Like I mentioned last week, I've decided to revisit my one-a-day pincushion challenge. My goal is to make a pincushion a day for the month of July. I did this last year and I had a blast! I'm happy to say that things are off to a great start!
day 1--I pulled out a bag of scraps that my friend
Jacey gave me earlier this year. The color scheme is one of my favorites! For the design, I went after the first idea that popped into my head and I was thrilled that it turned out pretty close to my original idea on the first try. (That is NOT always the case. hahaha!)
day 2--this pincushion was inspired by the remainders quilt in my book No Scrap Left Behind. The triangles didn't turn out nearly small enough....so I tried again on day 3. I do love the one yellow triangle in this one!
day 3--these triangles finish at about 1/2"! This is what I was envisioning. I love this one so much and I have a feeling that this one will become part of my permanent pincushion collection.
Just to give you an idea of the scale of the triangles from day 2 and day 3....smaller=cuter!
A few things to mention:
1. I almost always quilt my pincushion tops to scrap batting. The quilting adds a lovely texture to the finished piece.
2. I use lightweight interfacing (SF 101) fused to the back of quilting cotton for my pincushion backings.
3. I use invisible nylon thread to hand stitch the openings closed, which I do by hand.
4. I use crushed walnut shells for filling, which are sold as lizard litter. I purchase them at Pet Smart. (25 dry quarts at a time. hahaha!)
I wanted to say a quick thank you for all of you who left name suggestions for my quilt top last Friday. I appreciate the help! There are some great ideas, it will be hard to choose just one!
One question I want to ask of you, do you have a pincushion collection? I'd be curious to know.
Happy Monday to you!
37 comments:
yes, I have a small pincushion collection ( small in number, not in size). I have a minion, a mouse, a chicken, a pincushion in a teacup and a couple that are small in size. I made the first three listed, the teacup one was a gift as were the wee ones.
I have a variety of pincushions. Some made by me, some made by friends and some were purchased. Most have pins in them
I wonder how many constitute a collection. More than 4? Or must it be at least a dozen? I did a quick count in my head and then decided to do an actual count. Twenty-four, yep, that's a collection!
I have a pin cushion collection of about ten. My favorite is the one you gave me at QuiltCon in Savannah!
Smaller does = cuter, although all three look great!
I don't have a pincushion collection. I have a teddy bear that was made for me as a gift out of quilting cotton and sits at about 10 to 12 inches tall. He doesn't have a face, so I don't feel too terrible using him as my primary pincushion. I also have a little mouse that I made in a class not too long ago, which has yet to meet any pins.
I have a few, but every time you make more, I want to, so my "collection" is growing. LOL
No collection--but I want to make some for gifts and for my own self...yours are really cute...thanks for the tips hugs, Julierose
Apparently, a collection of pincushions has started here.
Watching your progress on making pincushions has me thinking I just need to start making some for myself. Heaven knows I have plenty of scraps to make them with and I own a few bags of crushed walnut shells from my local pet supply store!
I love your cushions for July!
CUTE CUTE AND CUTE!
I use 3 or 4 pincushions at a time!
I don't have a collection, but I've made a few since your challenge last year. I back my pin cushions with a piece of flannel; it's soft, the perfect thickness, and doesn't go anywhere when you put it down. I've made lots of flannel pjs for family members so I have lots of flannel scraps.
I tired of leaving my pincushion in one spot then having to get up and go get it...your posts inspired me to make more so I have one (4 to 5 total) at each "crafting station" in my basement. Thanks for the inspiration.
These are fun pincushions. i do have a small collection of about a dozen. I usually use a couple in my sewing bag, have another few on display, and the rest in a drawer. x
Oh man, you are killing me - I think your addiction is catching!!
Nice idea to make a pincushion challenge...... It is a very good way of advancing a project.
I have a small pincushion collection but all of them in cross stitch.
In fact, the first thing I ever sew as a child, was a pincushion! And the first time I did patchwork about 25 years ago, was a pincushion too (hand-pieced)! Now I wouldn't have called them a collection, but I do have about seven or eight of them in different places, like beside my sewing machine, in the box where I store the necessities for my current projects, in the travel bag and so on... They are either made from leftovers or because I wanted to try a new pattern......maybe I should join your challenge?
I love the tiny pin cushions! I have 12 so far.
No collection but I have scraps out the wahzoo!!! I think I better go buy some lizard litter & get busy!! Hopefully, this type project would fill that void in my day when I really want to "make" something but don't have time to do an all day project. And, I can explore improv in tiny scale!! Win-Win!!
Thanks for the tips in making a pincushion! Yours are so lovely! Yes, I have a small collection of pincushions which I thought was my "secret", but I recently received a cute one for my birthday. It was from my cousin Rita, who said "Here's another pincushion for your collection!" So I guess the cat's out of the bag on that little passion!
Yes, I do have a pincushion collection but none that are made by me. I started finding cute ones at thrift and antique stores and now I have way too many. I find that I love the old tomato red one with the little strawberry attached to sharped your needles, I have about 5 or 6 of them in perfect condition. My favorite pincushion of all is a big homemade one filled with some cotton or whatever I bought in Texas for $1. I use it all the time and would like to carry it with me everywhere I sew. I will say that I love your pincushions, so pretty.
Your gorgeous pincushions are so inspiring and fun!
Yes, I have a pincushion collection! I love making them, and makes multiples!
I keep mine in a basket.
Thanks for your tips!
Susie
Yes, I have a small collection and you have inspired me to add to it. Your pincushions are adorable. I have decided to make one out of (some) of the scraps from each large quilt I make. Some scraps even make it into a mini quilt. I also have a few vintage ones.
I love your pincushions. I have about 10-12 that I have made.
I sorta have a pin cushion collection, although not one I intentionally set out to keep. Just friends would give me a pin cushion and some are so cute that I have just started displaying them. One person gave me a blue bird pin cushion as she knows how much I love blue birds. No way am I going to stick a pin in my blue bird!
I do have a pincusion collection, most i have made. I've got 9 owls, 2 chickens, a chair, 1 tea pot, 1 decorative box 3.5" square and quite a few i'm not sure where i've stashed.
I've put lavendar EEO in some of my lizard litter and it makes them smell so good.
No, but yours are just adorable. You may get me hooked yet!
I have 2, both mason jars with upholstery fabric tops. Found another jar, but no lid. Thinking I need to go buy another lid!!
I have a pincushion collection also made with scraps and quilted. I try to give them away at guild meetings, retreats, and so on. I occasionally sew small scraps into one large "fabric" piece, quilt the whole fabric, and then cut that into pincushions to save time.
My granddaughter came in and "organized" my pins so that a pincushion has ONLY one type of pin. (Apparently they can't mix.) I keep a pincushion at every work area including next to the design wall to hold up large blocks that are too heavy to stay put. I also use them as paper weights when using patterns. My favorite is one I made using some hexies hand-stitched by my grandmother.
I just have one, it has a shaker style wood base. I love your first one and would like a couch pillow like it! Wonderful colors and style.
You inspired me to make some so I have about 6 now. I just made a flag rectangle skinny one this week in honor of the 4th of July.
I love your pincushions but my collection is limited to my pintrest board. I have a few, one special one was my grandmother's or maybe her mother's. Her family is from Wales and so is the pincushion. Keep up the good work I love thinking I'll make them one day! Responses: robinsbusiness@hotmail.com
Oh, yes, I have a collection - all in the "crazy mom" style, of course!! Wonky-leg stars, scrappy log cabins, birch trees on linen, they are all soooo pretty and colourful. They are part of my sewing room decor, arranged in little stacks, tumbled in wire baskets and wooden bowls, perched on top of fat quarter bundles. Right now I have 44. I've given a bunch as gifts, and I make them for a paper-piecing-instructor friend of mine to give to the ladies who attend her classes & retreats. I'm at 80+ so far. They always elicit squeals of delight - no exaggeration. :)
Thank you SO MUCH for your constant inspiration. I love your blog, I love your books. You're just so awesome. ;)
I do have a small collection of mostly vintage pincushions. My favorite is a 50s or 60s-era ceramic lady's head with a pincushion in her hat (and a tape measure that comes out of her neck). The only one I've made is one I sewed by hand when I was about 8 (a little circular pig-face made of felt with a button for the snout). I still use it!
Enjoy your summer project!
I've collected pincushions for years and have quite a variety. Some old, some new, some still in the packaging. I love pincushions and must have about 30 or more.
I have 5 pin cushions and use them all. I'm looking forward to seeing your new July collection.
I have a collection, some made by me and some store bought. They include a lighthouse a teacup, a comfy chair and many quilted or cross stitched one. Each time I see your new collections of pin cushions I'm inspired to make some more to keep and to give away.
This post had tips I don't recall reading from before...invisible thread and interfacing, to be specific. Your stitches are so tight on the closure. Not a grain of the filing pops out.
Any chance of a pattern being available (for purchase or gratuit)?...they are so darn cute!
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