American Homestead Pincushion/Ornament Class

This post gives information on my Ornament/Pincushion

Class that I teach to guilds, stitching groups and retreats.

There are many ways to use the projects that you create.

Here are the various ways you can use the ornaments.

You could also embroider a name and date on the back

to make it a special keepsake ornament.  I know people

who make them for their kids or grandkids so when they

grow up and have their own homes, they have a collection

of ornaments from someone they love.

You can also add a little pocket to the back to hold

a gift certificate.

If you decide to make a pincushion you can place them

on a metal candlestand which looks lovely.

You can also frame them, they look great grouped 

in three or four on the wall.

You can also put them on dowel sticks and

add them to a floral arrangement.

You have two choices to make:

1. What pattern do I want to make?  There are 13 to

choose from.  They are shown below.

2. What colorway would you like to work in?  There is 

a brighter group of fabrics called the European Folk

Art Collection and a deeper group of fabrics called the

Pennyrug Collection.  Here they are:

Patterns created in The European Folk Art Collection

Patterns created in The Pennyrug Collection

This is what you need to bring to class: (it's so 

simple, you can bring it in a little basket!)

Scissors: sharp scissors to cut the wool felt and thread

Small pincushion with a few pins

Needles: appropriate to your choice of thread or whatever

feels good for you.

For ornament: 2 - 6'' x 6'' squares of cotton batting (scraps

from your quit projects are great)

For pincushion: a sandwich size ziploc of fiberfill

Floss/Thread:  There are as many opinions on what is the

best thread as there are brands of thread so I let my students

choose their favorite.  I generally use DMC embroidery floss 

and the correct color numbers are shown below.  If you prefer 

another thread or floss then just search for a comparison chart

for the brand you choose.

For European Folk Art Colorway:  Ecru - 806 - 3347 - 742 - 816

For Pennyrug Colorway: 677 - 920 - 826 - 816 - 732 - 742 - 310

Now choose one of the 13 patterns.  The photos show a

European Folk Art colorway example on the left and a 

Pennyrug colorway example on the right.

Here is a video about the class:

I hope to see you sometime very soon!!  ~ Ellen

Now Booking!

I have been booking lectures, workshops and

retreats into late 2016.  If you or your group

have an interest, please take a look at my 

Lecture/Workshop page  on my website.  If you 

have questions, talk to me, I'm very open to

working with your group to make a fantastic

experience that fits your group perfectly.

The photo above is a pincushion I made to 

demonstrate how to use a common kitchen

item to transfer embroidery designs onto 

your dark wool.

In my Wool Gathering lecture aka Everything You

Ever Wanted To Know About Wool Applique But

Didn't Even Know To Ask,  you will learn how to

make a perfectly sized backing from cotton, flannel 

or homespun for your wool applique mats or

tablerunners.  The mat shown above is the demo

piece for this easy process ~ this also uses a common

kitchen item to make it easy for you.

When my next book is released in July, there

will be a new lecture and trunk show about 

the book.  Classes for the projects as well.

In the near future I will be taking a few trips

to western Ohio each month.  If any shops 

or guilds in the area are interested in lectures

or classes, just let me know.

And always remember, I LOVE to travel!