Saturday 5 October 2013

Across the Pond for the Skinny Pincushion


Whoever said ‘three into one doesn’t go’ is wrong, wrong, wrong. One of the best things about the Across the Pond sew-along is that it is run by three very different people, Amy, Susie and me.  We all have different tastes, loves and talents.  This month is the turn of Susie to select the project and lead the way over at Susie’s Sunroom.
Susie's matching skinny pincushion and machine cover 
Susie has chosen the Skinny Pincushion – a free pattern from Alexia Abegg of Green Bee patterns.    

Susie loves her pin cushions as you will recall if you joined us in January this year when we made the bird pincushion.  Yet again Susie has picked a real 'corker' (English slang for 'goodun', which is slang for 'super-dooper').
Courtesy of Green Bee Patterns
The skinny pincushion sits at the base of your sewing machine holding your pins ready for when you need them.  It is such a good idea.

But there’s just one problem for me ..... I live in a very little house, with just one work table for sewing, cutting, sketching and pinning.  I slide my sewing machine back and forth across the table all day as I create room for a multitude of tasks.  I need the pincushion to stay in place as I move my machine.  Solution?  Easy – add a sewing machine mat to the pin cushion and hey presto – problem sorted.
I made my pincushion longer - to fit the length of my sewing machine and I made a quilted mat, slightly narrower than the pincushion.  I constructed the pincushion as per the pattern except that I left one long side open.   On the open side, I pressed 1/4" seam allowance to the wrong side on the front and the back pieces.  I then attached the pincushion to the quilted mat leaving a 2" gap for stuffing.  Once I had stuffed the pincushion I slip-stitched the opening shut. 
 
I used left over batting to stuff my pincushion which works very well but is a little bumpy in places.  I am unsure how Susie manages to use cat litter without it ending up all over the place! 
The most important part of any Across the Pond project
TEA-TIME!
Now before you go a couple of chances to win some goodies ......
Firstly have you left a comment on my Patchique blog?  You have until midnight (GMT) tomorrow, 6th October 2013 to be in with a chance of winning a copy of the fantastic Japanese Taupe Quilts book by Susan Briscoe. 
And secondly, Craftsy is having a blogger-award competition - you nominate a blogger and YOU have the chance to win a free Craftsy course.  As they say "if you're not in it, you can't win it" so just click on the badge below (or on the left-hand side) to nominate your favourite blogger.
Clicking is the easy bit - choosing from the many wonderful blogs out there is the hard bit.  The badge says 'nominate me' but it means 'nominate the blogger who has inspired you the most over the last year' - it doesn't have to be me!   I have lots and lots of favourite blogs but I will find a way to whittle it down - somehow, someway, someone.
Sew until next time .................... 


27 comments:

  1. I just love your idea of attaching your skinny pincushion to your sewing mat... it makes a gorgeous and winning combination!! Functional and pretty!!

    Susie

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  2. Attaching the mat is brilliant!

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  3. That's such a good idea to attach a mat. It would stop the pincushion from escaping ;) Love your fabrics as always ;)

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  4. Love the skinny pinny! It's perfect for the machine and since I also have limited space, I love your idea of combining with the machine mat! Gotta make one! Thank you!

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  5. Oh my goodness. Once again you proved you are such a smart lady! Love your mat addition.

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  6. Such a pretty and practical modification! Your skinny pincushion is just awesome. Love those fabrics you used, too!

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  7. Very cool. I like that idea a lot...

    Nhsarab at yahoo dot com

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  8. Fabulous addition of the mat to stop the cushion escaping. Love it.

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  9. Oh my lordy! I am in love with this it's awesome! Thankyou so much xxx

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  10. Oh my lordy! I am in love with this it's awesome! Thankyou so much xxx

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  11. Attaching your skinny pincushion to your sewing mat is brilliant. I am making this for a swap. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  12. Good idea, but wouldn't the fabric being sewn drag across the pins? For me, think I'd put it more to the right front...........

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  13. I tend to use the right-hand side only Ginnie for that very reason but I found that having the pin cushion all the way along the front works well with the sewing machine mat attached.

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  14. I only just found this post (thru Pinterest) and LOVE this idea. I've made the skinny pincushion and think it's great, but I'm constantly moving it around. I love that the machine anchors it in place. Definitely gonna give this one a try.

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    1. Having the mat attached to the pincushion is essential in my little house. My work desk is only 19" deep and I use it for sewing and cutting.

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  15. I just found this on Pinterest and I really have to make one of these for myself. I like the idea of using leftover scraps of batting to stuff the pincushion. What if you rolled it, stuck it in a paper towel roll to stuff, then pulled the paper towel roll out, leaving the batting inside. I'm going to try it and I'll let you know how it goes!

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    1. I look forward to seeing how this goes. If you do manage to roll it and keep it rolled this would make the pin cushion less 'uneven' in appearance.

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  16. I have also made one of these, only I made it go three ways. I filled the tube with sea sand and this makes the 'pincushion' part ideal for ironing seams open. Then I put heat resistant batting in the part that goes under the machine and use it as an ironing pad too. Maybe I need to make a second one to live under the sewing machine.

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  17. I really enjoy your suggestions; this is the first time on your blog & I think it's a very good & interesting blog

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  18. I use rice for the filling of the pin cushion.

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  19. I found this on pinterest and was so glad to see it. I'm going to make a mat for my machines but hadn't thought about adding the pin cushion to it. Thank you

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  20. Saw this pin today. Would likebbto have pattern. Tried to follow link in post, it ask fora login and password. Not sure what to do.

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    1. Unfortunately it would seem that access to the pattern is now via a log in. It wasn't this way initially.
      Amanda

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  21. muy buena solución. Me encanta la idea

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  22. I am not able to access the pattern. It tell me to log in, but I never have registered on the site!

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    1. Unfortunately it would seem that access to the pattern is now via a log in. It wasn't this way initially.
      Amanda

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