An elegant Pincushion swap

Have you seen those pretty pincushions supported by a short stemmed wine glass or like the image in a sugar bowl?

We all have an ancient or vintage keepsake like bowls or tea cups that our great Aunt or Grandparent sadly departed, gave us and that is simply sitting on a shelf gathering dust, and we never use? Anna and I had a mind to make one for this month, to honour a memory of a person or time we love & so that we can all admire the beauty of a handmade creation we have entwined memory with something useful, made for/by ourselves.

The ins and outs of the making are very straightforward.

• Choose a suitable receptacle, it could even be a pretty glass jar if nothing else available or an old egg cup or cracked vessel etc .
• Measure your opening of the wine glass or receptacle. Lets say it is a small wine glass about 2 inches (5cm) diameter. Measure a circle of cloth or felt or a doily at least triple this diameter, so a good 6 inches or 15cm circle and add 1/2 inch for seam allowance. Cut it out. No need to cut if a doily.
• Stitch a running stitch around the edge of the circle up to a half inch away from edge and gather up into a ball shape to test fit in glass.
• If it looks to fit well, then we create a ball. By filling the opening with stuffing, making it dense, full, and this will round out the crinkles. Do another test fit into the opening of our vessel. If it is too large, remove some stuffing. It will be pushed into the glass/vessel so that will absorb some of the mass.
• Tie off the ends of the running thread, securely knot well. Decorate the top of the ball with embroidery or store bought bows etc, lace, anything if you wish to brighten the ball or leave as is.
• Push gently into glass, allowing the knot at the base, settle it well in its home, add some pins - Voila et finis!

Now all that is required is to take a photograph of your new pincushion in an appropriate Amberleigh scenario eg, sitting on a pretty doily or embroidered cloth, or on a shelf or on a table with sewing hoop etc I am sure you get the idea.

I hope this appeals to most of our ladies and that you wish to join in the making of a useful treasure already sitting about your homes or in the thrift shop waiting for you to claim it.

We have allotted a month to make this beauty for you to have plenty of time to forage for the right fabric or vessel. We shall have 2 (Two) partners as this is an EMAIL swap, to share our fabulous efforts with each other, and I am sure you would love to share your photos of your pride and joy.

As always, any queries, do contact Anna, Jane or Nickalli.