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

Pincushion How To

A Pincushion Tutorial

You will need for 1 pincushion:

2 - 6" diameters circles of fabric

1 - 5" diameters circle of fabric

48" of 6 strand embroidery thread

1 1/2" diameter circle of felt

fiberfill

button

Making the Yo-yo:

Cut a 5" diameter circle of

fabric for the yo-yo.

Using a doubled knotted sewing thread

make a few small stitches in the same

place to lock the thread so the knot will

not pull through when you gather the

yo-yo.  Now sew 1/8" from the edge of

the fabric using a 3/8" running stitch.

When making yo-yos remember if you

make large running stitches the hole will

be small, but if you use small running

stitches the hole will be large.

Pull thread to form the yo-yo.  Once

you can't gather anymore, take a few

small locking stitches and knot securely.

Flatten out and use your fingers to

make the yo-yo gathers look even.

Making the pincushion:

Cut 2 - 6" diameter circles of

 fabric for the body of the pincushion.

With right sides together, machine

stitch 1/4" away from edge, locking

stitches at the beginning and end.

Grab each of the circles and pull

apart, then make a 1" slit in

the center of one circle.

Turn right side out through the slit

and press.  If your edges are not

flat, stick a chopstick in the slit

and run it around the sewn seam,

press again.

Stuff with fiberfill very tightly

and hand stitch the slit closed.

Thread a large needle with embroidery

floss and make a large knot in one

end.  Make a few small stitches in

center of back, then bring needle

from back to front in the center

of the pincushion. 

Wrap floss around circle and

bring needle up from the bottom

again to the top, pull to make an

indent in the side.  Repeat to 

opposite side.

Keep repeating this process

until your pincushion looks

like it has 6 pie wedges.

Then bring the needle up and

down through the center a few

times and then knot in the back

but do not cut the floss.

Bring needle up to top again

and place yo-yo and button

as shown.  Take several stiches

through button, yo-yo and pincushion

to secure, then make a secure

knot in back.

Place felt circle over slit in

center of back and whip

stitch in place.

Me Time ~ March 29

Pincushion Collection

Today at Me Time we

are working on some

top secret projects so

photos aren't available, yet.

Instead I'll show you some

of the pincushions that

are around the shop.

I made that one!

As I was moving the

pincushions around to

photograph them I got

yelled at for not paying

attention to the sign!

Oops.

If you'd like to see the

many collections, including

button, machines &

notions, stop by Dawn's

shop.  The Quilt Shoppe

in Anderson, Indiana.