I made another video & timed myself but the whole thing was such a disaster - it was axed before it even made it to air.
I've been making lots of these pincushions lately. They came about from the fortune teller folding & then the fat quarter folding.
Nothing remarkable in the construction of this super quick pincushion but I think that they finish up as something quite beautiful for very little effort.
How To Make A Simple Square PincushionView more presentations from kootoyoo.
Once all this was finished I had a vague memory of my grandmother having a pincushion constructed in the same way out of a Bargello sampler.
I think that these would look excellent as samples for the seam-along.
You can see variations on the theme in felt with a pinked seam & in a heavy cotton with a frayed seam.
The PDF tutorial for How to make a square pincushion can be downloaded here.
I've put together another little click & stitch slideshow. The toadstool pincushion is a great afternoon/evening project (especially with football finals looming).
If you're a grown up it's a cute & functional pincushion but I imagine this little guy would be a welcome addition to any little people or dolls housey type games. I had to rescue mine from a couple of smurfs the other day. How To Make A Toadstool PincushionView SlideShare presentation (tags: craft handmade pincushion tutorial)
The how to is best viewed at full screen (just click the screen icon in the bottom right corner).
If you're like me & thinking "maybe later" there is also a PDF tutorial to print & keep.
See all my click & stitch make a pincushion projects.
Every once in a while something of mine turns up somewhere super lovely.
Just for the record:
----- Apartment Therapy The Apartment Therapy Mission Helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online.
What We Believe A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world.
Creating this home doesn’t require large amounts of money or space. It requires inspiration, connection to resources and motivation to do something about it.
The basic elements of good home design can be learned and achieved by all.
Simplicity and luxury are not mutually exclusive.
Spool holder
----- Craftzine Introducing CRAFT: The first project-based magazine dedicated to the renaissance that is occurring within the world of crafts. Celebrating the DIY spirit, CRAFT's goal is to unite, inspire, inform and entertain a growing community of highly imaginative and resourceful people who are transforming traditional art and crafts with unconventional, unexpected and even renegade techniques, materials and tools; people who undertake amazing crafting projects in their homes and communities. Christmas Decorations, Corner Bookmark, Granny Square Necklace, Spool holder
----- Craft Gossip Confused about everything crafty out there? Not sure where to go and what to buy for your latest craft idea? Can't find that kitsch pattern that everyone else is talking about? Well worry no more! CraftGossip is all the latest news from real craft people telling you about the real stuff. We scour the net looking for the best craft ideas and projects and review them for you. Corner Bookmark, Embroidery on Dark Fabric, Hand pieced Pincushion, Photo to embroidery pattern, Twisted Cord
----- Mixtape Zine Mix tape zine is a collision of craft, eco-cool and pop culture kitsch it features recipes, eco tips, crafty people profiles, ethical business practices etc - you can purchase back issues here or find out more here. Find Justine here and Nichola’s blog here. my collection in issue 6
----- Nuts about Needlepoint An encyclopedia of needlepoint and thread information for all stitchers. Learn about Janet M. Perry's needlepoint projects, read book and product reviews, and find articles about techniques, threads, and more Twisted Cord
----- One Pretty Thing One Pretty Thing is a daily website dedicated to bringing you inspiring projects for a more beautiful life. Corner Bookmark, Drawstring Bag, Embroidered carry all, Embroidery on dark fabric, Fabric Notebook Cover, Photo to Embroidery Design, Quilt Quiver, Tealight Holder, Twisted Cord
----- Quilting Board The Quilter's message board. Thank you Sondray for linking to my projects.
----- Sew Mama Sew You’ll find some handy sewing tips and inspiration. Whether you’re just learning to sew, or have been sewing forever.
The Sew,Mama,Sew! blog is pulled together each week by Kristin and Beth. Who both sew whenever they can and love fabric with a passion.
If you’re looking for fabulous fabric and patterns, please take a look at the Sew,Mama,Sew! store.
Drawstring Backpack, How to fold a fat quarter
----- Tipnut I think we all have them, those mile high piles of household tips and life hacks that we’ve collected over the years. They’re messy, disorganized and once they’ve been ‘filed’, those tips are nowhere to be found again.
TipNut.com isn’t anything fancy. It’s simply my way of putting together all the cool tricks I’ve accumulated over the years into a simple, searchable, online filing box–this website. Some of them I’ve tried, some of them I don’t know if I’ll ever try. But I do know they’ll be here if I need them–and I’m happy to freely share everything with you too! Simple square pincushion
----- Whip Up Whip up: To prepare quickly. To excite. To create. To incite. To build. To invent. To conceive. To push. To upset. To manufacture. To provoke.
This website has been created in order to bring the best original and exciting crafts to the attention of many. To create a community of artists, crafters and makers and share ideas in a central space.
Embroidered Carry All, Embroidery on Dark Fabric, Corner Bookmark, Handpieced Pincushion, Pillowcase Shoulder Bag, Sausage Dog CD cover, Simple Square Pincushion, Toadstool Pincushion
Thank you lovely folk for the thumbs up. It's much appreciated.
I wanted the pincushion to be functional & once I ditched the can everything came together pretty quickly.
I chopped the heads off some quilting pins (which are MUCH longer than regular pins) so that I could add the popped corn & still keep the pins useable.
I've had fun with the pincushion swap & hope that my partner likes it.
You may have noticed I've become a little pincushion obsessed lately. I'm not sure what it's all about...only time will tell.
I thought of this on my run the other morning & giggled for the remainder of the run. It appeals to my sense of humour. Maybe it might give you a giggle too.
I quite like the idea of the little badge but sadly the fabric isn't "self heal".
This is the loveliest pincushion - ticking several of my boxes.
1) it's red 2) it's a toadie & 3) it's a pincushion.
& she's having a custom order giveaway. Yep...you get to choose - she's super good.
It became clear that the tin can wasn't going to work out for this project. Surely one of the KPIs for a pincushion is the ability to actually hold the pins. So I've changed tack & strip pieced some red & white stripes.
I've spent the afternoon de-heading some pins with pliers.
Just a little way to go with the pincushion swap.
PS: Thank you so much to all the lovely folk who left "congrats" comments on the last post. It's been a mighty couple of years & it feels really good to have it done. x
We made these hand pieced hexagon shaped pincushions a few weeks ago at Brown Owls. They are a great way to use up scraps or tiny samples of favourite fabrics. Not surprisingly, I've used vintage pillowcase fabric for this.
The original project came from a vintage children's craft book, "How to make and do 100 new things". If you ever spot a copy in an Op Shop or second hand bookshop buy it - it's pure gold!
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Tutorial as a slide show (best viewed at full screen via my Slideshare). You can just click & stitch, click & stitch.
It's been a while since I've used powerpoint & I can tell you there was much swearing. But I think well worth the effort in the end.
Download this kootoyoo how to... as a PDF (including templates).
Thank you to my crafty kick in the pants. You're ace!
See all my click & stitch make a pincushion projects. .
Sadly still in the old ranch. I've managed to clear myself about half the kitchen table to work away on some photo album covers.
I purchased a pile of photo albums still in plastic wrap from the Op Shop/Thrift Store a few weeks ago & I've got a little embellishment plan for the covers.
In the space are... the albums my washout marker * a polaroid I've hacked up to make a template twine a beautiful tin full of old floss (which was gifted to me during the week by a lovely friend) my pincushion (one of) **
*Same brand as the fadeout marker from last week. Both are Clover - not from any brand loyalty but just because that was what was available. I will say that the fadeout fades VERY fast.
**You can make a pincushion like this one in about 15 minutes. See my how to here.
Visit last weeks favourite space here.
Don't forget to pop in and add your link if you're playing along this week.
I'm not usually one to follow instructions of any kind. But my recent instruction following crafting episodes have been very good to me. I'm finding that 9 times out of 10 someone else has done it smarter, faster, cooler & safer than I ever could.
Soon to be released: THE craft book crammed with projects (by some of my favourite crafty spirits) I know I'm going to want to have a go at. So I'm working on practicing my ability to carefully read instructions.
Yesterday the big girl announced that she needed a new pencil case. I had some Op Shopped denim which I embroidered the pencils onto (I've got a fair blister on my pointer finger from that exercise). It presented the perfect opportunity to follow a tutorial I've had on my "to do" for a very long time.
Excellent instructions:
For Free: how to make a lined zippered pouch super speedy & super easy.
how to bind a book via Gemma. Easy to follow diagrams & a great gift idea.
how to make fabric flowers links to her flickr & you tube tutorials from her sidebar.
how to make a pincushion really beautiful result in record time!
how to seam fabulous series, well researched & clearly presented.
For a small fee (but well worth the dosh)! how to make your own undies from a t-shirt such a fabulous pattern with clear, well written instructions for absolutely the best kind of craft.
how to make a puff purse - using a purse frame kit wonderful hand holding instructions accompany this fabulous & super cute pattern.
I didn't take photos of my accessory gift! I'm hoping that Cathy will...
I received this fabulous denim bag with mushroom lining & little tin full of buttons from Cathy.
Fi's pincushion project was speedy & fun.
Thanks Nichola & Justine for the challenge. I really enjoyed the new beginnings. I think I'm falling in love with the rings - it could be a long term relationship.
PS: Are you tracking me? Lots of lovely blogs I've been visiting on my clicketty trips.
I am pretty good at recycling. We reduce, reuse & recycle wherever possible.
Re-crafted, repurposed, recreated & reverse art is my greatest crafty pleasure.
I prefer to make stuff from things that have had a previous life. I source my craft materials from: "rubbish" from our daily life, op shops & reverse art.
This is my recrafted toadstool pincushion - made entirely from "waste" products/materials. I made it last Monday at Brown Owls.
I did actually create something this week & now I'm working on the next couple of somethings.
Now I look at the pic, there are actually 4 somethings... folding for Free Encouragement, some arms for a doll I've been making for around 18 months, the last of the boomerang fabric to be used for a teeny bag & the beginnings of a Nanna bag.
Incidentals: my pincushion & a lovely owlish pencil cup - oh, & a super cute vintage thimble too.
Let's hope that the Link Man works today...
If you're playing this round just add your link to the list & then everyone can easily pop around & visit other players.
5 favourite thoughts, which turned into clicks, which turned into more thoughts from this week.
1. It's all about the pincushion & as a result I've found... 2. Namolio ... just beautiful, beautiful pieces. 3. Crochet doilies. I'm really quite obsessed - I think it was the refashion of the chair... 4. which leads me to wood & specifically the burning of wood. 5. I've been thinking about cushions for my couch too. Check out this lovely space.
Glue & dorcas pins. I'm enjoying mucking around with all manner of pin & pincushion ideas in the foreground while I continue with a few more major projects in the background (I promise the white mini is one of those projects).
A lovely glass half full space from last week can be found right here.
I'm trying out a new link system this week which also has an end time. Fingers crossed it works out OK. If you've got any thoughts on this vs mr linky please feel free to comment. I decided to stick with the text link as I think it probably encourages people to get around & have a chat.
Do you come here often? You may or may not have noticed that I've added a little something to my sidebar. I'm hanging off every word of a special someone each week.
-------- kaotic kraft kuties Gemma is a super good creative spirit. Generous with her ideas & just a tier one person.
jimmy trickle Cato is clever & wordy & wonderful. She is the maker of the best pincushion I have ever seen.
maya*made Maya & I have so much in common. She's really generous with her ideas & shares heaps of tutorials. Her barn is to die for!
pia jane bijkerk Visiting Pia is like dropping in on an old friend. There is always something creative & new & magical at her place.
To all the girls I've loved before Who travelled in and out my door I'm glad they came along I dedicate this song To all the girls I've loved before
To all the girls I once caressed And may I say I've held the best For helping me to grow I owe a lot I know To all the girls I've loved before
The winds of change are always blowing And every time I try to stay The winds of change continue blowing And they just carry me away Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias
