This was not what I planned to make this weekend. I blame the library. I borrowed a copy of Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts from the public library – and a stack of other books from there and my local guild library, but that is another story – and it is due back this week. Kelly McKaig’s pincushion pattern was the project that most appealed to me, so it had to be made before I returned the book. Yep. That is why I needed three more pincushions. Logical, really. Right?
Why stop at one?
I challenged myself to use fabrics from my scrap box, and all but one fabric came from scrap. Sadly, the pieces are so small that I have not made a noticeable dent in the box’s contents.
As usual, I stuffed them with crushed walnut shells. In a break from habit, I did not line everything with fusible interfacing.
They even hold pins.
There are no prizes for guessing which pincushion is my favourite. One day I would like to make a colour-wheel mini quilt a little like the one on page 107, but not this week.
Look! It looks just like the picture!
Granny Mauds Girl 
Your favourite is my favourite too! I just had to take three quilting books back to the library because they were distracting me. There were all sorts of things that kept sparking ideas, and I need to focus right now, both to finish the current job and start the next epic. I know where they are…. I just can’t get at them any more!
Everyone loves a rainbow, right?
All that idea sparking is a problem with library books. I now have a growing list of new things to add to the already arm-long list of UFOs. The public library books went back today. The guild library books can be drooled over for another few weeks.
I’m fortunate that none of the books my sewing group has in their library appeal much, lots of traditional blocks and quilt designs…
Our association has 700+ members and a room full of books and magazines, with a proper librarian and assistants. I will have to take you along if your Perth visit coincides with a monthly meeting.
I love the idea of making pincushions, and they are always fun! But really, how many pincushions is too many? Twenty? Probably not…..
It is okay, Susan. It is not like I keep all the pincushions I make. That would be scary! Most find new homes. Maybe not the rainbowy one. That is my new precious. 🙂
You make the best pincushions! Where did you buy the crushed walnut shells from?
A shop that sells pet snakes in Rockingham, Reptile Trader. It was a long drive, but they let you say hello to the snakes! (Wish you had not asked, Gina? :))
These are super cute! I’m going to see if they have a copy of that book at my library!
And if they do not, I am sure that they will have a stack of other books with fun projects to try. Some days, I wonder whether I should have become I librarian …
these are lovely and bright! can I ask, why do you put crushed walnut shells Inside? is to make them heavier?
I have tried all sorts of stuffings, Claire. The crushed walnuts are hard to find but they have a nice weight that polyester hobby fill does not and pins go in easily. I have also used chopped scraps of quilt wadding, but only the sharpest pins cope with such a dense stuffing.
I even have a small bag of smooth crushed glass, but I have not yet tried that. I should have tried it with one of these, but I keep foolishly forgetting I have it.
They do look lovely, and I can totally understand why you didn’t stop at one.
I could chain piece more easily when making three, and I am lousy at decisions. When it comes to deciding which fabric combination, I often end up making all because I cannot choose.
These are so gorgeous – I am usually a rainbow girl, but the black and white with the teal trim is really appealing to me! You should link up with ‘Sew the Library at http://www.weekenddoings.com/weekenddoings 🙂
Would you believe that the bright blue was an accident? I was sure I had black or white or grey embroidery thread, but I was wrong.
A library sewing link? I will do that!
These are so cute! I can see why you love the rainbow one, but I have to say, my favorite of the 3 is the black and white with the teal thread. Just.So.CUTE!
I was surprised to find that I did not have any sensibly coloured embroidery threads, so the choice was red or aqua to go with the black and white. I chose aqua. 🙂
The edges of piping are beautiful – are they fabric or piping or ribbon… ?
Plain old embroidery thread wrapped around.
They’re gorgeous Carla – and Yes, I’m sure you did need more pin cushions. Now you probably need more pins though, to make those pin cushions feel needed.
You might be right. Would you believe that when I took these photos I could not find many pins? I had them in the dining room (where I have temporarily moved my machine for FMQ) and in the library, but none in the sewing room.
These are the cutest pincushions I’ve seen n a very long time! Super adorable!
They take no time to make, Beth. You should look out for a copy of the book to borrow.
Great looking pin cushions. Love the rainbow one.
No one can be grumpy with a rainbow pincushion. Right, Anja? 🙂
I would call an invention meeting … but you’re just so good at making pin cushions, I wouldn’t dare stop you 🙂
If I kept them all, an intervention would be needed!
I love the effect of the piping and can see why you made more than one!
Wrapping with embroidery thread like this was a first for me, but I would do it again.
Good grief! How many pins do you have!? But they are lovely 🙂
Good point! Maybe I need to buy more pins to put in all these pincushions!
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They are gorgeous Carla. I love making pincushions too, it is hard to stop at just one.
Thank you for stopping by Sew the Library!
Pincushions might be related to chocolate – both hard to stop at one. 🙂
So cute! I especially love the rainbow one!
That is my favourite too.
Did you use the pattern included in the book? The shape looks different from the photo of instructions in the book. I made lots of these, but they never quite looked like the shape in the book. Also, how big was your seam?