Monday, November 08, 2010

Handmade Holiday Project


Jandi from Jandi in Stitches, invited me to participate in the Handmade Holidays blog tour this week. I am always looking for Holiday gifts to give that are handmade or that I can make myself. This year I have several quilting/sewing buddies that I'd like to give a pincushion to as part of their gift.
I decided to create my version of a 9 patch pincushion.

9-Patch 'n Pins
a pincushion tutorial

Ingredients:
Scrap fabric totaling 1/8 yard
batting scrap 6" X 6"
backing fabric 5.5" X 5.5"
polyfil or lizard liter for stuffing/filling

Cut your scraps into the following:
{4} 1" X 4 1/4" light rectangles
{4} 1" contrasting squares for corners
{9} 1 3/4" squares



Begin by laying out your arrangements as shown.
Sew together the 9 patch center.
Sewing first into rows of 3.
Then sewing the rows together to form the 9 patch.

Here is an example with the center sewn.
It should measure 4 1/4" square.
Next take 2 light strips and sewn them to opposite sides of the 9 patch.
Examples in Basic Grey, Sandy Gervais  and Darla by Tanya Whelan.

Next sew the 1" squares to the side pieces as shown.
Now sew the pieced side to the 9 patch.


Press the sides out.


Layer for quilting.
I chose to quilt them all at once with a larger scrap of batting.
Sew a giant X through the center of each cushion block.
Then outline the center 9 patch square.

Here's a close up.
Trim all the excess batting away.

Now layer the pincushion top the the bottom fabric right sides together.
Sew on the perimeter 1/4" seam allowance, leaving about a 1" opening on a side for turning.
Turn, stuff, pin and whip stitch closed.


To create the dimple in the center. I take a coordinating thread and a doll maker's needle, start at the top of the pincushion and draw up the center.
The knot will be covered with a button or tiny yo-yo.

And here's the finished product.

9 Patch 'n Pins

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!
There are 46 days left until Christmas...better get sewing :)


19 comments:

May Kristin said...

Oh, so cute and decorative!

Unknown said...

Great little project!

Sandy said...

darling! and we have so many "small" scraps we can't bear to throw away LOL, oh yes, these are on my to do list! sandy

Wendy said...

These are great! Definitely will make some. Thanks for sharing!

Mary Grace McNamara said...

Great little gifts and quick too!

MGM

Needled Mom said...

So cute, Vickie! They would be fun to make as well.

Little Lady Patchwork said...

Awesome! I loved how you saved time by quilting them all together on the larger sheet of batting.

Oh my only 46 more days left :0(

At least this gives me an idea fo something quick that I can whip up in no time!

Thanks for sharing with us,
Stefanie

♥Duff said...

Very sweet! I was just thinking that these would make awesome ornaments, especially with a hand-written note and date on the back.
Even better: the ornament could first be used as a gift tag for the recipient.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

What a cute project! Thanks!

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

thank you! I love the pincushion and will make myself one. Out of Bliss, I think. :)

Sandy said...

Such a cute pincushion...thanks for sharing, Vicki!

GerryART said...

Very cool!
Who wouldn't love to get one of these lovlies in their Christmas Stocking.

Hugs,
Gerry

the gathering girls said...

Adorable....thanks for the great gift idea!

Retrogirl said...

Another great tutorial, Vickie! Adore all the pincushions, especially the 30s version!!
All my best,
Heather

Linda said...

How fun! Thanks so much for posting such a great little project!

Cris A said...

These are just adorable! Thanks for the tutorial!

Gari in AL said...

Oh, thank you. I really need pincushions and have seen several that were too hard for me to do quickly. But I can do this one and will have one by this time next week. Thanks so much.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Great little gift! Thanks for sharing, the photos are great!

Ariane said...

Love this tutorial!!! Thanks for sharing. I need to make some of these!!