This list of pincushions is one you’ll want to bookmark since I add to it regularly…some have been featured previously on Tipnut and moved here to keep all the projects in one handy place.
Monkeyroom’s Pincushion Caddy: The pincushion is reversible so you can choose two compatible fabrics and switch between having one as the outside and one as the pincushion.
Hanging: Padded block with a handy fabric strap for hanging. Free pdf download.
Make-Do: These are made to fit in cups, glasses, anything with an opening to put a pin cushion in or a shaft to put a pin cushion around.
Country Mouse: Made with fabric, felt and stuffing.
Log Cabin: Patchwork with heirloom puffing.
Sweetheart: Made with fabric scraps, Iron on adhesive, stuffing. Free template download available.
Hanging: Made with canning jar rings, cardboard, fabric and batting.
Strawberry: Pattern tutorial makes two. Free pattern sheet download.
Pin Blossoms: Whether mellow and mild or wayward and wild, choose fabrics to match your personality for this quick-to-make pin cushion.
Cute Minis: These cute cushions are as decorative as they are practical.
Homespun Hearts: Includes free pdf pattern download.
Tin Can: Clever craft made from a cleaned tin can.
Busy Bees: Free cross stitch chart, no tutorial for turning the piece into a pincushion but that’s easy to figure out.
Basket: Sweet little project made with a small basket, a scrap of fabric and stuffing.
Flower Pot: Requires no sewing and is made with a small flower pot.
Pear-Shaped Cushion: Includes free template.
Bottlecap: A mini-craft made from felt, stuffing and a bottlecap.
Thumb: This is made to fit around your thumb, how convenient!
Flower: Super easy to make just using a stuffed circle of fabric and embroidery thread.
Half Doll: Learn how to make these vintage-inspired beauties.
Handy Dandy: Made to fit on top of a spool of thread.
Amish Puzzle Ball: Neat! Made by sewing stuffed fabric wedges together.
Starfruit: Neat design and you can make this in any size you like.
Ring: Sew a small round pincushion made with a scrap of fabric and stuffing then attach to a ring with a plate.
Hexie Caddy: It’s a pincushion & sewing gadget caddy in one, made with pieces of fabric, cereal box cardboard and a glue stick.
African Violet: Sweet little design based on a favorite household plant.
Jar: Make this with an old mason jar, a scrap of fabric and batting.
Mouse: Sweet little critter made with scraps of cotton fabric. Pattern template provided (image file).
These clever designs will hold a pincushion in place on your wrist, keeping your hands free and pins close by when doing needlework or sewing.
For The Wrist: Lace edged trim acts as button holes for fastening wristband.
Crazy Quilted: Made with scrap quilting cotton or muslin and home decor fabric. Velcro closure.
Sew Stylish: Made with petals from a silk flower and pretty fabric print. Velcro closure.
Zakka: Made with a scrap of linen, eyelet cotton, printed cotton, tan wool felt, and plastic cut from a milk carton. Velcro tab closure. Free pdf tutorial available.
Offset Square: Made from two squares of fabric, offset before sewing, which results in an interesting shape in the finished pincushion. Velcro closure.
Fabric Scrap: Simple to sew, it’s made from one fabric scrap, some filling and velcro. Easy!
Cuff: Free pdf download. Features a velcro tab closure.
Embroidered Ribbon: Made with a strip of pretty embroidered ribbon, embroidery floss, cardboard, elastic and stuffing.
Cupcake: Made with a jar lid, two pieces of felt, lace and polyfill stuffing. Velcro closure.
Charming Flower: The bracelet is made with a strip of elastic and lace. Very frilly!
Magnetic: Fabric wristband made with magnet inserts, velcro closure.
Wrist Version Pincushion: Clever little craft using a plastic beverage cap, hairband elastic, polyfill stuffing and a scrap of fabric.
Felt Wristwatch: Cute project using bits of felt, coordinating fabric, stuffing and features a button snap closure.
Sunny: Brighten your day with this cutie, made with scraps of felt, plastic gatorade cap and a bit of stuffing. Fastens to wrist with an elastic hair band.
Wool Felt Christmas Tree: Festive idea for holiday crafting! Made with wool felt, stuffing and a strip of velcro for closure. Free pdf download.
Hedgehog: Cute little critter to assist you in your crafty endeavors. The hedgehog pattern is found here.
Teacup & Saucer
*First published November 27, 2006 and moved to this page for better organization
Forever lost but now found on the web archive: Teacup & Saucer
Items Needed:
Teacup & Saucer
3 inch Styrofoam ball
1/4 yard lilac & white cotton gingham fabric
1 yard of 1′ satin wired ribbon
(20) 3′ long steel pins
Directions:
- Cover foam ball with fabric
- Pin fabric to foam on the underside
- Generously glue pinned side of ball and place into teacup
- Pinch pleated ribbon until it fits around teacup ball. Tuck in ends
- Dip steel pins into glue and pin ribbon ruffle to ball
- Dab glue onto pastel buttons and place on the inside of ruffle, covering pins
- Cut back off remainder of buttons and place as pictured onto the cup, saucer and fabric
Vintage Shamrock
This pin cushion can be made in a short time from a few small pieces of felt.
The model is red and black with a green shamrock; however, other combinations can be used.
- Cut 2 circles from black felt for top and bottom, the shamrock and the side piece from green.
- Applique the shamrock to top section.
- Sew a red button in center of shamrock.
- Cut a strip of felt 1 x 8 3/4 inches for side, sew one edge of side section to top circle, the other edge to bottom circle.
- Cut a circle of cardboard slightly smaller than the bottom section and place in bottom of cushion, stuff with cotton or kapok.
Source: The Workbasket (1952)
Hey, thanks for linking to my tutorial, I hope your readers enjoy making my pincushion! 😀
You’re welcome Fern, it’s a great pincushion! Thanks for the mention on your blog too :).
Hello, your site is very cool and I would like to thank you for the link. If you have a button, I am glad to add to my side bar (links).
Take Care,
The Pincushion Confection link, #20, isn’t working. Thanks for such a great site! I love it!
What a great site! Thanks so much for the ideas!
Barbara
I can’t seem to find the pincushion pattern, with pincushion in the center and small spools of thread around the cushion. If anyone has this I would appreciate it. Thank You Uiva Tubbs
I think it’s #24 on the list that you’re looking for uivatubbs, Monkeyroom’s Pincushion Tutorial.
Hello!
I wanted to tell you I think this is a fantastic site and I am a subscriber to your newsletter. I wanted to know how to submit a free pincushion pattern? I have a simple one on my flickr account that I would love to share.
Thank you!
Lotus L Vele
Hi Lotus, you can send me the link by using the contact form here: Contact, I’ll check it out. Thanks!
What a great compilation. I especially like that most use recycled materials. I’m going to have a good time trying them out. Thanks.
Thanks so much! Not just for the inclusion but for the little bit beside the link. You made me smile.
Hey, I just clued in that my teacup pincushion was linked here. Thanks very much for including me!
I bought a crocheted heart shaped pin cushion in an antique store & it was dirty so I washed it (by hand) but the ruffled satin ribbon that was all around the edges that sort of stand up in peeks …fell apart. Does anyone know how to put more ribbon through the edges & do that folded, ruffled look ?
Thanks so much
i am looking for a 3-sided chicken pincushion pattern, has anyone seen anything like that? thank you so much!!
I just saw one a few moments ago but can’t remember. Google free chicken pincushion and you will find it.
I’m looking for the same thing. I have a 3 sided chicken pincushion that belonged to my Mother . It’s so very old . I thought about taking it apart and making a new pattern. Let me know if you find one for I would love to have the pattern.
Google Funky Chicken pincushion pattern. It’s out there.
Thanks for all the wonderful collections of how to make Bags, Potholders, Pin cushions and many many tasty recipes. I love Tipnuts and my day feels incomplete without checking out this site. Thank you so much!!!
I LOVE IT!!! from a newbe here on Tipnut. What a great resource and fun too.
I am delighted to find this site. I am making pincushions for an auction for our academy fundraiser. Thanks
just loved looking at all your pincushions cant wait to start making my own. brilliant site thanks xxxx
what can i say? this site is really wonderful . i live in saudi arabia and iam an old crafter who enjoys all kinds of craft so iam in love with this site and i already made a file to keep all these lovely ideas and projects. thank you so much for this out of this world site
What a beautiful way to use odd teacups(or chipped). The ruffle will hide defects. Thanks
Love them … Lukin forward to starting one.
I had my 12 year old granddaughter stay with me for a few days and I needed something she could do so she didn’t get bored with me. We were reading a blog about pincushions and so I was looking around the web at them and that is how I stumbled onto this site, and so glad I did. We both made the “toadstools” and they came out so cute. It was the first time my granddaughter sewed anything so I was glad to be part of it plus she was trilled to be able to bring something she made home with her. Thanks!
What a wonderful site, been looking for something like this, can’t wait to get started on some of the ideas. Thanks.
Didn’t old pincushions used to be filled with sawdust? I rmemeber them saying on the packages that the sawdust “kept the pins sharp”. Anyine?
Sorry for the stupid typos!
The pincushions patterns are great! Thank you! Arla Hiner
I love pincushions….can’t wait to try some of these….Thanks so much
Thank you for these! I’m going to make some more, I’ve tried one, didn’t turn out the way I planned but I’ll keep at it.
Debbie 🙂
I fill my pin cushions with “Walnut Shell” available @ pet stores. Smallest amount is fairly large ..Will last a long time. Hard, heavy and keeps pins sharp.