Tool Time Tuesday...Creamer Pincushion Ring

I know what you're thinking...another crazy title. Creamer pincushion?? Yep, it's recycling time again. Tools used today...easy ones...scissors and glue gun!

We're going to be making this little cutie of a pincushion. On the left, the before. On the right, the after!

Here's the source for the ring! Cream. Cream for your coffee, whipping cream for your pies...whatever container has that tab.

You know those little pull tabs from inside the caps?

One day, I was pulling one off the container while talking with my girls. I was just chatting and playing with the tab in my hand as I talked and talked.

Slipped it on my finger and...BINGO!! My thoughts for Tool Time were flowing.

Look at that top portion. Perfect protection from the pins.

See...you can put in the pins and the plastic disc protects your finger.

So let's make one. You will need...

• 2 1/2 inch square of fabric or scraps, plus a tiny piece of felt
• the plastic ring from a creamer container
• needle and thread
• stuffing

Trace a circle on the 2 1/2 inch square.

Cut out...

Sew a running or gathering stitch around the circle...

Gather up the circle into a pouch...

and stuff with batting.

Before you pull the thread completely, add the plastic disc on top of the batting.

Pull the thread tightly to gather the fabric over the plastic disc.

I sewed a few tight stitches and knotted off in a couple spots to secure.

Cut a small circle from felt or wool. Something that won't fray.

Hot glue felt over stitches and gathered edges.

Pincushion Creamer Ring!!

Now that's my kind of bling!!

Here's another pincushion tutorial made with the cap of a creamer container or any cap for that matter!! Click here for that post.

You can also Click Here for all my pincushion posts.

Have fun making your pincushion ring. Enjoy your coffee too, because I know you're going to be using some cream just for that pull tab thingy.

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Chicken Feeder For Sewing

What? A Chicken Feeder? You betcha! Hubby and I were shopping in a Tractor Supply store this past weekend, looking for special diet dog food for our yellow lab, Annie. They didn't carry the dog food, but you know I roamed around the tool and hardware section.

They carry a lot of galvanized metal items (my absolute favorite!)...buckets, pans, scoops, troughs and chicken feeders. The chicken feeder caught my eye.

Do we have chickens? No. Well, we have them in the freezer from the store, but to feed...no. So why buy a chicken feeder. To make one of these.

Here it is from the store...$4.00

I know there are probably more things to do with this, but I'm still thinking!

You can buy the plastic bottle the chicken feed is dispensed from, but a canning jar fits too. Maybe fill the jar with...

• bird seed for our other feathered friends, just not chickens
• maybe m&m's for a candy dispenser

I still like the thread idea though. Great to use by your chair for all your hand sewing, but it's missing something...the pincushion!

All you need is a scrap piece of fabric, some stuffing and a circle pattern. I used a plastic lid to trace.

It is about 6 inches across the middle.

There are 2 ways to gather up the edge of fabric with a circle.

First way is to use a heavy weight string and a needle with a bigger eye.

Use a running stitch or larger gathering stitch around the edge of the circle.

because the string is a heavier weight, you can just pull the strings to gather it up into a pouch.

Stuff with batting or filling.

Pull tight and knot off to secure.

The second way is better if you are using a thinner cotton weight fabric.

Set the stitch length on your machine to the longest stitch or gathering stitch. Mine is 5 on my machine.

Stitch all the way around about a 1/4 inch in from the edge.

HELPFUL TIP

One tip for a machine gathering stitch is to use 2 different color threads. You have to pull 2 threads, but from the same side.

I used white on the spool and black in the bobbin. Now I know to only pull just the white threads or just the black threads when gathering.

Once gathered and knotted to secure, you can just place the pincushion in the center hole or use a little glue or hot glue to hold it in place.

Add your pins and needles...

and your little snips too.

Maybe you can add a little bow to make it pretty.

Ribbon or not, this will work great for you when you are hand sewing in your comfy chair watching tv and having a cup of tea.

hmmm, where's my tea?

That's better!

Tool Time has been to the hardware store, the automotive store, office supply, grocery store, recycling bin, health and beauty isle and many others, but this is the first time in the farm equipment section. Definitely going to look into that more. Lol !!

You never know with me...what will inspire me next.

Remember when you're in any store...

• look at something twice before passing it up
• don't think..."do I need this?" Think..."what can I DO with this?"
• and always...think outside the box!!!

Have a happy Tuesday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Framed Pincushion

Happy Tuesday again everyone! Tool Time is a day we make something useful out of something we aren't using, something from the recycle bin, something from the hardware store or from some other crazy place.

This Tuesday is a pincushion from an old frame!

How many old frames do we have tucked away? A lot! If you find one that you like, but it's not the right color...don't forget to paint it to match!

For this project, make sure the frames have the easel on the back so it stands up next to your sewing machine.

You will need...

• frame with glass removed, but keep the cardboard or cut one to fit
• piece of batting or stuffing
• scrap fabric
• hot glue or duct tape

You may have to trim the card board piece just a little to make room for the fabric folding over to the back side.

Cut batting to fit the size of your cardboard. I folded my batting over three times.

Stack fabric right side down, batting or stuffing and then cardboard. Fabric is about an inch larger than the cardboard all the way around.

Wrap fabric to the back and hot glue in place. You can also use duct tape too. You won't see this part at all.

All wrapped up!

Pop into frame, puffy side going towards the front.

Snap in the backing.

All set for your pins!!

Perfect next to your sewing machine for a pretty little addition.

I was thinking for the frames with several cubbies in them (like the one towards the back of the picture)...they would be great for

• a different pincushion for different kids of pins
• a different pincushion for all the different sized needles you have for hand sewing

I have lots of other pincushion tutorials too...click the name below to go to each post

• Knee Pincushion
• Sponge Selvage Pincushion
• Tea Ball Pincushion
• Canning Jar Pincushion
• Bottle Cap Pincushion...for your finger or machine

These would make great little gifts for sewing friends, guild meetings or sewing bee groups!!

Looks like I'm on a mission to find a million ways to make a pincushion...we'll see what's next!!

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

ps...if you missed yesterday's post take a peek here and join "The Nester Club"