Vintage Inspired pincushion | Tutorial |

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. Birthday celebrations were in full swing at ours - it is Baby MiH's third birthday (today) and it was party (and baking) time (this weekend)! I still managed to get a bit of cross-stitching done, and finished my new vintage inspired pincushion - and write a tutorial for you (if you are looking for quick Christmas presents for your sewing friends)! 

The pincushion was inspired by Libby's one I have seen featured a couple of times on her facebook feed. It looks like hers was made of actual vintage embroidered cloth, which I did not have handy. So I made it 'vintage' by cross-stitching on the fabric and placing it on the side rather than neatly in the middle. I used the lovely ethical fabric and buttons I got in my Offset Warehouse Mystery Sewing Box - I love the fabric I got. 

To make your own pincushion, you will need:

• Some fabric (I used some 'new fabric' but feel free to use some scraps you might have)
• If you fancy adding some embroidery, choose some matching embroidery thread - but it is optional
• Some waste canvas for the embroidery
• Polyester soft toy filling
• Some matching thread to close the pincushion.  
• Make a circle template for your pincushion - I used a vase to make mine. 

1. Place the waste canvas on your fabric. I put it in the middle so that I had enough fabric on either side for the pincushion.

2. Use this method for the waste canvas and cross-stitching. I went a bit free style with mine - so let your creativity flow. The only requirement is that it covers some of the pincushion. 

3. Place your pincushion template on the folded fabric, placing the embroidery side ways (if you are going for a more vintage look)

4. Sew around the template, right sides together - remember to leave an opening to fill the pincushion 

5. Turn your piece right sides out. Finger press the seams open. Then stuff. Use a lot of small bits to stuff your cushion. Push the stuffing up against the inner seams. You want the stuffing to be very full but not too firm. Sew the opening closed.

6. Find the exact center of your pincushion on each side and mark with a pencil or pen. If you are off center, your finished pincushion will have uneven sized sections, so take your time.

Sew a few stitches with your thread to create a firm anchor. 

Create each section by bringing the thread up from the middle, around the outer edge and then inserting the needle back into the center. Give the thread a firm tug to create the pillow effect. It may be difficult to work the needle through the center. I made 8 sections for this pincushion, up to you how many sections you want (4,6,8, more?). 

7. Add your button, I did also add a bit of fabric underneath to hide the middle. 

 And here you have it, a beautiful new pincushion, ready for use within an hour (without the cross-stitching part). 

This is my challenge entry for 'space'.. Because of the space in the middle of my cross-stitching pattern. For better interpretation of this month's theme, and a chance to enter our giveaway, check out the projects here. 

I love seeing your projects using my tutorials, so don't forget to tag me if you make one (on IG, twitter or facebook). 

African Addition {Crochet}

I checked when I pinned this crochet flower - that was a year ago. Since then, I worked out that the Flickr title meant African flower - and that this was in fact a well-known crochet pattern. We were on... except that making a blanket out of crochet flowers is a doomed project at mine - I just do not have the stamina. And then I found a (free) pattern for a pincushion, that was totally up my street - a free quick pattern, hurray!

All I needed to do was: sit down, choose the colours and start crocheting. And once I had started, that was it. Started this morning, finished tonight - and I managed to get rid of two pincushions in the process. 

The basis of the pincushion is the African flower pattern that is used in very different ways - for bags, balls, blankets etc. I used 4 different colours - I did not go for flower colour schemes so that it could fit with my (future) hobby room, but also could accommodate all the colourful pins I have. 

I used sock yarns - so useful to have in your stash - in double, hook size 4 mm to ensure that the pincushion was big enough. The body of the pincushion colour is the same as the central pattern. 

I followed the pattern except for adding two ridges at the beginning of the body - I did add the ridge in the body of the pincushion. It is a very well written pattern - if you need to check what double crochet (UK) is, you can find a helpful tutorial here (I seem to always forget). 

I love how big it is - how it is sort of 'sectioned' so that I can put different pins in different places. It is a great in-between project that is really useful! 

Lumimarja {quilting}

I am usually one to disregard instructions and jump right in on the basis that I will work it out in the end. Maybe motherhood has changed me, napping slots are just too short, but I decided to try out a section of my new pattern.. Also I only had a tiny bit of cream fabric. And ta dah! here is the tiniest of pincushion.  

Note the carefully chosen pins to match the colour scheme!

I have never done HTS quilting before. And now that I sort of know how to do it, you are definitely going to see more of them!

- Pattern: My own, available here (the white box)

- Fabric: all Kona solids, except the cream which is from my Lumimarja fabric
- Result: I love the colour scheme, I think it works really well. I think the full pattern would make a wonderful play mat for Baby MiH, he loves contrasting colours at the moment!

I cut everything in a bigger size, so it was easier to make the triangles, and only downsized when it came to the piecing. Each square was 1x1 inch... The smallest project I have ever made (may ever make). However it is great practice, I really had to pay attention to what I was doing (again something I am not necessarily good at). 

Sometimes with pictures, you don't necessarily realise the scale of the project. And yes this is only a couple of inches. 

Linking up to Finishing up Friday and TGIFF today. And guess who is hosting TGIFF next week, yes that would be me! So get all your lovely projects finished (ok one would do), and post them on Friday HERE - I will even post in the morning... Although can someone have a chat with Baby MiH about mornings so it can actually happen?? 

Burlap pincushion {free pattern - cross-stitch}

Happy New Year everyone! I wish you all the best for 2013. As a late Christmas present, here is the cross-stitch grid for the burlap pincushion I made for Elaine who blogs at Dashasel sews. 

The pincushion was cross-stitched on a burlap fabric I found when I went through my hobby room - as I mentioned before, this is much easier to cross-stitch than linen and the result is still very rustic. It was really hard to let this one go, and I may in the end just have to make one for myself!

This is the first cross-stitch pattern I tried to draw, so hopefully it makes sense. I simplified a pattern found in a Japanese cross-stitch book and use the colour scheme of the Royal Doulton Fable collection mug. 

 Pattern: available here. I drafted half of the pattern, as the other half is the same (just turn the document round)

Thread: Baby blue (Anchor 159), Pewter Grey (401), 
Cream (Anchor *387), Orange (Anchor 35)

I may change the colour scheme next time, or not... To protect the cross-stitching, I added a layer of fabric underneath. I stuffed the pincushion with soft toy filling. 

Let me know if you use the pattern, for a pincushion or another project, I would love to see your version!