This little Heather Pin Cushion pattern is my wee gift to you. It includes two patterns, an embroidery pattern and a sewing pattern, designed to be companions or enjoyed on their own. It seemed just right for Heather to be the gift I'd share with you, our namesake, inspired by our beautiful Irish landscape.
The pin cushion can be sewn completely by hand, if you don't have access to a sewing machine. And best of all it can be stuffed with scraps (I mean those tiny pieces of fabric or thread we can't quite part with but don't know what to do with).
Small Project, Big Reward
Small projects can be incredibly rewarding, especially as you begin learning a skill. You get the satisfaction of completing an entire project quickly. But despite its size, this little Pin Cushion introduces several useful sewing skills. And the result is something you'll actually use, giving you confidence for the next project.
Making for Your Making
This year we've been on a journey together to simultaneously improve the flow of our making and finally make something for ourselves! I've been organising my small creative space with sewing projects and sharing them with you in
The Maker's Collection.
As makers, we so often make for others. I hope the Pin Cushion helps you make something for you, even if we need the excuse that it's for our making. And once you've made one for yourself, I just know you'll be making lots of them to gift to other makers too!
A Home for Embroidery Practice
This little embroidered Pin Cushion holds a lesson that helped me as I learned to embroider. Rather than practising stitches only on a sample and putting it away, I made them into useful little things I'd enjoy again and again. Heather was designed to belong on this little Pin Cushion, to give even your early stitches a home so you can celebrate the milestones and enjoy the "I made this" feeling.
If you're new to embroidery,
Heather is a great place to start. It's made with just two stitches, but with them you'll capture a little piece of the Irish wild. We've been chasing Irish wildflowers this year and capturing them in thread. You can follow the
Wild Irish Flora journey
here.
Made From the Scraps of Other Makes
My favourite part of this little Pin Cushion is that you can stuff it with so many scraps! You'd be surprised just how much such a little cushion takes when the scraps are compressed and packed in tightly to give it a beautiful structure. You can use even the tiniest of your fabric scraps. Thread tails, trimmed fabric corners and other little remnants can all become your stuffing.
What This Little Project Taught Me
For such a little project, there's a surprising amount it teaches along the way. Here are a few things it helped me with as I made it...
Curves Need a Little Belt and Braces
Attaching a cylinder to a circle can initially feel quite unruly, so the pattern includes several layers to keep us on track:
- We start with generous sized fabric pieces
- Alignment markings help distribute everything evenly
- Marked stitching lines keep the needle on track as we work around the curve
- Plenty of pinning keeps the fabric in place
I love that tricky construction doesn't always require years of experience. Just enough little safeguards to guide us through.
Let the Needle Help You
When working at the machine, this one little method helps keep everything smooth as you work around the curve...
- Stitch a little at a time
- Stop with the needle down
- Lift the presser foot
- Smooth/reposition the fabric ahead of the stitching line
- Continue around the curve
Mark First, Cut Later
One helpful technique I found when embroidering a sewn project is to make any important markings and stitch the embroidery while you still have a generous piece of fabric to work with.
This makes accurate embroidery placement much easier. The pattern includes markings to ensure Heather remains properly aligned in the finished Pin Cushion. It's a little principle I use again and again when bringing sewing and embroidery together: think about where the embroidery needs to sit in the finished piece before you begin construction.
You Don't Need a Sewing Machine
Hand-sewing instructions are included in the Pin Cushion guide. If you're thinking of starting to sew, it's a great way to try it before investing in a machine.
It's small enough to be realistically sewn by hand but you'll will still experience working with pattern pieces, marking, seams, construction, turning, filling and finishing. It gives you the experience of completing a whole sewing project without a huge commitment.
Make Your Own Embroidered Pin Cushion
When you join my Letters from the Journal, you'll receive the free Pin Cushion sewing pattern and Heather embroidery pattern, so you can make the complete project.
I hope this little Heather Pin Cushion brings you joy.
Much love,
Lisa xx
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Pin Cushion sewing pattern free?
Yes. The Pin Cushion sewing pattern is complimentary when you join my Letters from the Journal. You’ll also receive the Heather embroidery pattern, so you can make the complete embroidered Pin Cushion or enjoy the two patterns separately.
Is the Heather embroidery pattern included?
Yes. Heather is included alongside the Pin Cushion sewing pattern. It was designed to sit beautifully on the Pin Cushion, with placement markings included in the sewing pattern to help keep the embroidery aligned in the finished project.
Is the Pin Cushion suitable for beginners?
Yes. The Pin Cushion is a small, manageable project designed to introduce several useful sewing skills without a large time or fabric commitment. The guide takes you step by step through the construction, including tips for attaching the curved pieces.
Heather is also beginner-friendly and uses just two embroidery stitches, making the complete project a lovely introduction to combining sewing and hand embroidery.
Do I need a sewing machine?
No. The Pin Cushion can be sewn using a sewing machine or completely by hand. Hand-sewing instructions are included in the guide, making it a lovely project if you’re just beginning to sew or don’t yet have access to a sewing machine.
What fabric can I use for the Pin Cushion?
Light to medium-weight woven fabrics work beautifully for the Pin Cushion. Cotton, linen and cotton-linen blends are all lovely choices. Small remnants from previous projects are perfect, making this a useful project for working through your fabric scraps.
Can I make the Pin Cushion without embroidery?
Absolutely. The Pin Cushion and Heather were designed as companions, but each pattern can be enjoyed on its own. You can leave your Pin Cushion plain, use a favourite fabric, or add your own embroidery if you prefer.
Can I use fabric scraps to make and fill the Pin Cushion?
Yes. The Pin Cushion is a lovely scrap-friendly project. Small fabric remnants can be used for the outer pieces, while even tinier scraps, thread tails and trimmed fabric pieces can be saved and used as filling.
What size is the finished Pin Cushion?
The finished Pin Cushion measures approximately 9 cm in diameter × 4.5 cm high, making it a lovely compact size for keeping beside your sewing machine or adding to your sewing supplies.
What do I receive when I sign up?
When you join Letters from the Journal, you’ll receive the complimentary Pin Cushion sewing pattern and guide together with the Heather embroidery pattern and guide. You’ll also begin receiving my occasional letters with new patterns, projects and inspiration from the sewing table and the Irish wild.
