Posted on by agilejack

My Name is Anne and I Make Pin Cushions

It rained again today. A lot at times. It was a very dark and dreary day. I had planned to play pickleball in the last moments of daylight today but it was canceled because the courts were soaking wet.

There were two bright spots in this dreary day. The first is that my October Glory red maples are coming into their glory. I just love these trees.

I have two of these trees. The other one is visible from where I sit at my desk all day. It’s still a little green. But this one turned red in one day, so I’m guessing the other one will be glorious soon!

The other bright spot in our day showed up after dark. It’s this guy!!!

I’m so happy that Ernie is here for a few days. He brings a sweet and cheerful little spirit into the house. He was so excited when he got here that I could hear him screaming as his owner brought him to the front door!

It was nice to have him resting peacefully as I kept myself busy in my sewing room tonight.

The rain stopped for a while after dinner so I got everyone leashed up and headed out for a 1.6 mile walk. All three boys were really happy to get out… and so was I. It’s always nice to get an evening walk after a day of soaking rain.

Once we got home I hunkered down in my sewing room and made FOUR more pin cushions.

I made two more from the ever smaller pile of scraps left over from my Australian Aboriginal Libby quilt. Then I dug into the scraps left over from my Jewel Frames quilt and made two more from these Kaffe Fassett Collective scraps.

I actually only finished three of these since I ran out of crushed walnut shells. I anticipated this was going to happen so I went on Amazon again today to buy more. Someone commented on my blog last night that you can purchase crushed walnut shells made for the bottom of bird cages or reptile cages and they’re much cheaper. So I ordered 5 liters and it was about half the price of the two packages I used up on four pin cushions. How many pin cushions do you think I could make out of 1.3 gallons of crushed walnut shells? Well, stay tuned because you just might find out!

I made these just a little bigger than the one I made last night.

The one I made last night was 4.5 inches. The ones I made tonight are 5 inches. They are a good size.

I fill them to the brim with crushed shells. They are about 1.5 inches thick.

I used the same wonky log cabin piecing. I just love the before and after look at these pieces.

And one of the Aboriginal ones…

It was fun to pull out some of my KFC scraps. So much color!

I really don’t love doing hand work. I wish I enjoyed it because I really appreciate it when someone else does it. It’s all I can do to sew these small openings closed!

And I actually put one of these pin cushions to work as I sewed those seams.

Nothing more fun that a nice little stack of pin cushions.

The weather should be a little nicer tomorrow. I hope to get these boys our for a walk mid day.

54 Replies to “My Name is Anne and I Make Pin Cushions”

  4. I love these pincushions – and the idea about getting inexpensive walnut shells is great. I’m sure there are patterns/general instructions everywhere, but what about the wonky log cabin instructions? Have you posted them/a link and I just missed it?

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  5. Cute pincushions! I found my machine and hand stitching needed to be small/short or pieces of crushed shells would slip thru

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  6. Are we betting on home many you make? I’ll say 20! Love the aboriginal framed in black. Have you ever made one of those scrap bins for thread with the detachable pin cushions that has the piece of wall tile in the base for weight? Hmmm… next project for you maybe. I got a pattern off Etsy.

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    1. I’ve seen those thread catchers, but it seems like the thread would stick to the inside and be a pain to get out. I have a small trash can next to my sewing machine that works really well. But they are a creative solution for a need.

      Anne

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  9. Your pincushions are very cute. I’m intrigued by the quilt in progress that we can see on your design wall! I looked back in a few of your blog entries, but I didn’t see anything about it.

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    1. It’s my Australian Aboriginal Libby quilt. My friend and I made the same pattern for her out of Aboriginal fabrics in September. You can search on my blog. Just search for “libby” and you’ll get several blog posts about both quilts.

      Anne

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  10. Glad to hear I’m not the only one in the world that does not like the time change. We have started to also celebrate the Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, as that is when the sun starts to come back!

    Love your pin cushions…great place for the precious scraps to go….also, I use the toe of an old washed nylon stocking inside (as long as there are no holes) to keep the walnut shells from leaking out. It helps to fill it a bit too.

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    1. Yep! I’ve been celebrating winter solstice for several years–and sometimes even by myself but a toast in the direction of the sunrise is required! Then I start watching those seconds of daylight adding up with each new day until June 21.

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      1. I always figure if I can make it to December 21, I can get through the winter. It just seems like the light comes back much more slowly than it departs. But I love it when the days start getting longer!

        Anne

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  11. Well dangitall, I had to go and buy some walnut shells (thanks for the heads up about getting the ones marketed for critter bedding instead of crafts!), guess I know what I’ll be making next week!!

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  14. These turned out so cute Great job!A friend of mine made one of these with a Strip of fabric that is about 8” long with a small scrap thread bin. It hangs off the table perfectly next to my sewing machine. the pin cushion sits on the table.
    Best regards,
    Joanne Ortiz

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  15. Good morning, Anne – I tried sending you an email yesterday and may have an incorrect address. Can you confirm, please?
    anne@agilejack1.com
    It’s a Frankenbag story and it includes 3 photos. I wasn’t sure if I could send pics in this “comments” section of your most recent post, so I sent it to that email instead.
    I love these pin cushions!
    Lani

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    1. I received it. I get a lot of emails and respond to every comment on my blog, so I’m usually at least a few days behind. I’ll respond when I have an evening to answer emails.

      Thanks for checkin in!

      Anne

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  16. Love the pincushions, they are so bright and cheerful. I have trouble getting mine filled good enough. Crushed walnut shells are also offered as cat litter. I got some from chewy. My cats like it and I saw how much it resembled the expensive stuff I got long ago to fill pincushions.

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  17. I really enjoy doing small projects in-between my larger mind bending quilts. Mine are mostly hand applique, so I love doing handwork. But I do understand a reluctance, too. Just wanted to make a comment on the walnut shells, they are very acidic. They can “eat” through the pins & needle metal coating if left in the cushions to long. How do I know this? Well we all seem to learn by doing..right?!

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    1. Good to know. If I give these away I’ll let people know.

      I have a pincushion that I used next to my sewing machine that I used to put the pins in as I’m sewing. I always take them out and put them in my magnetic pin holder when I’m done. I just like leaving my larger pile of pins on my cutting table but have a place to put the pins I remove as I sew.

      Anne

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  18. I bought a big box of fine crushed walnut shells used for blasting & tumbling from Harbor Freight (after spending a bundle on the little bags). I use them for microwave heating bags instead f rice, too. This should last me a lifetime!

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    1. Hmmm. I hadn’t thought of using the shells for the warming bags. I’ve made them in the past and use seed corn to fill them. I like the corn because it seems to hold the heat longer. And it smells so good!

      Anne

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  19. Just LOVE the pin cushions. I’m going to sit down and try them!!! But my 5# bag of lizard litter (crushed walnut shells) is at out Big Bear cabin…drat…. But I can still sew them up…yay you👍

    PJ Kytlica 805-660-4400

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  22. I absolutely love your cute pin cushions, they are darling. You have sooo many ideas floating around in your busy head. I love what you and you do it so well.

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  23. I enjoyed hearing about Ernie. My granddog does this when I show up for visits. I was going to reply to you about the walnut shells also. Glad to hear you know that pet shops carry it cheaper. Also, what type of dog is Ernie? I think he’s so cute. Your pincushion project is inspiring. Take care, Lily

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    1. Ernie is a border terrier. They are a really fun breed… fun personalities, really great size, and they have that wonderful terrier attitude! I’m sure I’ll have one of my own in the next couple years.

      Anne

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  24. I love these wonky block pincushions! Adorable! Have you tried a biscornu pincushion? My s-i-l brought them to my attention recently. I haven’t had the time to try myself but I bet your wonky block would be perfect for it.

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    1. I had to google that. they are beautiful but too fiddly for me! I love all that handwork, but it’s not something I enjoy doing. I’m glad other people do it so I can enjoy it!

      Anne

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