Hi Friends!! Isn’t this pin wheel pin cushion adorable! I made the pin cushion (4″ square), and had so much fun that I decided to make a larger one to use for a mini (9″) pillow! They were really, really quick to make, too, because I used precut fabrics. Just use mini charm packs for the pin cushion, or a regular charm pack for the little pillow.
There is a fun folding technique to make the double pinwheel design- but don’t worry, it’s pretty easy, and if your points in the center don’t match up exactly, it’s no big deal because we’re going to put a button on it anyway!!
Below the tutorial, I’ve included a list of links below so you can easily find the fabrics and buttons that I used. These are affiliate links, which means if you decide to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
OK, here’s the tutorial:
Supplies-
- 12 Mini Charm Pack squares (2 1/2″) for the pin cushion, OR 12 Charm Pack squares (5″) for the pillow
- 1 or 2 buttons for the center
- Thread for sewing (I like Aurifil 50wt.)
- Filling of your choice- See my blog post here for tips and ideas!!
Sew 4 squares together for the back. TIP- you will notice that these precuts have a “pinked” edge. When sewing them together, it doesn’t matter if you use the outer or inner point of the edge for calculating your seam allowance- just be consistent!
Take your 4 dark squares and fold them in half diagonally right sides out (so they make a triangle.) Then fold up one corner so they kind of start to look like little origami birds (LOL.) It’s important that they are all folded in the same exact direction. You don’t have to press them, but I found them easier to work with after I pressed them.
Arrange them on your light squares so they look like this:
then pin in place:
Sew them into pairs (you can either press to one side, or press open), then sew the pairs together for make the front.
Place the front right sides together with the back. Sew together, leaving about a 2″ opening for turning. Clip the corners (this helps to remove the bulk and will create a smoother finish on the corners.)
Turn the pin cushion right side out, and use a chopstick or similar tool to gently push out the seam allowances and corners. Press all the edges, and turn in and press the edges of the opening:
Stuff the pin cushion and hand stitch the opening closed.
Adding a button to the front is not only cute, but it “tufts” the pin cushion and creates more dimension. A method that I like to use is to sew the button on with embroidery floss, leaving the tails on the front. Go all the way through to the back when sewing on the button, to create the tufting.
Sometimes it’s difficult to pull the needle through- you can use some small needle nose pliers to help.
Make a sturdy knot on the front:
Trim the tails, and “fluff” the strands of thread:
For my mini pillow, I used 2 buttons layered on top of each other. The large button was a regular flat button, and the pink one on top was a shank button.
Here is a tutorial video with Kimberley from the Fat Quarter Shop and Cecile from Just Another Button Company:
Fabric and Button sources:
Buttons from Just Another Button Company come in the yummiest colors!! They have different sizes of button packages:
The 2 fabric lines that I used were Walkabout and Little Snippets, both by Moda. I used a Walkabout Fabric Mini Charm Pack (contains precut 2 1/2″ squares) for the small pin cushion, and I used a Little Snippets Fabric Charm Pack (contains precut 5″ squares) for the pillow.
- Walkabout Mini Charm Pack
- Walkabout charm pack
- Little Snippets charm pack
- Little Snippets mini charm pack
If you’d like to a great variety of fabric lines available in Mini Charm Packs and Charm Packs, click the links below. You only need 12 squares per project, and each pack contains 42, so if my math is right….. you can make 3 pin cushions or pillows per pack (and have a few leftover!):
Cannot wait to try these.
Love it and it looks so easy
Perfect! I wondered what I could do with that little charm pack I won at the quilt shop drawing!
Jacquelynne, Thank you for the pincushion patterns. We would appreciate your support in letting your followers and other designers know about Project Pincushion, a fund-raising project of the Friends of the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE. Anyone can make a pincushion (or 2 or more) and donate them to the museum. The pincushions are sold in the gift shop and all the money goes toward funding future exhibits. For more information, and to donate pincushions, go to our Facebook page Friends of the International Quilt Study Center & Museum.
I”m making a pillow! I have made a patriotic table runner with 3 pinwheels in a row and had not thought of a pillow. Super cute idea! It also gives me a chance to use my buttons from the FQS club. Thank you for sharing your projects and pattern
I’m on a pin cushion collection….love all the patterns. I can never have too many of the patterns or the actual made cushion; thank you for sharing!
these are so cute I love having pin cushions I collect some
just starting
So cute!!
These pin cushions are adorable, thank you Jacquelynne.
I recently made a kids birthday table runner using similar technique. The pincushion just adds another dimension of “cute. Thanks for your postings.
Adorable, perfect for a satisfying afternoon of sewing. Thank you!
How clever! Thank you for sharing this cute idea. One can never have too many pincushions, and they make great gifts to sewing friends.
Sew very cute! My guild is having a pincushion swap and this would be perfect.
I would really like to have a printable version of the tutorial.
FYI….You can copy and paste the pincushion steps into a word document to create your own printable tutorial. :)
I want to do some things for my grandkids….blankets, quilts, cute clothes, I don’t know. I am a seamstress and have done bridle, fixing things. Have been sewing forever. My Mom started teaching me when I was nine….guess I bugged her till she taught me. I miss her more than I can say. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.
Janis Schindler
I would love a very simple baby quilt to make, I am not a great seamtress, and no idea of what I am doing most of the time, Haave a new grandbaby girl coming soon, I want a cute quilt and simple can you help me out, I need to get started and want to do so many things. Please help me Carol K
Lovely pincushions. Cannot wait to make them
I love pincushions and I have SEVERAL mini packs just waiting for something like these. Thank you for sharing!
SUCH A DELIGHTFUL, CREATIVE & UNIQUE CREATION!!! LOVE THE PATTERNS AND FABRIC CHOICES AND THE INSPIRATION!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
This is absolutely precious. I just adore pin wheels. I have charm packs and mini charm packs. These are going to be great little gifts for quilting friends.
Thank you so much for the information.
This is a really nice project. I made it last year. Thank you.
Going to try it today. They are adorable.
Love these pin cushions – great instructions as usual!
Thank you as always for your ideas & instructions.
Thank you so much for the tutorial! Too cute! Instructions are great.
Thanks Jacquelynne for a great gift idea.