I’m so excited for this fun guest post today from Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane! I really admire and enjoy Sedef’s talents as a pattern and fabric designer. This simple pincushion tutorial is adorable! And the best trick ever for making a circle without having to use wedges or specialty templates or rulers. Plus a super slick method for stuffing and finishing. I hope you enjoy!
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Hi, it’s Sedef Imer here, from Down Grapevine Lane. I work for Riley Blake Designs as a fabric designer and am also the author of two books: Quilt Petite and Zakka Home (coming out later this year), published by Tuva Publishing. When Amy asked me if I would like to write a guest post on her blog I was so excited! Amy’s blog is such an incredible treasure trove of sewing tips and techniques and I’m honoured to be a part of it today.
Today I will be showing you how to make a very simple round sprocket pincushion, shown here in my fabric range Summer Blush. If you ever made round pincushions you will know that it can be a little tricky to get that perfect circular shape with no bumps and lumps around the edges (especially at the stuffing point).
Fret not – I will show you a very simple technique that ensures you can achieve that perfect round shape every time. The style of this pincushion is known as a ‘sprocket’ design in sewing literature as the slices resemble the spokes of a wheel – this is typically achieved by sewing wedges of fabric together to form a circular shape. That can be a little time consuming, so we’re going to cheat and use half square triangles to achieve a very similar look – easy peasy! 🙂
PIN CUSHION MATERIALS
(8) 3 ½″ print squares (pincushion top)
(2) 3 ½″ x 6 ½″ rectangles (pincushion bottom)
Polyester fibre filling
Decorative button
Template (printed on A4 – check size using the 1″ reference grid) – download HERE
PIN CUSHION ASSEMBLY
1. Divide up the 3 ½″ squares into four pairs. Using a fabric pen draw a diagonal from corner to corner on the back of one print from each pair. Place right sides together with the other print and sew along the traced line. Repeat for all four pairs.
2. Trim each half square triangle (HST) ¼″ away from the seam on one side.
3. Press the HSTs open and lay out on a flat surface, paying attention to the direction of the seams. Sew the HSTs together in pairs with a ¼″ seam then sew the rows together. Press seam open. Your finished block should measure 6 ½″ square.
4. Flip over and place the template on the back of the block, lining up the guides with the seams to make sure it’s central. Trace all the way around with a fabric pen. Set aside.
5. Sew the two bottom rectangles together along one long edge with a ¼″ seam, leaving a 2″ gap in the middle unsewn, securing all beginning and end stitches. Press seam open. This 2″ gap is the opening through which we will be stuffing the pincushion – as it’s on the bottom rather than on the edge of the pincushion this will make sure the shape of the pincushion is not distorted when we blind stitch it closed. I love this neat trick!
6. Place the pincushion top and bottom together, right sides facing. Using a very short stitch length, sew all the way around the circle we traced before, sewing over your beginning stitches a few times to secure. It is very important to use a short stitch length as we don’t want the seam stretching when we stuff the pincushion firmly. Trim the excess fabric with pinking scissors.
7. Turn the pincushion inside out through the 2″ gap on the bottom. Using a turning tool or a blunt instrument such as a chopstick push the edges out until you have a perfect circle. Stuff the pincushion very firmly through the opening with fiber fill (tip: add fiber fill gradually in small pieces, rather than big chunks, and use a blunt instrument to push it all the way out to the edges. Stuff until the circular edge is smooth but the seams are not overstretched – if you have ripples along the edges it’s not stuffed firmly enough). Blind stitch the opening closed by hand.
8. Sew a decorative button in the centre, using a thick thread such as perle cotton and a long needle (I used a doll making needle but any needle long enough to go through the entire thickness of the pincushion will do). Whilst sewing push the needle all the way through the centre of the pincushion then back again a few times to create a dimple in the middle. This will give extra stability to the pincushion and also firm up the stuffing a little more. Finish with a decorative bow as shown if desired.
And that concludes my tutorial – thank you for joining me today! Please come visit me over on my blog Down Grapevine Lane and you can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram where I share lots more ideas and inspiration.
Post Update: Summer Blush is now out of print, but some pieces are still available on Etsy. Happy sewing!
Oh my goodness – that is the most clever pincushion tutorial I’ve ever seen! I’m dying to make some myself now – maybe as Mother’s Day gifts.
Check out these other popular tutorials from Sedef. Many of them make the perfect gift for a friend:
Fabric Covered Needlebook
Scandi Pillow Tutorial
Quilted Leaf Tutorials
Spool Inspired Key Fobs
Thank you so much for sharing you talents with us, Sedef! If you haven’t visited Sedef’s blog, Down Grapevine Lane, you must do so. It’s visually so beautiful and inspiring.
Vicki in MN
Sedef, that’s a fantastic way to make the Sprocket! Thanks for sharing how.
lewisnancy54
I love your pincushion. I have been going to make some forever, but your tutorial is so helpful, I will be using it. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Kay
Really pretty. I like the trick of leaving the opening in the centre back rather than the side. x
Little Quiltsong
Beautiful fabric and pincushion. Thank you for sharing this tutorial Sedef on Amy’s Blog!
janequiltsslowly
Amazing! Gotta make one of these! Do you ever fill with crushed walnut shells instead?
Barbara Esposito, The Quilted B
What a brilliant way to construct this! I love it. thank you so much for this tutorial – on my must make list!
Cindy
okay, that was just brilliant!!!! Thank you for sharing with us!!! Can’t wait to make one for me!
Sedef, your fabric line is beautiful!!!!
Linda B
Very cute and brilliant method! Thanks…just FYI, the link to the template download does not work
Amy
OH weird! I just tried it and it worked for me. Tell me what happens so I can figure out what’s going on.
Linda B
Oh, glad I looked at the comments…it opens Google Drive, and then in a couple seconds a pop up box says “File Not Found” and something like “it might have been deleted”. I will try it again and see exact wording
Linda B
After File Not Found in Google Drive, it says You might not have the right URL or the author have deleted the file (:(
Peggy S
HI, really cute pin cushion. I also love the glass pins shown in the pictures. By chance can you tell us where we can purchase those? Thanks for your tutorial.
Amy
I will email Sedef and ask her to chime in on that!
rosa
So cute and the fabrics are yummiest!!
Mary Ann
Just printed and the circle is 5″, guess I better try again. LOL
Kay Fox
LOVE your fabric, Can’t wait to get some. It will make perfect quilt for little baby girl???
Tracey
Love your pattern. Makes it seem so achievable
Thanks for the ideas. Fabric is great
Sophie
I loved making this pattern thank you for sharing it! My first time making anything with quilt techniques! X
Amy
Congratulations!
Kathy
I just made this pin cushion, and am very pleased with the results. The instructions were very clear, and the button adds a nice, finishing touch. Thanks so much.
wynne clark
very clear instructions. My pincushion from high school finally wore out. I can get “free sawdust’ from my husband!
Amy
I’m so glad!
Nicole
I just finished my pin cushion. It was super easy and turned out cute. For some reason mine is not very round and I stuffed the daylights out of it, but the sam around the edge is still rippled. Oh, well. I really like it anyway. Just what I needed!
LisaD
What size does this finish at? Soooo adorable!!!
vibrat17Gina Cox
Very, very pretty, I’m sure I’ll be making lots of these. I like to start my Christmas sewing now and continue throughout the year, so I have a big selection to choose from when the time comes and then there’s always plenty left over for me and unexpected gifts. This will enhance my skills too which I thank you. Thank you for a delightful design. Xx