These whimsical sewing-box staples are just as sweet as garden-grown tomatoes, and you don't have to wait until summer to enjoy them. Pincushions were once set on mantels in new homes to bring occupants prosperity, and these versions, with their fresh-from-the-vine colors, would in fact look lovely on display. Stitch a robust heirloom variety in loosely woven linen or cherry tomatoes in dainty gingham. A few dollars will yield enough supplies for a bumper crop, no weeding required.
Pincushion How-To
1. Cut a rectangle of fabric on the bias that's twice as long as it is wide (the largest we made was 3 1/4 inches in diameter and required a 10-by-5-inch piece).With fabric facing right side up, fold in half as shown, and join ends with a 1/4-inch seam. Sew a running stitch around the top edge; tightly pull thread to cinch fabric, and secure with stitches.
2. Turn pouch right side out. Stuff with batting (cotton batting is firmer than polyester). Sew a running stitch around the open end; pull thread to cinch fabric. Tack shut with a few stitches and knot. To flatten, double-thread a cording needle with crochet thread and pull it through the "core" a few times. Mimic a tomato's fluted details by wrapping the thread around the cushion and back through the core several times. Knot thread at top to finish.
3. For heirloom tomatoes, cut a circle of fabric (the largest we made was 3 1/2 inches in diameter and required a 10-inch-diameter circle). With fabric wrong side up, sew a running stitch around perimeter. Place batting in center of fabric, and gather into a pouch. Stuff with more batting, pull thread to cinch, and tack with stitches. Flatten cushion and apply details as in step 2.
4. For tops, photocopy template, enlarging or reducing as desired; cut out. Trace template onto green felt with a disappearing-ink pen; cut out. Using a single-threaded needle, sew a loop onto top. Glue top to tomato.
Note: To sew cherry-tomato pincushions, start with swatches of fabric that are 2 3/4 by 4 3/4 inches. Follow steps 1 and 2 below, but don't flatten cushion or add fluted details. For tops, cut symmetrical, six-pointed stars from green felt. Add loops, and attach them as in step 4.
Why is the green felt leaf/star glued instead of sewn?
Thanks so much to those of you that recommended fillings for sharpening the pins
What a wonderful solution for the fat quarter strips/leftovers from my fabric napkins project! I planned to create a few potholders
My grandmother's pincushion had a small "strawberry" attached by a string to the pincushion "tomato". The pincushion was filled with cotton batting, and the strawberry was filled with sand or rosin. Needles pushed into the strawberry before and after each use stay sharp. I've also heard of stuffing the strawberry with fine steel wool (not soap filled ones!) for the same effect.
My grandmother made these, but stuffed them with something gritty and heavier -- sand, I think. I remember her saying it helped sharpen the pins. Also, they stay in place better.
Love this! Had just thought to myself that I wanted to make pincushions to fit the decor of my studio. Was going to design my own pattern but these are so easy that decided to use this pattern! Thanks Martha!
One of my first sewing projects when I was about 8 years old, and more than 50 years ago, was to make a pincushion. I stuffed it with my Mother's hair. I still have it. It was all sewn by hand, and I was so proud.
THANKS TO YOUR READER'S COMMENTS, I LEARNED WHAT "EMERY GRAIN" IS. BEEN SEWING FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND JUST LEARNED THIS TODAY! WOW!! AMAZING!! THANKS FELLOW READERS!!
LOVE TO SEW AND DO ALL KINDS OF CRAFTS! I BOUGHT ONE OF THESE (BUT AS A PUMPKIN WHICH WAS BIGGER THAN THE TOMATOE. ALWAYS BEEN WANTING TO MAKE SOME. NOW I LEARNED HOW!! EASY!! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GREAT IDEAS!!!!!
You can fill this pincushion with Loose Emery Powder, sand. Emery Pincushions will help to keep your sewing needles clean and sharp. You can find Emery Grain at www.nakpunar.com
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/strawberry-pincushions. Here is the info for the strawberry emery.
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/strawberry-pincushions. Here is the info for the emery strawberry
thank you for the sand reminder; i knew there was something my mother used other than cotton inside her pin cushions but couldn't remember what it was!
stuff it with sand and it will sharpen your pins and needles
Wouldn't these make cute Christmas ornaments on county-style tree?
If you stuff your pincushion with wool rather than cotton or polyester (yarn scraps will work), your pins and needles will not rust.
You might be able to find a needle made for soft sculptured dolls I am sure it would work just as well.
RE: Cording needle,
Check with upholstery supplies The cording needle has a large eye to allow n n n n n n cordingn n n n n n to be threaded into it. The one they show on the web instructions is a long needle that will allow you sew through the depth of the tomato. Here is a link to one I found by simply doing a n n n n n n Googlen n n n n n search http://www.vintagevogue.com/onlinestore/item3088.htm
HTH
Markey
What is a cording needle and where can you purchase the item? I've checked a couple of stores and no ome seems has ever heard of it.
I made something similar but used a cinnamon (sp?)stick as a "stem" and made it look like a pumpkin for the fall. They are super simple to make.
I love this project and also love all the suggestions in the readers comments! Thanks all!
@agthomas57 - thanks for the info, but even my tech support says that the page is not available. Even after I refresh there is not an option to scroll down. I will keep trying on different days to see if the template will come up.
this looks challenging to me!
I really hate to sew, but I might give these a try for my next Tomato Tasting party because they seem like the perfect favor.
I just made my first one... start to finish it took maybe 10 minutes! Cool craft :-) More like this!!!
I just made my first one... start to finish it took maybe 10 minutes! Cool craft :-) More like this!!!
@Limoncello
I tried the template link, and I see what you mean. But, if you scroll down, you should find the small template.
I would love to make these but can't seem to get the template for the top to come through on my computer. When I click on "template", it just comes up blank. Otherwise, what a great idea.
Ions ago, I read that using a couple of fabric softener sheets (the sort that one places in the dryer) as part of the stuffing for pin cushions helps to keep the pins and needles glistening and smooth.
NimbleThimble
Thanks Martha, We baby boomers really remember these, and yes, the small "bud" was a strawberry filled with abrasive sand to sharpen the points of your needles and pins. Great idea!
Estn n n n lidisimos, no puede esperar para hacer unos. Quisiera saber si lo puedo rellenar con algodn n n n n o es muy liviano
to hill335
oh yes! you know what? I do remember those kinds of pin cushions... geez been some time since I was little and I am not a sewer by any means but I've done my time at the machine!! I wish I was better!
Thanks for the reminder Anna Marie! good tip! These are cute and looks like something even I could do - I forgot about the steel wool!!
Several posters have mentioned the substance that one would use to keep needles sharp. It's called emery, and it's available on eBay for a reasonable price. My old-fashioned pincushion has an attached strawberry that's filled with emery. A pattern for making a strawberry is available here on marthastewart.com. I do want to try making a pincushion from this pattern. Looking at the photos of the pincushions makes me so nostalgic for my childhood and my grandmother's sewing implements.
My grandmother used saw dust in her pin cushions and sand in the berry to sharpen. I intend to do these for the holidays.
You could use wool to stuff these also. The lanolin keeps the needles lubricated and it doesn't dull them.
In my heirloom sewing guild, we made small "basket" pin cushions with steel wool inside to sharpen the pins and needles. Mine is almost 10 years old, and still works like new!
I'm wondering if the cotton batting dull the needles and pins?
These are great, But you forgot the strawberry thats all important I can't remember whats in it but it's sopose to sharpin your needles,.
I have a bunch and use them to separate different size needles wright the needle sizes right on the tomatoe with permanent marker I do two or three sizes per 'mato. And sharpen them if I must use them again.
These are so weet! Does anyone kow where Ican find an accompanying pattern for a strawberry? You know, like the emery strawberry that attaches to the tomato to clean your needles?
However, the originals of these (this idea has been around for decades) used fine sand as the filler, because it would help to sharpen the needles every time they were inserted into the tomato. also, sand provides a nice weight to the tomato.
Thanks Martha, this is going to make a great addition to my tatting box to hold my various needles for hiding ends. My grandmother made these when I was a little girl.
Can't wait to try!
These look wonderful! I'm going to start to make some right now!!! Thanks for such a neat idea!!!
If you belong to a quilters group, you could have a tea party for them and give these as favors at each place setting! I love them.
What a great idea to make them large enough for pillows on the sofa! And as a table decoration...how about a garden basket piled high placed in the center of your dining table??
I will put it on my list of things to do - ever growing list! I would also like to make a few pincushion size to give as gifts. They are adorable out of all the different fabrics.
These are so cute. They remind me of the pin cushions that my mom and grandma had in their sewing baskets. Such a great and easy idea. I like the suggestion of making up a bunch of them to use as a summery decoration.
I had enough fabric to start this project, and these are just darling! Shall follow the suggestion earlier and make some to put into a wooden bowl. I think this really will celebrate summer. The ones I made this morning I was thinking to put into a berry basket for a hostess gift. Great craft, and well explained! Thank you!
Keeping the color scheme in red and green, make sifferent sizes and decorate a christmas tree either for a sewer or for a sewing room
Hey KUII, it's not "difficult" it's Challenging. :) I remember tomato pincushions that my mom always had when I was growing up. They always had a little tiny red bud that was filled with a very fine sand that you supposedly could stick a needle or pin into to sharpen it. Ah, the memories. I think I will try this one and try making the little sandy bud. I never dreamed I could actually make one myself. Thanks marthastewart.com.
These are precious - can't wait to try a few. Am curious if the stuffing makes it weigh enough to hold pins and needles. Most store-bought pincushions have something heavier than batting, such as sand - but maybe the cotton batting is enough?
l Love this idea! You could also use some novelty yarns to add more dimension instead of the crochet thread. You could even add some little vines, or crochet a ladybug to hand out on the tomato!
I love it. wonderful ideia for holidays...can you make some grapes too?
This is a wonderful idea! You could also do a bunch and place them in a bowl just for decoration or a centerpiece.
i wanna tell you that i made these wonderful pincushions then people began to ask me about how i did it and they started tomake their owns and even some made bigger ones to decorate their sofas and chairs .we need more easy and great ideas like this one thank you everyone at Marthastewart.com you make our lives better specially for housewives who quit their jobs to look after their children:)
These are so cute and really easy to make. You can do several in no time at all.
Great Bazzar item!
I'm just reading this, and it looks really easy!! I like it!
haa,i think this is lovely pincushion,but it is quite difficult to make**
Great Idea! Perfect for gifts.