mrsponcho1

You are a genius....I never thought to recover one of these pin cushions. The tomato is my favorite one. I have 2 other ones that I keep pins in also but the pins seem to get to where they don't glide thru the fabric as easy. The sawdust must be the secret to the tomato one. Looking forward to your tutorial.

franc36

Your pin cushion looks awesome! You did an outstanding job of covering it. I'll bet my tomato has even more needles inside than the one you re covered. I'd take it apart and get the needles out if I thought I could make it look even half as good as yours when I re covered it.

w1613s

My favorite pincushion was made for my great-grandmother. Her daughter-in-law (my grandmother) used it; my mother used it; I am using it (45 years worth) and it will go to my daughter when I am done.

I wish I could tell you what kind of fabric was used. Something indestructible at the least. No fraying or patches. And when I read about about all the lost needles in this thread, I get giggly. I do know the pincushion is filled with Lake Michigan sand and metal filings from a local shipyard. And it is tight, tight, tight.

P

sdhaevrsi

Linda, I love your new pincushion. I am looking forward to a tutorial, along with the others here.

Mrs. SewNSew

I am not awesum at tutorials so if you have questions let me know!

I used a scrap of velvet but I am sure you could use other things. I cut a piece 10 1/2 inches long x 5 1/2 wide. Machine stitch with 1/4" seam the two shorter ends right sides together. Your piece is now 5 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches high.

Use thick thread to gather the lower edge 1/4" in. This thread has to be strong because you are going to pull it very very tight! Mine was like an upholstery thread. Once you pull it as tight as possible, knot it and then wrap the ends several times around the nub to be sure it won't leak sawdust. Tie again.

Turn the bag right side out and run a gathering thread around the top but don't cinch it down yet. Stuff to the top with sawdust.

Cinch the top gathering thread down poking the sawdust in to keep it full and get it as tight as you can. Tie it off.

Use some thin colored cord (4' length) and wrap it tightly around the tomato. I went around four times like you would do putting ribbon on a gift. Go vertically, horizontally, diagonally, diagonally and finish with the knot on top. It's best to have a longer and a shorter end when you are done wrapping. Tie tightly but don't clip off the ends-this is used for the loop.

Cut a felt piece to be your leaves for the top. Thread a needle with your leftover length of cord and bring it up through the felt piece. I went right back down through the same hole to make the loop and tied off under the felt close to the tomato. *be careful not to knock the felt piece off when you are doing the knot.

Lastly, use fabric glue to attach the leaves to the tomato top. You don't need to go all the way to the tips of the leaves but get the top secured well so it covers the knots and gathers. *Don't poke at it too much before it dries or the fabric glue comes through. :P

Here's some pics I took as I went. I hope they help show what I am trying to explain.

miriam

Thanks - I get it. I think it is something I'll try to do with the grand daughters some time near Christmas.

ube quilting

Yes please, give a tute! very cute!
peace

sdhaevrsi

Got it. Sounds fairly simple and with very cute results! I will have to start collecting sawdust from my family's work shop out on the farm.

Thank you.

costumegirl

Great!! Thanks Christy!!

IrishgalfromNJ

What a great idea. I love your new pin cushion. Nice job.