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Crafty Pincushions, In-the-Hoop

 

 Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.

Make a cute and crafty pincushion right in the hoop! These fun pincushions come in fabulous shapes and multiple sizes, and are a charming addition to your sewing space.
 

Project Needs & Notes

- Felt
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- Polyester fiberfill
- Needle and thread for some hand sewing
- Masking tape

Designs featured in this tutorial include:

- X11359, Owl Pincushion (In-the-Hoop)
- X11363, Birdie Pincushion (In-the-Hoop)
- X11365, Strawberry Pincushion (In-the-Hoop)
- X11361, Cupcake Pincushion (In-the-Hoop)

This project was featured in the following:
For the Love of Craft Lookbook

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
In-the-hoop pincushion designs contain multiple files. Some are labeled with the letters "DL," and those are dielines. The dielines are used to cut the fabric for the front and back of the pincushion, and any extra design elements, too.

Open the DL/dieline files with embroidery software and print them. If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is a free program.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Spray the back of a printed dieline with temporary adhesive and smooth it onto a piece of felt.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Cut out the shape, and remove the paper.

Repeat this process for all of the dieline files.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Now that the fabric pieces are cut to the proper shape and size, it's time to embroider the design.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.

Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices. Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full embroidery design (not the DL files).

 Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, not an embroidery needle. A sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, and that will make smaller, finer perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be an outline for the front fabric piece.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Spray the backside of the front fabric piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Place the fabric inside the stitched outline.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Attach the hoop to the machine and continue embroidering the design.

The color change sheet will be your guide.

A running stitch tack down will sew next. This holds the front fabric in place for the remainder of the design.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Inside elements will sew next.

On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "back piece tack down." When you get to this section, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Spray the right side of the back fabric piece with a bit of temporary spray adhesive. Spray  along the outer edges.

Place the back piece right over the front piece.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Attach the hoop to the machine and continue embroidering the design.

A running stitch tack down sews to bind all the layers together.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Remove the hoop from the machine and unhoop the stabilizer. Carefully tear the stabilizer away. The dieline will be removed with the stabilizer.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Turn the pincushion right side
out. Push out any corners with the blunt end of a pen or pencil.

Fill the pincushion with polyester fiberfill until it is firm.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Turn the fabric of the opening in 1/4" and hand-sew the opening closed to finish.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Special Project Note:

The strawberry and birdie pincushion have special steps.

For the strawberry, an extra dieline file is included for the stem.

Cut a piece of felt using the dieline for the stem.

Right before the back piece tack down stitches, add the
stem piece to the top of the berry. Align the short end with the outer edge of the fabric.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Place a small piece of masking tape over the inner end of the stem to hold it in place.

Make sure the tape is to the inside of the tack down stitch so it will not be sewn over later on.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
If you are embroidering the birdie, a dieline is included for the beak.

Cut a piece of felt using the dieline for the beak.

Right before the back piece tack down stitches, place the felt for the beak at the right side of the bird just below the eye. Align the long end with the outer edge of the fabric (the point should face in).

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Place a small piece of masking tape over the inner end of the beak to hold it in place.

Make sure the tape is inside of the tack down stitch so it will not be sewn over later on.

Free project instructions to embroider in-the-hoop crafty pincushions.
Stitch a cute and charming in-the-hoop pincushion today!

They're a fabulous way to keep pins and needles close at hand while sewing.

Questions or comments? Let us know! Send an email to us; the address is stitch@emblibrary.com.

Products used in this Project:
Owl Pincushion (In-the-Hoop) $3.99 - $4.99

Available in 2 Sizes:

4.50" x 5.22" | 3.32" x 3.85"
Cupcake Pincushion (In-the-Hoop) $3.99 - $4.99

Available in 2 Sizes:

4.68" x 4.50" | 3.89" x 3.74"
Birdie Pincushion (In-the-Hoop) $3.99 - $4.99

Available in 2 Sizes:

4.80" x 4.50" | 3.84" x 3.60"
Strawberry Pincushion (In-the-Hoop) $3.99 - $4.99

Available in 2 Sizes:

4.50" x 5.19" | 3.34" x 3.85"