Small EPP Pincushion

I’ve been spending time sorting and laying out some larger projects that I will be working on through the end of the year. While the planning and organising part of projects is necessary and something I enjoy, the downside is that I’m not actually completing projects. Getting everything planned, organised, ordered, and picked up takes a lot mental space. I’ve been able to add more to my larger EPP projects, which is great, but also not anything that can be marked complete. I have found a lovely local group for charity quilting and I have been in the process of working through patterns and sizing and fabrics - I’m really excited to get to share that when there is more to share than piecing graph paper layouts. I really wanted something that was quick and useful that would be something I could mark as complete, hence a small EPP pincushion.

There are so many pincushion tutorials on the internet. They’re all lovely and cute and range from quick and easy to drawn out and complex. I’m virtually drowning in EPP hexies at the moment and I wanted something small to keep in the sewing box. My sewing box does have a small pincushion attached inside the lid, but it’s filled with polyfill. I wanted something that was a bit more sharpening for my actual sewing needles. I’ve made a small hexie needle book, but that’s not nearly as useful when I’m actively using my needles. I thought I would share my little pincushion with you today.

Hexagon paper and scrap fabrics

I’m using leftover fabric from the cotton napkins I made a couple years ago. The papers are 1 inch hexagons.

Basting

I’m doing a quick thread baste at the corners. This works really well for the size papers I’m using.

A Quick Press

I like using my seam roller after basting to help get really crisp corners. I’m ultimately going to have to turn this piece right side out so getting crisp corners is super important.

Sewing Seams

Place hexies right sides together and sew around all sides of the hexies leaving an opening for turning. I chose to leave about 1/2 inch open because I didn’t want to have to worry about trying to slip stitch corners. It’s a really small opening, so adjust as you see fit.

Pop out the papers

I have a small awl that I keep in my sewing box to make popping out the papers easier.

Turn the fabric right side out

This is fiddly. There isn’t a good way to get images. I have blunt, decorative bodkin that I used to turn this right side out. Just be patient and work slowly. Be sure to poke out the corners.

Filling

There are so many options for fillings. I chose walnut shells with lavender because walnut shells help keep your needles sharp.

Funnel

Find a small funnel - we have one that came with a flask. It’s really helpful. If you don’t have a small funnel, you can use a small piece of paper rolled up.

Fill Firmly

Put your filling in the funnel and use something to push the filling through. I’m using that bodkin. The idea is to get the hexies really full so that it’s plump. You don’t need a lot of filling, but it is more than you think.

Ready to stitch closed

You can see how plump the hexies are. There should be enough room for you gently push the opening closed.

Stitch closed

I tend to use a small ladder stitch, but you can stitch this opening closed any number of ways.

Filled and closed!

I’ve gently prodded the small cushion to more evenly distribute the filling.

Adding overcast threads

This helps really plump out the cushion. Thread a needle with doubled thread an make a small knot at the end. Starting in the middle, push the needle through. You will have some space to wiggle your needle so that you can come up on the middle on the other side.

Wrap the thread around

Come back to the back and push the needle back to the front. I aim for entering and exiting in the same place as much as I can. Try to center the thread across the straight side.

Pull the thread firmly

Pull the thread firmly and hold in place. Repeat the last step on each straight side to help keep the cushion plump.

All Plump

Here you can see I’ve completed all six sides. The cushion is much more firm and plump. I like very firm pin cushions, so this is ideal for me.

Finishing off

This cushion is tiny, so I completed mine my making a french knot and burying my thread end in the cushion. Feel free to add a bead or button to yours.

Complete!

And here it is - all done!

All in all, this project took me about half an hour to complete using things I already had on hand. It is really nice to complete something small and useful for my sewing kit. What are some other small projects you have been working on?