I made the pink thumb pin cushion at Nowra Crazy Quilt Retreat and have had a couple of requests for the pattern, today I have got around to writing the instructions… I had to remember/work out how to make it and got the size of the square wrong on my first attempt, the gold one, and it is on the tight fit side…
 
I also realized that to illustrate it clearly I needed a fabric with a right and wrong side, that is when I chose the fabric that matches the work box I showed last night.
To make your own start with a 4 inch square of an even weave fabric.
Turn one corner to the wrong side as per the photo.
Fold the square, right sides together, diagonally with the turned under corner at one end.
Starting at the turned under corner, use a 1/4 inch seam to stitch 2 edges of the triangle, stopping a 1/2 inch before the end.
Clip the point to reduce bulk.
In the middle of the fold cut a 1 inch slit along the fold.
Turn right side out through the hole, pushing the unturned corner all the way through.
Stuff the central portion until it is firm.
Turn the edges of the slit in and whip stitch to close the hole… This is a little finddly and you may find that it puckers a bit as you stith it, Don’t stress if is not real neat as this seam is on the inside of the finished ring.
Wrap the long points around your thumb and use a pin to mark the overlap.
Poke the raw point into the turned under corner pin and test size…adjust until it is a comfortable fit…Stitch the ends together.
Happy Stitching.
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January 22nd, 2008 at 12:54 am
Wow, such a nice pincushion! Unusual but pretty handy
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:27 am
Super!!! Great idea!
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Thanks for sharing this wonderful and detailed tutorial. This pincushion is very useful, I will make one to myself
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:03 am
This is so very cool! Thanks for sharing.
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Very cool, Annie! Thanks for the tutorial. (Like your nails.) ;0)
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Oh, how cute. Thank you for the tutorial.
January 24th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Made one – my mom borrowed it. Made another – my sister borrowed it. Made three more – have two more sisters wandering through my sewing room. Thanks so much for the tutorial.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:19 am
That is the niftiest thing I have ever seen! going to the scrap box now…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:35 am
I’ve been wondering what some appropriate fillers are for pincusions. It looks like you just used fiberfill? Do you know of anything else that would be good for a larger pincusion? thanks!
January 26th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Thanks so much. The directions are superb. Very clear and easy to follow.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I received one of these at a quilter’s retreat…I think they are so clever.
January 29th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
This is really nifty. I’m always leaving either the pins or the pincushion in one spot when I need them in another. Now, about a scissors keep-them-where-you-need-them holder that isn’t hanging around your neck….?
February 1st, 2008 at 8:15 am
[...] Annie at Annies Crazy World had the best tutorial for making a thumb pincushion which I just had to try out. Honestly 10 mins and you’re done and it’s soooooooo handy. The only thing I have to watch is that I don’t stab the pin in too hard as I end up stabbing myself. Might I add – I have only done that twice before I learnt…wicked grin. [...]
February 1st, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Annie I got this from another site and think it is a great idea. I am going to try it.
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
What a kewl idea. Pretty handy. I am going to try my hand at it. So nifty. Thank you for the idea.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Hi. I am a Japanese quilter.I have been looking for this recipe ever since I had seen it on somebody’s website. Thank you for sharing this.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Thank you Annie for the tutorial. I had to make one and I gave it the “face” of a mouse:)
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 am
[...] I found the pattern in Annie’s blog, thank you! It is supposed to be a present, so I use it for now as a “ring” for same pieces of textile. [...]
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:54 am
I just finished making 100 of these cute little pin cushions — they are favors for a convention that I am attending in July. Easy to make and nice to have if you do much pin basting. –Dodi in Wisconsin
July 19th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Marlene in Idaho says: These are wonderful little pin cushions- I just made my first one and will be making them for my friends christmas box of treasures…Thank you for sharing such a sweet idea. Kind Regards~Marlene
August 28th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Wow, theses are great. What a nice gift to make for a sewer. Thanks for the tut!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Brilliant! This pincushion – and your tute – totally rocks! I’ve scheduled a link to this post to go live on my blog mid-day (Central USA time), August 28. Thank you so much for sharing this information on line!
Denise
http://needlework.craftgossip.com
August 28th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Ciao.Annie..
)
many thanks for this tutorial and .. you have a very very beautiful blog
ciao
ciao
anna paola from Tuscany, Italy
August 28th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Thanks Annie, as soon as I saw this on Tipnut I immediately picked up a scrap of fabric and made one within 15 minutes. A great idea as little gifts for my sewing friends.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
well, i guess i’ll have to make one of these now. i have the exact same fabric! actually, these are really neato. thank you for taking the time to teach me how to do it. i had already decided that pincushions will be the gift for my sewing buddies this year. i like this much better than the ones made from a soda bottle cap. mmmmmm….fabric good. plastic hard and yucky.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:32 am
[...] When I saw the link to this tutorial on tipnut.com, I had to squeal and squirm a little bit! Brilliant! Whether I’m doing applique or just repairing a hem, the handiest possible spot for a little pincushion would be my thumb! And, thanks to Annie Whitsed of Annie’s Crazy World, you (and I) can make this darling thumbie. See the tutorial. [...]
August 30th, 2008 at 2:57 am
Thank you so much for this cute little recipe. I just finished my first one. i had a hard time tucking it in, but the finished product is so cute and useful!! I love it.
Looking forward to making more,
~Beth
September 5th, 2008 at 11:13 am
[...] Post: Thumb Pin Cushions [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Thank you for sharing the instructions for this nifty thumb pin cushion. I have big fingers so I used a short piece of elastic to connect the two ends. It works well and makes for a very comfortable fit.
Please keep sharing your great projects!
January 11th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Love your THUMB Pin Cushy! THanks a Bunch for the Tutorial/Show me How!
Annie’s reply: It is for the top of a wooden blanket box which you can see here
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I made one like this, but also put 2 small cirkels with a little fold in one end to make some ears, a small bead to make the nose, 2 smaller beads to make eyes and some havy thread to make whiskers and than you have a “mouse” thumb pin cushion. The grandchildren love to play with it. Also make a bigger one like above, don’t sew the ends together, but put on both sides velcro and you can put it on your wrist.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Me encanta tu sitio es precioso
Nayhu
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I’ve been surfing the web for a handy cushion for my embroidery needles since Thanksgiving…and this is just what I want! It’s easy, quick and quirky, like me!
Lovelovelovelovelove it! Thank you!
November 4th, 2009 at 6:21 am
How wonderful! I don’t sew a lot, so that little trick with the turned-under corner was brilliant, in my mind. Thanks so much for the tutorial, I’m gonna dig through my stash, right now.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:40 am
this is soooo handy, ever thought of it. I’m always with pins my mouth jeje
thanks!
January 20th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Thank you, so very handy for applique, Can not wait till I make one
January 27th, 2010 at 9:55 am
[...] Thumb Pincushion cute and easy, it took more time to figure out how to thread the machine than make the pincushion. [...]
July 21st, 2010 at 11:06 am
I made this during my useless object month. I put mine on my pointer finger, found it is the most useful thing i have ever made. have even started the dishes with it still on, its so comfortable you forget its there, my squares were 3.5 inches
September 28th, 2010 at 2:47 am
I was looking for a pattern to make a pincushion. I’ve bought so many and lost them. Even one my best friend gave me. I thought as least I’ll cherish a gift given to me. Not so. But this one is wonderful. Thank you for sharing. I plan to make a couple of them. I have many scraps and left over filler I can use.
November 11th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Thank you so much for this tutorial, I have made so many of these (several for myself and they’re placed in different rooms where I stitch), that I have lost count! The first thing I do when I enter my sewing room is put on this thumb pincushion (I can’t stand anything around my wrist) and the last thing I do when I leave the room is remove it. I’d like to mention one particular thing I like it for is when I am attaching a quilt to my design wall. Since a lot of my quilting is for charity, I tie rather than hand quilt, much more practical for laundering when going to babies or care homes for the elderly. The pins are near at hand, I secure the top of the quilt, smooth it in all directions and then either tie right on my design wall or stuff a bunch of curved safety pins into my thumb pincushion and baste to prepare for hand quilting, no more reaching for a pincushion, it’s with me all the time and I couldn’t be without it!!!
December 2nd, 2010 at 1:49 am
Thank you for this pattern tutorial!!! I am making some as for my quilty friends as Christmas Gifts!!! I really appreciate the detailed instructions.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I made a bunch of these for my quilting buddies, thanks to you. They loved them!
March 5th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
I saw a woman wearing this at a quilting retreat – very cool! Making one this wk end.
March 25th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Thank u! I made one & now my friend is. So helpful & necessary!
April 16th, 2011 at 3:36 am
thanks for the info its a great idea and seems so easy ,i hope to make some of these for family members who love to sew .
July 13th, 2011 at 6:28 am
I love this idea. Going to make one right now. Thank you.
August 4th, 2011 at 8:45 am
[...] the thumb pin cushion I used the tutorial from Annies Crazy World. I considered doing my own tutorial, but her’s is about as good as tutorials get, so I [...]
August 8th, 2011 at 10:14 am
There’s something about this little pin cushion that makes me chuckle every time I see it, and also when I slide it on my thumb! Thanks for sharing.
January 19th, 2012 at 11:42 am
I had a special project to complete and I had to use a number of pins. I felt I was taking as much time picking them up to use as I was sewing. And then there were a few that I dropped. I made this pincushion and really felt efficient. No more dropping, the pins are available and yet out of the way. Absolutely wonderful!
January 19th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Very clever design, thank you for showing us….
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:58 am
[...] Thumb Pincushion [...]
April 4th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
A wonderful idea and very clear tutorial. Thank you.
April 6th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Fantastic just made one and will be making more, thanks again.
April 12th, 2012 at 6:22 am
i’m from belgium, and i like it… it never leaves my thumb xxx
July 1st, 2012 at 10:55 am
[...] Thumb Pin Cushions [...]
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:24 am
Thank you for the tut! I have worn mine out and didn’t know how to replace it. You are so nice – the tut is very professional. Love your entire site. bg
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:38 pm
A great tutorial. I’m a beader and sewer. I find this works wonderful when I’m working with a fine needle while stringing beads. I’m no longer searching my work space to find the needle after setting it down while I work with the beads. I’m now able to hold both the beads and needle in one hand as I use the other for my beads. Pass this on to all your beading friends.
September 25th, 2012 at 6:30 am
Made my first one really cute, and handy
December 7th, 2012 at 2:24 am
Just found this on Pinterest and am excited to make one for my sister, who makes costumes for a theater company. She will enjoy this handy little pincushion.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:31 pm
thank you for your fab tutorial, just made one and its brilliant!
January 3rd, 2013 at 5:01 am
I love this. Thanks so much!
January 27th, 2013 at 11:36 pm
Thanks! I can’t wait to try it!
March 1st, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Hi! I LOVE this! I made one tonight for my Pastor’s wife in mere minutes with a scrap of leftover fabric. (Mine’s next!) Thanks for the tutorial!
May 12th, 2013 at 11:43 am
Just talking about this type of pincushion at my guild’s quilt show today with one of the older menbers and then I found it here made one great tutorial