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4 Free Pincushion Sewing Tutorials – Tested!

I tested four free pincushion patterns - come see what I thought of each one and get the links! Great scrap buster pincushion tutorials and handmade gift ideas.

I had so much fun sewing up these patterns – I tested 4 different free pincushion sewing patterns and am sharing my thoughts on each one! Pincushions are the best; they sew up pretty quickly, they are useful, they make great gifts, and almost always use up scraps. For these free pincushion tutorials, I used a custom fat quarter bundle of fabric in some of my favorite colors! Phat Quarters Fabrics sponsored this post, which means she sent me the fabrics in addition to compensation for creating the tutorial.

I think this one is my favorite! I made all 4 with a fat quarter of each print, and still had a bunch of fabric left over for more projects. What do you fill your pincushions with? These are all stuffed with a mix of Poly-Fill and tiny fabric scraps shredded up (one of my tips for using up knit fabric scraps), but I know lots of people love filling them with crushed walnut shells*.

I was so excited to work with Gemia of Phat Quarters, she always stocks the prettiest gem tone fabrics that I love. Phat Quarters is always supporting blog tours, PDF designers, and just really plugs into the online sewing community and I know you will love shopping her bolts! You can shop Phat Quarters on Etsy and connect on Facebook with a page and a group

Fabrics that I used, listed from bottom to top:

The first project I sewed was an embroidered, rectangle pincushion! From a free tutorial from The Sewing Loft, this was very simple to put together and easy to sew. I love the embroidery detail, it uses up teeny tiny scraps, and I think the finished pincushion looks great! This one would be hard to mess up, making it a great beginner pincushion sewing tutorial.

The second version I sewed was also a super fast sew; I think this would be a great pattern to sew en masse and give out as gifts! This is from the free skinny pincushion pattern by Green Bee Patterns and it’s perfect for showcasing a slightly larger print that might be tricky to use in a traditional rectangle. Directions were easy to follow, and I think it turned out super cute! [Update in 2023- this pattern seems to have been pulled off the internet, I’m sorry!]

This third project? It took longer than the first two combined! To be fair, I had never sewn scraps in a circle like this before, nor had I done pleats in this manner, but I would rank this as an intermediate pattern. The directions were clear and it has a very unique look. The only detail that I skipped was a fabric covered button on the top, using a shell button instead since I had it on hand. Be sure to click through and see how that looks instead, these are some adorable samples. Sewn from a pattern out of the book “Retro Mama Scrap Happy Sewing: 18 Easy Sewing Projects for DIY Gifts and Toys from Fabric Remnants“, with this pattern originally shared as a free excerpt on the Sew and So website [2023 update- this has also been taken offline :(].

Last, but not least, I tried a ‘string block’! I cannot believe how small these scraps are, but it was really easy to actually sew. This teeny tiny scrap busting pincushion is a free tutorial from V & Co, her tutorial was super easy to follow with clear photos. Definitely my favorite, this looks really complicated but is a pretty simple sew.

If four free patterns isn’t enough for you, I have this fun hexie pincushion pattern that I think I’ll use up the rest of my Phat Quarters fabrics on! I love pincushions.

I tested four free pincushion patterns - come see what I thought of each one and get the links! Great scrap buster pincushion tutorials and handmade gift ideas.

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Michelle

Monday 11th of September 2017

Reading your comments, I'd been thinking the same thing. I loved the embroidery detail on your first pin cushion, and I'd been thinking the same thing about your fourth one - how small those strips were! They're all lovely.

Lisa // Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing and Crafting

Monday 11th of September 2017

This is fantastic! I'm undecided between the first and the last ones, but they're all great! Sharing! :) Lisa

Mary Beth

Thursday 7th of September 2017

These are all so cute! How have I never "found" you before? I've been looking around and everything you create is absolutely adorable! xo

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Monday 16th of October 2017

You are too kind, glad we connected!

Marleina

Thursday 7th of September 2017

You randomly you randomly showed up on my Pinterest feed and I couldn't believe it! Small world! I love everything you're making. Tell your mom that my mom and I say, "hi".

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Monday 16th of October 2017

the internet is lovely, that way :) will do, old friend!

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