Kitchki Pin Cushions

I saw the cutest small porcelein, kitchki -is that what those type of things called?, vintage pincushions...... at a boutique recently and thought---those are sooo cute! I really wanted one, but missed my chance to buy one and so here goes - Make it yourself!

You first need to shop the Thrift stores-  or maybe your grandmas house or where ever you can find a nice little collection of porcelein containers. They can be really anything. Just think- will this hold a stuffed little ball of wool or cotton? I went for the glass, porcelein ones. There is a lot out there right now that are resin, but i don't like that look as much as the glass kind. If you think it can work - get it!

Here is my stash before the transformation. They were all under $1.00! can't beat that!

There were the 3 that had no lids on them anymore. The 2 little teacups are handpainted and signed! that is kind of fun. The little boy- I think he is a flower container. The chimney stack will soon be stuffed! and the duck- just so 1980's especially with the bow! but he has a hollow back and soon it - he- will be stuffed too! hee hee

After picking your favorites out and bringing them home you need to stuff them.

Stuffing: I used that wonderful wool stuffing that i got at the garage sale. It is soooo dense. You can really minipulate it's shape, much different from polyfil.
Outside: I used felted wool sweaters. I thought that they might look a bit cuter than cotton in these. You really could use whatever you have on hand though.

I cut the wool and then sewed two edges, turned it right sides out, and then stuffed it! I stuffed it a lot! Then i jammed it into the holes, making sure that the seams were underneath and tucked in the sides so only a smooth top showed. If it didn't make a nice rounded hill, then i would remove the tube, stuff some more and go jamming it back in again. I didn't use any glue {at first i thought i would} and they stayed in their place pretty good.  {I think really because they were so jammed with stuffing} I think also that the ones missing lids had an edge on the top {where the lid would sit} so that helped keep all that inside. A smooth side would definitly not hold the cushion down and in.

See what you get when finished:

His chimney was very deep, so i left the green flower {i can't think of that name--} stuff inside and just jammed the top bit full of the wool and wool stuffing.

I decided to just leave his bow and add a red pin cushion.

So, if you are in need of a cute and quick little sewing present....go take a look around....and make yourself a little something. Share it if you do!!

I have a few of these goodies in the Shop---if you don't want to hunt and stuff.....

Rolled Wool Pin Cushions Tutorial

Before we start:

We got some hail--yesterday---for 15 minutes straight.

Ok. Now to begin. I LOVE making these pin cushions. First they are SUPER EASY! and second they really take like 15 minutes to whip up. So have some fun and get your imaginations going with this. There is for sure a ton of ideas that you can come up with....so show us when you finish. will ya?

*** Materials: I used sweaters. 100% wool sweaters. You can use wool felt also or normal felt too--but the wool is much cuter. These sweaters/felt need to be felted. Give it the hot/cold bath and shrink that baby down. You don't want strings or things to pull your pin cushion apart.

*** Cut your wool strips. You need to decide how tall to make the pin cushion. I wouldn't recomend anything larger than 3".  You will end up with a tower if you do. Maybe that is what you want.....hmmmm..  I like the 2" or 2 1/2" strips personally. The strips should be around 12" long or longer. If they are shorter you can use them but will be butting alot of ends, and that can become not fun. Colors--You can pre-think this also, as far as colors go. I made a watermelon and a tree trunk....so i would need colors that will work for that. get it? Stripes work too. You can decide which color to use at the end. good. now.  So go and get your stuff so you can roll with me.

WATERMELON ROLLED WOOL

PIN CUSHION

Start your roll small or you will end up with a hollow center.  For the 'seeds' i added some 1/2" strips of dark brown or black wool.  You need to roll a bit in the center and then start placing the 'seeds' and roll some more.

You can totally try out the placement of the seeds. Stick one in ....roll....take a look...unroll and change placement if you don't like it or keep on roll'n if you do.

See how cute?!

I used a pink striped sweater and made sure the pink was at the end that would show. Stripes are great that way.

When you are at the end of one color and want to begin another...just but the ends up together. They will be covered by another roll so don't worry too much. Just make sure they stay together. Notice i cut the next strip with the white on the top---for the rind! Handy that stripe is...told ya.

Now i have my white rind done. weeee.  Now i will finish it up with a green outside. {no pics- just believe me till you see it later on down the line} Same process. I know you can do it on your own. Go on now, give it a try.

TREE TRUNK ROLLED  WOOL PIN CUSHION

This trunk starts off just the same way. I did use a light brown and a dark brown wool strips together. Just layer them on top of each other---making sure that on edge is flush.

Oh my goodnes....a moth hole!! who cares!! It will be rolled right into the middle and lost forever. yay!

Keep rolling, rolling, rolling until you have it as fat as you like it. If you need to add strips, again just but them up to each other and continue rolling. Fun!!!

When you get to the end {I added the cuff of the sleeve for the outside roll on the trunk} You will just want to pin it in place and then do a button hole stitch along the cut edge. Gives it a cute little end + keeps it together.

Here is the top---nice and flush.

Here is the bottom....all fluffy and mismatched. Don't freak out! It will be covered up. Top- nice. Bottom-not nice.

We intrerupt this tutorial to bring you the kids making a monster huge paper airplane.

OK. we're back.

Don't get all confused at the upcoming pics. I flip back and forth from one pin cushion to the other. Same process. ya with me?

Now you need to make a bottom to cover up that mess of a roll. Trim the bottom as best as possible. Just get rid of the big edges and make things look a little better. this will give you a flatter bottom too. ok, now. Lay the pin cushion on top of the wool you are using for the bottom. And start trimming with scissors. Get it as nice as possible, but remember..it is wool and will stretch and you can make it nice. So don't go think'n you have wasted wool if it isn't cut just perfect.

See-not perfect bottom...Now whip stitch, button hole stitch or whatever stitch you would like to use. Stitch it to the sides. Nice.  You are FINISHED!!!!

I added some green wool leaves onto the sides for cuteness sake. Add any embellishment you can think of.

WATERMELON & TREE TRUNK

PIN CUSHIONS

Here are a few more:

I made one a flower. That would be the kind of weird one on the left. Made a bunch of petals and attached them the same way as the leaves. There is no pattern for these, just a free handed cutting. I also made an itty bitty one. Way quick and easy. Perfect for a little traveling sewing kit.

Flickr it if you finish one of these cute things!! We want to see them...don't we?! yes, we do!!!

Quick update on the shop!!! NEW PATTERN!!! Take a look:

Flower Patch

Quilt Pattern

finished size: 51" X 43"

Perfect for little ones to snuggle, wrap or cover up in their crib with. Not too small, not too large. It has very simple 12 patch blocks and a great big applique flower. Simple enough for any beginner quilter. The pattern is done in tutorial style with pictures to help along the way and material list to get you started.

For this quilt i used a great lavender linen for the sashing and all the others are a collection of flower prints. Love them! This is perfect for a fat quarter collector.

Pick the pattern up over in the SHOP.

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.....