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 ....................