Doily Pin Cushion Tutorial

*First find some doilies. Either make some by hand, or buy them at a thrift store, garage sale, or anywhere else you can find them cheap. The doilies used here are around 4" diameter.

* Jute string, or even Hemp string works great. It is a little thicker, more vintagey.

* A Large needle for pulling that thread and going through that thickness.

* Crushed Walnut shells. I found mine in a pet store by the lizard section. They use this for bedding in the cages. We use it for pin cushions.

* Scraps that are at least 6" wide by 6" or as large as you need it to be.

* A lid, something round, plate, bowl or whatever that is 6" in diameter.

If it is white you can dye them. I use RIT dye in the TAN color. Has the perfect "tea" stain color. You can control the darkness to by how much you use. I use the Liquid one so i don't have to wait for it to disolve. Follow the instructions on bottle when dying them.

This is the difference between dyed and white.

Let's Start:

* Place your circular item on the back side of the fabric. Draw around the edge, Leaving you a perfect little circle. Cut the circle out on the line. Repeat for the other half.

* Sew around the edge twice --this will strengthen the outside stitching when filling it tight. Leave a 1 1/2 inch opening for turning and filling.

* Turn right sides out.

* Fill with crushed walnut shells. I used a nifty funnel Angie gave me..thanks. Make sure you clean up your mat after done. These little things will leave nicks in your rotary cutter if you hit them!!!

* You should fill it full. The opening needs to beable to close for stitching.

* Close that hole right up with a little bit of stitching.

* Thread the jute on the big needle. Tie a double knot at one end and pull through the center of the pin cushion. The knot will be hidden by a button later on.

* With the doily in place begin stitching.

The back:

The front with the doily. The jute string will keep the doily in place. Pull that string tight!! It is strong and you want it to dimple the edge just a bit.

I used the pedals of the doily for my spacing of stitches. Makes things easier without measuring.

* Repeat, repeat, repeat..until it is all stitched. Notice how i didn't go into the same hole each time. This will make a large hole that all the filling will fall out of. Plus the button will cover this all up.

* Choose a button for both centers. Stitch them on. use the jute string. Pull tight so they don't fall off and they keep all that center mess covered up.

* TADA You are finished!!

Here are the bottoms:

And the tops:

Have fun making them and beware they are addictive.

Good thing we can use them for presents, prizes, or just hoard them ourselves.....