Tutorial: A Pincushion in a Lid

We were having our usual afternoon tea with my not so Little Son the other day. The last bits of the delicious cherry jam were spread on a warm toast, so the jar was going to be thrown away. But not the lid. I could not part with it. If it was just an ordinary, plain lid, I would have thrown it out without any second thoughts. But this was a special, red gingham lid that asked to be kept and used for something. But what?

There are not many ways of using jar lids for sewing. Are there? I kept on sipping my tea while my mind kept going through different ideas until it reached the right one. A pincushion! A pincushion in a lid! The cup was moved aside, the toast was left unfinished, I had a better thing to do now, a far more interesting than to enjoy my afternoon cuppa. It took me no more than 15 minutes to get all the things I needed and make a pincushion, that's how quick and easy it is. I could not stop at just one, I made a few. He... he...

If you would like to make one, here is how.

Things you will need:

• a red gingham jar lid
• some pretty fabric
• a piece of lace
• a piece of cardboard
• stuffing material
• decorations (button, ribbon, yo-yo)
• sewing supplies

Step 1: Put the lid upside down on a piece of cardboard and trace with a pencil very close to lid. Cut it out. Cut out a circle from cotton that is about 2" larger than the cardboard circle.

Step 2: Using a strong thread, make a knot at the end and sew plenty of running stitches close to each other around the circle about 1/4" from the edge.

Step 3: Gather the fabric by gently pulling the thread so the edges come together and form a cup. Fill it with the stuffing material. The more stuffing material you use, the taller and more roundish your pincushion will be.

Step 4: Once you put enough stuffing, place the cardboard circle on top and carefully pull the thread. Do not pull too tight, your pincushion will become quite flat. Once you are happy with the shape of your pincushion, secure the thread.

Step 5: Stitch a piece of lace around the pincushion about 2-3mm away from the bottom.

Step 6: Carefully insert the pincushion inside the lid. You do not need any glue.  Attach a bow or a button or a tiny yo-yo for decoration.

To make the bow: cut a piece of fabric on the bias about 1cm wide. Gently pull the piece by the opposite ends so the it gets stretched a bit. Tie a bow, cut the ends at 45 degrees and pin the bow on to your pincushion with a pretty pin.

For the button: instead of plain thread, use a piece of thick cotton or linen thread. Pull both ends through the button holes and tie a bow, trim the ends.

Happy crafting! Larisa xox