The easiest DIY pin cushion

Easy and quick pin cushion to make when you're short on time or simply feel like taking it easy :)

Earlier we already learned how to make a biscornu pin cushion. It has a quirky zig-zag shape that makes its appearance especially fun and amusing. However, it requires some stitching and preparation... and sometimes we want to skip those parts, don't we? Well, here is an alternative!

These round pincushions can be made in literally 30 minutes!

What you need:

-A big round fabric cut-out

-Cardboard circle for the base

-A fabric cut-out the same size and shape as the cardboard circle

-Stuffing

-Needle

-Thread of matching color

-Scissors for thread, you won't use them for anything else.

Now, for a pincushion with a diameter of 9 cm, I used a fabric cut out of 20 cm. The cardboard circle (and its fabric twin) had a diameter of 6,2 cm. The cardboard circle will serve as the bottom of the pincushion so that it doesn't look like a ball but can sit flat on a surface. However, usually, stuffing still goes over the edge, so to say, so the actual width of the pincushion is bigger than that of the cardboard base. Does it make sense?

Basically, expect the pin cushion to be slightly wider than the cardboard shape :)

Now, let's start!

DIY easy pin cushion tutorial

1) Take thread of matching color, and start basting the edge of the big fabric circle from the backside. Basting is a loose running stitch, in case you are confused. You can work it by impaling fabric onto the needle like in the picture above, making it look like an accordion.

2) Baste around the whole circle and come back to the place where you started.

3) Now pull the thread gently, so that the fabric gathers and shapes itself into something resembling a bag. While pulling the thread, spread all the creases evenly as much as you can. Sometimes, they gather more on one side and it is better to avoid that.

4) Put the stuffing material inside the shape. Test how full and spongy it is and check whether you need to add some more. Then put the cardboard piece inside and pull the thread harder.

5) At this point, you can glue the fabric to the cardboard if you weel like it. But since we are making a super easy pin cushion without any extra instruments, and also, because holding thread with one hand while gluing with the other seems a bit more troublesome, I will show you how to do it all only with thread.

6) Pull the thread as much as you can, so that the cardboard is covered, or almost covered, and then stitch down the edges to each other. It is easy, you just pierce through one edge, pierce the opposite edge, pull the thread, then take a step to either direction, pierce one edge, etc. Connect the opposite sides until all of the creases are secured. Don't forget to secure your thread too! Make a couple of tiny stitches before cutting off the end of the thread.

7) Now you can take the smaller fabric circle, put it over the bottom of the pin cushion and stitch it down. I used herringbone stitch here.

8) The final look of the pin cushion from the bottom and...

...from the top :)

Yes, it's THAT easy!

You can use it just as it is. Since it has a flat bottom, you can put on your working desk and it is unlikely for it to roll over. I prefer putting it in a small porcelain candle holder. You can also put a cushion like this into a mug, decorative storage can, a pretty creamer, etc.! :)