How to Make Pretty Pincushions

JenSegrest, member

594 users recommend

These cute cushions are as decorative as they are practical.

Scott Phillips

Hand embroidery is the perfect embellishment for these little treasures.

Sloan Howard

With a few different stitches, you can make an endless assortment of decorative pincushions.

Scott Phillips

These cute cushions are as decorative as they are practical.

Photo: Scott Phillips

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Are you ready for “oohs” and “ahs” all around? At just 1-1/2 inches tall, these minute pincushions will be the darlings of any party and the apple of any craftster’s eye. They fit neatly into a sewing box and are extremely handy perched on a sewing machine (just add a Velcro dot).

And did I mention that these cushions use recycled materials? The base is a soda-bottle cap wrapped with craft felt. As you can see in the photo, the sky’s the limit in terms of design. Besides simple shapes reminiscent of cupcakes or candy, you can fashion a mini poinsettia, a crown, or even a beehive or cactus—cute, cuter, cutest!

What you'll need:
Plastic cap from a liter-size soda bottle
Chalk
Sharp scissors
Craft felt
Large-eye embroidery needle
Multicolored skeins of embroidery floss
Poly fiberfill

Step 1: Prepare the base
Lay the bottle cap on a small square of felt. Trace the shape with chalk. Then cut along the chalk line with sharp scissors.

Trace a bottle cap on felt. Cut along chalk line with scissors to create the base of the pincushion.

Step 2: Sew outer sleeve to the base
Cut a felt strip a bit wider than your cap’s height and long enough to wrap around the cap with some overlap. Wrap it around the cap. Then slipstitch along the overlap. Pop in the base circle, and slipstitch around it as shown. Don’t cut the floss!

Wrap outer sleeve around cap. Slipstitch along the overlap.

Slipstitch around the base circle. Leave a tail of floss to complete the bottom of the pincushion.

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Comments (47)

klwheeler writes: How extremely cute!
Posted: 2:38 am on November 6th

RUMPUT_CRAFT writes: Original detail... Great!!!
Posted: 12:49 am on August 30th

Redstar writes: Jen - These are gorjuss - if you make some of these pincushions in your own colours and decorations can you sell them after? or does that breach your rights?
Posted: 5:57 am on September 16th

fat2mato writes: Loved the idea - but didn't have any little lids - so improvised with a slightly larger one. Used a little spray glue to hold felt in place while I stitched. Very happy with made to look like a cupcake with scalloped edges. Now looking for smaller lids to make some for quilting circle presents. Again, this is a great tutorial!
Posted: 10:51 am on September 9th

pet_preforms writes: Very good post, I was really searching for this topic, as I wanted this topic to understand completely and it is also very rare in internet, that is why it was very difficult to understand.

Thank you for sharing this.

regards:

Pet Preforms
Posted: 9:11 am on July 23rd

mcschmidty writes: I love this darling idea! I am going to make some for my sewing friends! Thanks!
Posted: 10:13 am on May 17th

JosieK writes: Thanks for the beautiful idea.
They are so creative and look very quick to make.
Posted: 3:24 am on April 15th

Mork_the_Dork writes: These are such a great idea! Some of my friends like to sew, I think I might make them some. I could also use this to replace my alien pincushion, I got him out of a gumball machine, except it didn't hold gumballs I found out to my displeasure!
Posted: 9:51 am on October 30th

consma writes: I am also wondering how to hide the embroidery floss knots. I would love to give these out as gifts for Christmas.
Posted: 11:07 am on October 7th

puppypowerlove writes: nakpuner i have a question for you i love the idea of adding emory grain in them but how would you put it in could you please send me a video or coment to tell me how. it sound silly but this is the first time i have ever heard of it. where did you get it?
thank you :)
Posted: 5:33 pm on July 22nd

puppypowerlove writes: nakpuner i have a question for you i love the idea of adding emory grain in them but how would you put it in could you please send me a video or coment to tell me how. it sound silly but this is the first time i have ever heard of it. where did you get it?
thank you :)
Posted: 5:33 pm on July 22nd

puppypowerlove writes: i love them, just a couple questions about them though,i dont have stuffing to put in them, so i use toilet paper what elce could i use?
how do you get the top so smooth?
and can you please try to sub mit a video on how to make some of your ddesines (i havebeen trying to add the curves and sew them on but i cant get it right can you halp me?
now i had an idea, because its not easy to poke nedils in to toilate paper i put magnet strips onthe back, and put them in my locker. it works quite well. just an idea.
Posted: 5:23 pm on July 22nd

nettsy writes: What else can I use instead of a liter soda cap? I don't have any. Thanks, Net
Posted: 11:23 am on July 3rd

tlcinspirations writes: These are great, but I was also wondering how to hide all of the embroidery knots??
Posted: 12:33 pm on June 27th

crafter1 writes: These are absolutely wonderful and so very cute. I was wondering if could get permission to make some for a school craft stall. Many, many thanks.
Posted: 12:58 am on March 30th

soxfan999 writes: these are so adorable, my sewing machine is going in for service and here is a handmade project perfect for my days without my mechanical friend.
Posted: 2:36 pm on February 16th

sophiecai writes: so cute...i'm gonna make some
Posted: 1:47 am on February 4th

Doll_Saver writes: I made these about 3 years ago and made some for my friends who were just learning to sew, sort of as a gift of "congratulations for doing more with your retired time than sitting on your duff." They LOVED them. I made them so they would attach to their new machines and be where they had access to them at all times. This is a very useful re-cycle project.
Posted: 7:25 pm on January 21st

lavenderfield writes: Beautiful and oh soooooo cute!! Now I know what to do with all those water bottle caps I've been collecting! Thanks for sharing!
Posted: 12:44 am on January 21st

lavenderfield writes: Beautiful and oh soooooo cute!! Now I know what to do with all those water bottle caps I've been collecting! Thanks for sharing!
Posted: 12:44 am on January 21st

samsstuff writes: Adorable & so simple! This is a must try. Thanks for posting!
Posted: 7:58 pm on January 20th

valerinagirl writes: I made these pincushions and even taught them to some sewing friends. They are so pretty and you can use your imagination with embelishments. Great craft!
Posted: 5:42 pm on January 20th

kbcoffee writes: I made one awhile ago and love it. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful styles, will make more now.
Posted: 3:07 pm on January 20th

lorri110 writes: very cute. I will have to make one.
Posted: 5:44 pm on December 1st

susant2009 writes: Made these last year when the article came out on the cover of a magazine. FABULOUS! Couldn't hold on to them after I showed my rather large family. The are adorable and once you get the hang of the construction, they are made rather fast.
Posted: 9:23 am on August 25th

littlednme writes: These are too cute! I can see how they could be addictive!!! I have recently learned to embroider, I love it. I can hardly wait to make one of these for myself! Thanks for sharing such a fun idea!!!
Posted: 11:21 am on May 11th

Eternal_Clouds writes: my grandma love these thanks i love them too
Posted: 7:18 pm on March 8th

RichesStitches writes: Jen,
I am an avid crafter and a team member of our local community craft group in Adelaide South Australia, which is a not for profit organisation, in fact we only charge a $3 entrance fee to cover costs and offer free craft classes (none of the teachers get paid and they teach voluntarily). I was wondering if you would kindly give me permission to copy your tutorial instructions and teachCo a small group of ladies your Pretty Pin Cushions. I have made a number of these wonderful Pin Cushions for myself and as gifts for crafting friends and as we are always looking for new things to teach at our group I thought that this would fit in nicely with my theme for next term called ‘One Week Wonders’. I am hoping to teach quick to make crafts that can be completed in a couple of hours. I wait to hear your response and any conditions that you may have.
Regards Jane 8o)

Posted: 6:04 pm on February 17th

iekisch writes: Hello, I translated your article and placed it at my blog. Hpoe that is ok :)
www.diyredesign.blogspot.com
Posted: 2:14 pm on February 6th

nakpunar writes: This pincushion is very beautiful. You can use emery grain to fill it.

Every time you stick your needle or pin into an emery pincushion, it cleans it of the natural oils in your fingers and any impurities in your cloth. It also sharpens the very tip of your needle, making your work quicker and easier on your hands.

You can find in my store:
http://www.stores.ebay.com/Nakpunar
Posted: 11:28 am on December 29th

sewhappy10000 writes: Oh Girl!! These are just precious. I tried a larger version that I posted and have finished 2 of them. I really enjoyed making them. You are a real inspiration. I posted my pincushion on my blog and linked to you here. I hope this is OK. If not, let me know and I will remove it. Thanks.
Posted: 12:55 pm on October 11th

Stefana_2712 writes: Hi.
I am from Romania.Very nice work. I will try to do at least one (for me). It is the most beautiful thing from this site. I love it.
Posted: 3:25 am on July 12th

artlikebread writes: Wow. That is possibly the coolest thing I've seen in my life. And I've seen a lot of cool things!
Posted: 10:31 pm on July 8th

SusanElizabeth writes: These are just the cutest!
Posted: 5:37 am on July 3rd

walkinthewoodsllc writes: I love these little pin cushions and I wil have to add this project to my list of make time to make!
Posted: 6:33 am on June 17th

trusk4u writes: Wow! How cute are these? They might have to become a decorative element somewhere in my house. Maybe groupd in a deep box frame and hung in my crafting workroom! Love it. Thanks!
Posted: 8:53 pm on June 3rd

JenSegrest writes: Thanks everyone!

They are addictive, I started three years ago making pincushions for little gifts and Now I'm doing it about 20 hours a week, eeee!

They are kinda like Lay's Chips, you can't make just one!
Posted: 12:13 am on June 2nd

salamonadesign writes: Fantastic idea. I will be making some with my children. Thank you for sharing.
Posted: 5:22 am on May 26th

AmberE writes: smoose003, you have permission as long as you give credit to author and CraftStylish.com
Posted: 6:39 pm on May 19th

smoose003 writes: I love this. I would like to use your instructions and this idea for a program for an embroidery guild meeting. Can I have you permission to use this?
Posted: 10:53 am on May 19th

AmericanCurl writes: When I saw this picture, I knew I had to try making one -they're just so cute. I was looking for a little gift to give to a few friends at a ladies conference we're attending soon and this seemed like a good idea....so, I made one...and another...and another...I'm addicted. My only problem is finding enough bottle caps because we no longer have a soda machine at the office dispensing bottles. I've made at least 7 or 8 and keep thinking up different color combinations! I have some gold metallic thread and want to try that crown... Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted: 2:48 pm on May 9th

majnets3s writes: This is wonderfull and so cute!
Posted: 3:59 am on May 8th

pattieann writes: I loved making this but am wondering how to hide all the knots from the embroidery work?
The article was very well written and easy to follow.
Posted: 3:09 pm on May 2nd

sewpassionate writes: What a great idea! I love that it incorporates recycling with creativity. It is a small enough project to make it portable, and simple enough to create several within an hour. Everyone can use at least one, but it is so pretty, who wouldn't want at least 1/2 a dozen.

Glue a magnet to the bottom and you can attach it to the refrigerator.

Attach a velcro strip/dot and you can put it anywhere else you like!


Posted: 4:57 pm on April 28th

BluePlum writes: Soooooooooooooo cute! I'm going to make some!
Posted: 9:27 pm on April 24th

CandyButtons writes: These are ridiculously cute... I have made bottle cap pincushions before with regular cotton and had the problem of the floss pulling through the cotton when you pull it tight. Did you have any similar problems with the felt?
Posted: 9:35 pm on April 15th

qdpatooties writes: These are gorgeous! What a great idea and a great tutorial!!!
Posted: 9:55 am on April 12th

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