Hex Pincushions

I don't know what sent me over the edge, but there definitely came a point when I couldn't take it anymore. Everyone else seemed to have one and I felt deprived and a wee bit resentful. So, I took action.

For years I've been using a store-bought pincushion which has been growing more and more ratty with time. It had gotten so bad that I'd stopped returning the pins to the pincushion and they'd scattered around my studio. Couple that with all the cute pincushions I'd seen on the internets and I was ready to remedy the situation.

I've had a minor obsession with hexagons lately so it seemed appropriate that my pincushion should take that form. I was super happy with the way it turned out and quickly adorned it with pins gathered from table and floor. My joy lasted a good five minutes before I started wishing I had a another pincushion devoted to needles. Spurred on by my initial success I made a second one, but with a little variation.


I string pieced the parts of this pincushion and focused on fabrics in shades of red for the body and paired that with an aqua fabric for the binding.
Having righted the wrong that is having to use a crappy pincushion, I felt inspired to share my joy with others. Knowing that you all are a crafty bunch I've written up this tutorial to help you make your own Hex Pincushion. The tutorial includes a template which I'll include as an image in this post. I'm guessing you can run your cursor over that image and print yourself a copy of the template.

Edited to add: Reduce the size of the copy by 65% to get an accurate template.
OK. Here we go.

Hex Pincushion Tutorial

Finished size: About 5" from point to point

Materials:

Scrap fabrics
1/4 yard of fabric for binding
Hex pincushion template (figure 1)
Paper scissors
Rotary cutter and self-healing mat
Quilter's clear acrylic ruler
Sewing machine
Sewing machine thread
Hand sewing needle
Hand sewing thread
Pins
Iron and ironing board
Stuffing

Figure 1

Cutting the fabric:

Using template cut 6 hexagon thirds out of 6 different scrap fabrics
From binding fabric cut 1 1/2" strips on the bias.
Note: To cut bias binding, I begin by making sure I have a straight edge along the lengthwise or crosswise grain. Align the short edge of a clear ruler with straight fabric edge along 45 degree line and cut. Reposition ruler so that cut line measure 1 1/2" from long edge of ruler and cut. Repeat to make more binding strips.

Sewing Hexagon Top and Bottom:

Note: All seam allowances are 1/4"

Figure 2

1. Referring to figure 2, pin piece #1 and piece#2, right sides together matching outer corner and center point.
2. Machine stitch together from outer corner to center point stopping 1/4" short of center point.
3. Cut thread.
4. Match outer corner and center point of piece #3 and piece #1, right sides together, and pin. (figure 3)
5. Starting at outer corner, stitch towards center, stopping 1/4" short of center.

Figure 3

6. Finger press seam allowance of pieces #1 and 2 towards piece #2.
7. Align the center and outer corner of piece #3 and piece #2 and pin. (figure 4)

Figure 4

8. Starting 1/4" from center, stitch to outer corner.

9. Press seams toward piece #3.

10. Repeat steps 1-8 to make a second hexagon.

Assembling the Pincushion:

1. Stitch together binding strips using diagonal seams .

2. Attach binding strip to right side of one of the hexagons as you would for a quilt top.

3. Align hexagon without binding strip underneath hexagon binding strip, wrong sides facing. 

4. Pin hexagons together through center.

5. Turn binding toward underside hexagon.

6. Begin hand stitching binding, remembering to turn under 1/4" seam allowance as you work, to hexagon.

7. Gently miter the corners as you come to them.

8. Stop short of stitching binding all the way around shape, leaving a small gap along one of the hexagon sides.

9. Stuff pincushion so it is full, making sure to push stuffing into corners.

10. Sew remaining binding to hexagon.

11. Machine top stitch close to binding seam.

12. Add pins and smile! 

A Wee Disclaimer: Feel free to make as many of these puppies as you like for friends, family, neighbors, and others suffering through life with store-bought pincushions, but please do not make these for sale.

Thanks and enjoy!