Sew Sweet Pincushion

Here’s a sweet little pincushion pattern just in time for Valentine’s Day — cutting it a bit close, aren’t I!

You’ll need:

• Floral print:  2 – 5″ x 5″ squares (I used two left over charm squares from the Regent Street collection by Sentimental Studios for Moda – yum)
• Ivory solid:  1 – 4″ x 4″ square
• foundation pattern* for 4½” x 4½” square in a square block — click here for link.  When you print the foundation, make sure that it measures 5″ from dotted line to dotted line (4½” from solid line to solid line).
• embroidery floss (I used pink (DMC’s #3731), blue (DMC’s #931), and ecru)
• 9″ x 9″ piece white flannel or thin batting
• fiberfill or other stuffing material
• also helpful:  washout marking pen, spray basting adhesive, embroidery hoop

 *  I paper pieced the square in a square block for accuracy.  If you’re new to paper piecing, here’s a link to Craftsy tutorial to get you started.

Assemble Pincushion:

1. Before paper piecing your block, take one of your print 5″ x 5″ squares and cut it diagonally from corner to corner twice.  You’ll end up with 4 triangles.
2. Foundation piece your square in a square block covering section A1 with the ivory solid 4″ x 4″ square and sections A2, A3, A5, and A5 with the floral print triangles created in step 1 above — if you use a scant ¼” to overlap the lines between the ivory solid section and the floral print sections, the triangles should be plenty big.
3. With paper side up, trim block on dotted lines.  The unfinished block should measure 4½” x 4½“.  Remove paper from behind block.
4. Using your favorite method, transfer the embroidery design to your block.  I used a light box and a wash out marking pen.  Here’s the link for the embroidery design.
5. Your block will be a bit small to embroider at this point, so it’s best to baste it to a larger piece of flannel or thin batting.  I used spray basting adhesive to baste my block to the center of a 9″ x 9″ piece of white flannel.
6. Using an embroidery hoop, two strands of embroidery floss, and a backstitch, embroider the eight hearts on the block.  
7. Trim block with attached flannel to 5″ x 5″.
8. With right sides together, layer embroidered square in a square block and remaining floral print 5″ x 5″ square, matching all edges.
9. Stitch around all four sides using a ¼” seam allowance and leaving a small opening for turning.
10. Trim corners and turn the pincushion right side out.  Press lightly.
11. Stuff pin cushion as desired and use a blind stitch to sew the opening closed.