Patchwork Pincushion Tutorial

How to Make a Boxy Pin Cushion. Patchwork Boxed Pincushion Tutorial. It is easy and goes together quickly. Make one up for a friend or maybe just for yourself.

Dimensions: 4" square by 1" high
All seam allowances are 1/4"
Suggested fabrics: quilting cottons, linen, lightweight canvas

You will need:

Fabrics for: Bottom, Sides, Background on top, and 4 prints for triangles on top
21" of ribbon or other trim
2 -3 buttons
embroidery floss or strong thread
Fiber fill
basic sewing supplies - thread, pins, scissors, long hand sewing needle

Cut your fabrics to the following measurements:

Cut the 3" squares in half diagonally. You will only use one of each of the 4 print triangles.

Sew one background triangle to each of the 4 print triangles along the long edge. A little spray starch and a walking foot helps prevent stretching. Press the seams open.

Trim the squares to 2 1/2".

Arrange the squares with the prints to the center and the background triangles to the outer corners.

Sew together in pairs and then sew the two pairs together. Press seams open.

 Completed top.
 For the bottom, sew the two rectangles together, leaving a 2" opening in the middle.
I have found that leaving the opening at the bottom of the pincushion allows for easy turning and a clean finish; the hand-sewn seam will be covered up by the ribbon later.

To make the hand sewing easier, press the seam allowances open.

With a fabric marking pen or pencil, mark the long strip at the following increments:

For reinforcement, stay-stitch along the seam line for about half an inch before and half an inch after the marks. Then snip at the marks to the stitching.

Then sew the short ends of the strip together to form a loop.

 To attach the sides to the top, line up each snip with the corners.
Spread the fabric to create a 90 degree turn.
Pin all the way around and sew.

To make the corners secure, I pivot 45 degrees one stitch before the corner and stitch once across the corner. Then I stitch once backwards and once again forwards. Then pivot another 45 degrees and continue along the next side.

Attach the bottom section to the sides in the same manner.
Then turn the pincushion through the opening, ensuring the corners are square.

Using fiber fill, stuff the pincushion. You want it nice and tight and be sure the corners are stuffed.
Then hand sew the opening closed.

Cut two pieces of ribbon or trim 10 1/2". Sew the ends together to form a loop. (hint - place a piece of paper under the ribbon so it doesn't get sucked down into the machine. Tear away after sewing).

With the seams at the bottom center, wrap each loop around the pincushion.

To tuft the pincushion, I place a button on the bottom and on the top. I like to stack a smaller button on top of a larger one for a little extra interest. Using three strands of embroidery floss and a long needle (I used a #7 long darner), sew through the bottom button, leaving a 4 - 5" tail.

Sew through the pincushion and come out through the top button. It can take a few tries and a little wiggling to hit the right spot.

 Sew back down through the pincushion and come out through the bottom button. Repeat one more time.

To tighten the stitches, hold the thread tails and tie in a square knot. Tie another square knot, and trim the tails to about 1/2". If desired, apply a drop of clear nail polish to the knot.

Your pincushion is complete!!