Embroidery Library Projects

Lace Pin Cushion with Wrist Strap

Comfortable, lightweight, and convenient!

Embroider cozy lace on denim, add play sand and pins for a handy (and dandy!) sewing accessory.

Supplies needed:

** 1/4 yard light or medium
   weight denim
** One 8 1/2" x 11" sheet PVC
   plastic or acetate
** 10" or 1/4 yard 1" wide velvet
   trim

** 18" or 1/2 yard maxi piping
** 3" Velcro, 5/8" wide
** 1/2 cup of play sand

Design: Lace Vines Square (sm)

Hoop the denim with a medium-weight, tear-away stabilizer, and embroider the design.

Tear-away stabilizer is needed because pins are more easily pushed through this type of stabilizer than cut-away -- that's important for this project.

The design is digitized for freestanding lace, and calls for 40 weight rayon or polyester thread. But for a classic and hearty look, try 100% cotton (50 weight) thread.

On the backside of the embroidery, measure out 3/4" and make a mark. Do this twice on each side of the square.

Draw lines to connect the marks.

Cut along the lines.

Make a back piece for the pin cushion. Lay the embroidered piece over the denim, and trace the shape.

Cut, and set the back piece aside.

The plastic will be used inside the cushion to shield and protect your wrist from pins.

Measure and mark a 3 1/2" by 3 1/2" square on the plastic.

Cut the plastic, and set aside.

Next, the wrist band. Cut a strip of velvet trim to a 10" length.

To keep the ends of the trim from unraveling, use a bit of fabric glue. Add a couple of drops of glue to each end and fold back. Hold the ends for a few seconds until the glue sets.

Cut a 3" strip of the hook side of the Velcro, and a 3" strip of the loop side.

Sew the hook part to the right side of the band.

Sew the loop part to the wrong side of the band.

Attach the wrist band to the bottom piece of the cushion. Measure and mark the center point of the band and the center point of the denim square.

Lay the band over the bottom piece diagonally. The denim should be right side up, and the band should be wrong side up.

Align the center point on the band with the center point on the denim square, and pin into place.

Sew a 3/4" box around the center points.

Next, sew the top and bottom pieces together. To begin, with the right sides down, press a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around the top and bottom pieces.

Trim the corners.

Align the top and bottom pieces together, wrong sides together, and secure with pins.

Cut a notch in the piping about 1/4" from the end.

Bend the piping at the notch and tuck it in between the top and bottom pieces at a corner.

Sew a 3/8" seam around three sides, one side at a time, stopping about 1" before each corner.

At each corner, cut a slit in the piping. Bend and tuck the piping along the side. Sew to the corner, lift the presser foot, turn the cushion, lower the presser foot and continue around the three sides.

Insert the plastic sheet into the open side.

Make a funnel from a piece of paper, and add the play sand to the cushion. Keep the sand on the back of the plastic -- away from the embroidery, on the side where your wrist will be.

Fill the cushion about halfway.

Hand sew the opening, keeping stitches small to prevent any sand from leaking out.

Enjoy your stylish -- and comfortable and convenient -- wrist pin cushion!

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.

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