Le Challenge #20 - Passion... for Pincushions!

I have an ever growing Passion for Pincushions. There must be a limit between passion and mania and I think I could be about to pass that limit! I made this little Mountain Pin Cushion as a joke for myself. I absolutely love Pin Cushions and little things in general. My parents know something about this... I have collected all sorts of small things in childhood and I must admit I haven't improved much now! My passion for small things includes match boxes used... not for matches:

This match box inspired the mountain pin cushion: 

It's a German firm that makes pretty match boxes with photos or patterns on the front.

It was snowing when I got this match box so I thought the little white balls on the  pins would look like snowflakes... well, sort of!

I made it just to tease myself but it's not such a bad idea for taking pins around with you and not hurting yourself, is it? 

OK, but what do I do with all the matches now?!

I'm collecting fun Match Box and Pin Cushion ideas on our Pinterest boards. So many great projects to admire!

Linking up with Le Challenge. The next challenge is Tradition. That's a brilliant theme.

How to make a Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion - Tutorial

Magnetic pin cushions are really handy for keeping your pins in one place, the only problem is... they're not made of fabric! Traditional pin cushions are very useful when you have to take a pin without looking (because you're busy working on your quilt...) and you don't want to hurt yourself!

So how about a Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion? On one side of the pin cushion a magnet keeps your pins in place, on the other side you can insert your pins when you need too.

Here is what you need to make a Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion:

• A flat rectangular magnet (even a old one will do!)
• 6 pieces of fabric, each one sized at least 1/2" longer and wider than the sides of the magnet. You can use scraps of fabric or a few 5" squares from a charm pack if you like.
• Pincushion filling;
• A glue gun

Seam allowances are always 1/4".

Before starting, check your magnet is strong enough to hold pins by placing a piece of fabric between the magnet and some pins. If you can turn the magnet upside down and the pins stay in place then your magnet is strong enough.

Start by cutting two pieces of fabric for the top and bottom of the pin cushion. Each piece must be 1/2" longer and wider than the magnet. 

Then cut four pieces of fabric to make the sides of the pin cushion. The length of each piece of fabric must be 1/2" longer than each side of the magnet. The width of each piece of fabric depends on how thick you want your pin cushion to be. For the pin cushion in the photos the sides are 2 1/2" high (including seam allowances). Sew the four sides together right sides together with a 1/4" seam allowance, making a ring (stopping a 1/4" from each corner).

Now sew the piece of fabric for the top to one side of the ring, stopping again a 1/4" from each corner. Iron the pieces you have sewn together.

Using a glue gun, put a line of glue just around the seam on the wrong side of the top piece of fabric and glue your magnet into place (magnet side towards the fabric). Leave to dry.

When the glue is dry, turn the pin cushion with the magnet underneath and sew the top piece of fabric and the fabric ring right sides together (always stopping 1/4" from each corner). Leave an opening on one of the long sides for turning the fabric right side out. The opening must be at least as long as the width of the magnet, especially if the magnet is too stiff to bend through the opening.

Turn right side out, using a chop stick (this is my favourite tool but you can use any other blunt pointed tool) to help you turn the points out. Stuff with pincushion filling and hand sew the opening closed. The magnet will make the base of the pin cushion flat and heavy enough, so you won't need to use crushed walnuts as a filling. 

And here it is, your finished Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion!

The fabric used for the Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion is Sew Yummy by Monica Solario-Snow for Cloud9 Fabrics. I was so very lucky to win a set of 5 inch squares of this fun fabric from Quilt Taffy. Don't miss Quilt Taffy's blog because they have lovely posts and weekly giveaways of wonderful fabrics!

P.S. Remember there is a magnet inside your pin cushion: iron only with a very low temperature so you don't melt the magnet and don't put the pin cushion near any devices that can be damaged by magnets!

We are joining this year's Finish-Along at Adrianne's On the Windy Side with our Two-Sided Magnetic Pin Cushion. Our original list for Q1 is here, so that's one ticked off!

Log Cabin Blocks + Pin Cushions + Quilts = FAL Q1

The equation in the title should result in some finishes for Q1 of 2015! So here is my Finish-Along list:

1. First up are my log cabin blocks for the Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt-A-Long on Instagram. Check out this tag on Instagram: #scrappylogcabinqal to find out more. This project has to be finished by the 15th of February. You can find us on Instagram here: ellaandnesta

2. Pin cushion project: small but fun. It has nothing to do with the pin cushion in the photo. The miniature watering can was a Christmas present from a colleague. I liked looking at it so much I decided to transform it into a pincushion so it has a good reason for sitting next to my sewing machine! Anyway, I have another pin cushion in mind for my second proposed finish. I admit it, I love making pin cushions! Have a look here, here and here and you'll see what I mean!

3. Twin quilts for my daughters using Cardigan Girls panels for Timeless Treasures. I would like to make them for Spring so they can be used when it starts getting warm. This project is also in my 2015 Sewing Goals list.

4. The C+S EPP Star is travelling every day with me to work in the car, hoping to be finished by the end of the month. In the meantime it's just getting dusty! This goal is in my A Lovely Year of Finishes list.

Adrianne at On the Windy Side is hosting this year's Finish-Along. I can't believe how many are joining in! A lot of brilliant projects to check out!

Kawaii Jar Ring Pin Cushion

Have a peek at my Kawaii Jar Ring Pin Cushion, courtesy of a free Spoonflower swatch of Faux Suede:

Isn't it fun? I love pin cushions made with Mason Jars and I have pinned quite a few on my Pincushions and Needle Books board. I can't buy Mason Jars here in Italy as far as I know. The make they sell here "Quattro Stagioni" are pretty but don't have the fancy lids! I even tried looking how much it would cost to ship Mason Jars... maybe I'll buy them when I become a millionaire! So not being able to make myself a Mason Jar pin cushion, I decided to make a Kawaii Jar Ring Pin Cushion.

And no, those aren't my nails. My colleague was kind enough to lend me her hands again for modelling this Ring Pin Cushion, which happened to match the colour of her cool nail art!

I have been taking advantage of Spoonflower's free swatch for new fabric releases because it's a great way of feeling the texture of material before choosing to buy some. So the Kawaii toast came from this fabric swatch called "Bread for Breakfast!" by Bora.

As you can see, there are quite a few jars in the swatch so soon you'll be seeing some more fun Kawaii ring pin cushions and a tutorial on how to make them!

Granny Square Block Needle Book and matching Pin Cushion (and a giveaway!)

I am so glad my partner Terry, who blogs at With a Cup and a Sword, received my swap mail and liked it so much. I was worried about the envelope arriving safely and luckily it did! Now all has been revealed to my partner, I can show a few photos here!

Needle Book with matching Pin Cushion and Scissors Fob.

I fell in love with the Granny Square Block and decided to try it (here is the post about the technique I used and the Vlieseline product) for this swap. I wanted to make a needle book and a matching pin cushion that you could carry with you, without having to carry bits and pieces. The needle book fits onto the pin cushion. The pin cushion has an elastic that hooks onto the bobbin button on the needle book and, to close the needle book, you hook the elastic on a bobbin button on the pin cushion. That sounds a bit complicated but it's easier to look at the photo that read my explanation!

Have a peek inside!

This is the first "page" with a pocket in the cover and a pretty patch of Suzy Ultman's fabric. I saw Terry likes birds in her sewing and decorations.

Terry also likes linen. I love using linen and I especially love the contrast between linen and bright fabrics and trims. In case you're wondering what's in the corner, here is a close up...

It's a mini mini pin cushion, about half an inch wide (about 1.5cm). I forgot to take a photo with a pin in it. It was Ella's idea to use it as a pin cushion. We tried it out and a part from looking cute, it really works!

Mini pom pom trim. Can't resist pom poms!

 Another pocket at the back. Two vintage pearl buttons and a pretty ribbon.

This is the pin cushion by itself. You can even use the elastic to hang it up. I love how the bobbins turned out. I fixed orange floss around a wooden bobbin, one of those ones they sell for making brooches, like a charm.

The Need a Needle Book Swap has been so fun and there have been so many beautiful needle books to look at! If you haven't already read it, here is my post about the wonderful needle book I received and this is the Flickr page for the Swap. How about a Need ANOTHER Needle Book Swap? I keep collecting ideas on my Pinterest board Pincushions and Needle Books! Thank you Amy (@ Amy Made That!) for organising this great swap and can't wait for the next one! 

Don't miss Amy's giveaway here, you could win a $25 gift certificate to Zipit!