Valentine Needlebook Pincushion Tutorial

Today's Valentine project is quick and easy and will definitely brighten up your stitching nest! It is a pincushion with needlebook attached...and is easy peasy. I was inspired by a Valentine sachet I recently pinned to one of my bulletin boards on Pinterest. I was going to do a photo tutorial for you - but I realized it is pretty simple and really doesn't require one...

The supply list is minimal:

• 5" x 6" piece of cotton print fabric (pincushion top)
• 5" x 6" piece of coordinating wool fabric (pincushion bottom)
• three pieces of coordinating wool fabric for the heart-shaped needlebook pages (approximately 3 1/2" x 3 1/2")
• matching sewing thread
• your favorite "stuffing"
• Optional - one 5" x 6" piece of fusible lightweight interfacing

1. Take your 5" x 6" piece of cotton print fabric and fuse a piece of lightweight interfacing to the back - this step is optional - it gives the top of your pincushion a good "sturdiness" and keeps it nice and smooth. It also helps your pincushion hold up over time with excessive puncturing. Set aside.
   
   
2. Using your three pieces of of coordinating wool fabric, cut three hearts. I used my AccuQuilt Studio fabric cutter to cut three of Heart #8 Small....but you can easily cut these using your own template. Choose the order you would like to layer your wool hearts; leave the base full-size - trim the middle heart 1/8" smaller - trim the top heart 1/4" smaller, so once stacked you will see all three colors. My base heart is approximately 3" x 3".
   
   
3. Place the stacked wool hearts in the center of your piece of cotton print fabric (right side up). Sew down the center of the stack of hearts - from the heart valley to the heart point. I used a decorative flower stitch on my sewing machine, but this could be done by hand using a long sharp needle.
   
   
4. Place the 5" x 6" piece of coordinating wool fabric on top of your cotton print with wool hearts (right sides together).
   
   
5. Stitch around the perimeter with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving an opening for turning.
   
   
6. Trim the corners, and then turn right side out.
   
   
7. Stuff firmly with your choice of filling - I used a good quality fiberfill.
   
   
8. Whip stitch the opening closed.

...and there you have it - a quick and easy Valentine pincushion with a needlebook attached (finished size 4 1/2" x 5 1/2"). I used my sewing machine for all the sewing, but you could easily put the entire project together by hand. I added some decorative pins - the three red hearts are from Puntini Puntini (http://www.puntini-puntini.blogspot.com/ and http://puntinipuntini.splinder.com/) - Paola makes the most fabulous decorative pins - they make me happy and are the perfect addition to my new treasure!

I hope you have been inspired to make your very own pincushion....

Tomorrow I will post details on a Valentine giveaway...so if you like my cross stitch designs, please stop back tomorrow to get in on the fun....