one too and use it every day; love it! Plan on making more for Christmas gifts. It’s so handy for sewing, needlepoint, cross stitch, etc.

  39. k a t y says:

    It is awfully cute, Anna. Question: does it stay put? Is it tucked under your machine, or just resting with the weight of the pin cushion? Also, love mr. swimmy. Hope you don’t pop his bag.

  40. Larissa says:

    I toss my scraps and thread in a pile to be swept up when I am done…such a messy sewer I am!!

    I love this pin cushion. I totally need one since I am still using one of those magnet wand mess things. This will have to be put on my to do list. Thanks for sharing!

  41. Angela says:

    It’s the cutest pincushion ever! I totally know what you mean about the threads and scraps all over the house… I do the same thing! Glad you shared this… I’m going to have to make one, too!

  42. VickiT says:

    You did a great job on that. LOVE the fabrics and I bet you’re happy you decided to use them afterall since you get to look at them all the time now.

  43. Krista says:

    It’s amazing! I was looking at that pattern a few weeks ago and it seemed too complicated for my short attention span, but maybe I’ll still give it a go. You picked such fun fabrics for it.

  44. Marina says:

    Well done you for using your precious fabrics! (I am all for that these days – no more hoarding!). I love the pincushion/thread-catcher arrangement. I started using a thread-catcher not long ago – it’s the best thing and a real time saver…

  45. dana says:

    ooo. very cool Anna. And yes, it looks totally complicated to me. I’m glad you stuck with it!

  46. Angela says:

    i love it! i’ve been wanting to make this pincushion for such a long time, and i absolutely adore yours. good job cutting into your fabric. it’s hard to do, but totally worth it! xx

  47. chongkol says:

    I really like the idea and fabrics, it is absolutely practical,
    Thanks for showing this.

  48. jayayceeblog says:

    That is a great pincushion and don’t you love Jenny Ryan’s “Sew Darn Cute” book? I made a Square Bear, too. =)

  49. Erin says:

    This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for and desperately need! I have the same troubles with redistributing scrap throughout my house.

    Thank you!

  50. Anonymous says:

    I have the problem of thread all over the floor, which then clogs up the roller on my vacuum. I just use my seam ripper to pull all of the thread off of the roller!
    Cute set!

  51. Thanks for the tutorial. I made one and am very pleased with it. I showed it off on facebook and now my friend wants me to make her one.

  52. possibilot says:

    I must be blind – I don’t see the link to the tutorial for the thread/scraps catcher…

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Hi, sorry, this post is 10 years old and the link to the pincushion tutorial is no longer active because the host site (Sew, Mama, Sew) doesn’t exist any longer.

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