SQUARE CHALLENGE - Squares With A Twist Pincushion

Squares With A Twist Pin Cushion

The challenge in our SAQA Pod 4 this month was to create using the square shape. I was so taken with this challenge that I created 2 projects. The first was in my previous post, "Epiphany of Hexies" Squared. My next completed challenge piece is a pin cushion which I'm about to share the pattern with you here. At first glance from and overhead photo looks square but look closer at the second photo... Notice anything different?

You will need:

2 - 5" square cotton fabric

Stuffing filler of your choice (I used Polyester so I could really stuff my points) 

Your sewing machine, matching thread and usual sewing supplies.

Begin by ironing squares and use a bit of spray starch to give the fabric some body.

Mark the middle of the 4 of both squares by folding the squares in half both ways and make a small marks on edge of the wrong side of the fabric.

Lay the two squares RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER on a quarter twist angle. 

Match the points of the bottom to the marked half way point on the top one. Do the same with all points and half way marks. 

 

The next part takes a bit of patients and finessing so be take it slow. You will be sewing all the way around the edges using a 1/4" seam allowance and reduce your stitch length slightly, stitching from points of fabric to the half way marks. Because you will stitching around the corners I found it easier to give a tiny nip of the fabric at each half way mark being sure to nip LESS THAN your 1/4" seam allowance. This will allow you a bit of wiggle room to round the corner points easier. Once you have sewn all the seams you will slice a small hole on the BOTTOM FABRIC ONLY so you can turn your pincushion right side out and also provide a hole to add the stuffing.

Phew... OK now that we've stopped cursing (OK I may have said a couple naughty words but the effort was worth it LOL) Now we can turn our project right side out and add our stuffing. Start with small tuffs of fiber fill first pushing it into the points with chop stick or similar blunt tool. Completely fill the pincushion tightly compacting the filler.

 Hand stitch the hole and cover it a with a patch if you like, it's on the bottom of the project so that's optional.

And you're done!