About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
1h00

Make yourself a cute little sewing buddy!
You'll need light and dark green felt - less than one sheet of each. Red and black embroidery thread. You'll also need a 1.5" terra cotta flower pot. *Optional is something to weight the bottom of your pincushion - marbles, kitty litter, etc. The instructions assume that you have some very basic sewing knowledge. If you're not familiar with the names of stitches or how they're done, a quick internet search should turn up all the info you need.

Posted by Morbidly Cute Published See Morbidly Cute's 5 projects »
Tags

PrintEmbed
  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 1
    Step 1

    Using the photo below as a guide, draw a template on your paper and cut it out. It should be roughly 5” x 1.5” (12.5cm x 4cm). The top should be rounded on each side and come to a point. (The shape is pretty forgiving so it doesn’t have to be exact, but you should try to make it symmetrical.)

  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 2
    Step 2

    Cut out 4 pieces of felt using your template, 2 light green and 2 dark green.

  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 3
    Step 3

    Draw your cactus’ face onto one of the light green pieces of felt with your tailors chalk. Remember that you’re going to need room on the edge for the stitching.
    Separate the strands of your embroidery thread. Thread the needle with 2 strands held together. Embroider the face, following the outline you just sketched out. I use satin stitch for the eyes and mustache and backstitch for his mouth.
    *If embroidery isn’t your thing, you can always paint his face or cut the features out of felt and glue them on.

  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 4
    Step 4

    Take 2 pieces of felt – 1 light green, 1 dark green. Pin the edges together on one side only. Thread your needle with 2 strands of black embroidery thread again. Sew the entire length of that side, using either a whip stitch or blanket stitch.
    *Hint: The smaller you make the stitches, the rounder your cactus will be. If you make the stitches large, he’ll have ridges at the seams.

    Repeat with the rest of the fabric pieces, alternating a dark green piece with a light green piece. You’ll end up with a cylinder with a dome at the top.
    *Don’t worry if the bottom looks uneven or untidy, it’s going to be hidden inside the flower pot.

  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 5
    Step 5

    Stuff your finished cactus all the way to the bottom. Remember that he needs to fairly firm in order to poke pins into him easily. If you’re not sure if you’ve stuffed him enough, just give him a test poke.

  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 6
    Step 6

    Cover the hole in the bottom of the flower pot with a sticker or a piece of tape that’s cut to size (from the inside). Put another sticker over the hole on the outside of the pot. Fill the pot about halfway with kitty litter. Remember to leave enough room to “plant” your cactus!
    * Weighting the bottom will make it harder to tip him over. If you’d prefer not to, skip this step and put more stuffing in the bottom of your flower pot.

  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 7
    Step 7

    Squeeze a generous amount of glue around the inside of your flower pot, near the top. “Plant” your cactus in the pot. Make sure he’s in there deep enough to be sturdy. Check from different sides to make sure he’s standing up straight. Once the glue dries, it’ll be too late to fix him.

  • How to make a pin cushions. Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion - Step 8
    Step 8

    Finally, stick him full of pins! Don't worry, he loves it.

Versions

See all 13 »

Comments

Sarah :D
Sarah :D · La Cañada Flintridge, California, US · 20 projects
I made one! Cute Idea!! Love the mustache. Happy
Reply
Calypso D.
Calypso D. · 7 projects
Haha so adorable! Made me smile.
Reply
nariel
nariel · Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX · 13 projects
So lovely <3
Reply
Jet H.
Jet H. · Haarlem, North Holland, NL · 108 projects
aaaaaw soooo cute!!!!
Reply
Sarah :D
Sarah :D · La Cañada Flintridge, California, US · 20 projects
=D I am going to make a mini one... Even though I already have enough pin cushions. xD Cute idea!
Reply
Lady Shadow
Lady Shadow · Dillwyn, Virginia, US · 12 projects
Awww he's so cuuute!
Reply
m
m · Yorba Linda, California, US · 9 projects
wonderful! what a cute little mustache Happy
Reply
Beth M.
Beth M. · 11 projects
I have to make one of these ASAP. I've been needing a pin cushion. Too Cute!!!
Reply
Janie R.
Janie R. · Eastern, Kentucky, US · 25 projects
Thanks, I already have WAY too many pincushions!! haha I'll have to make another, I guess ;) Thanks for the how-to!!
Reply
bri*YELL-o-RAMA!
bri*YELL-o-RAMA! · Newport, Rhode Island, US
oh my! this is sooo adorable! i cant wait to make one for myself! Happy
Reply
Load 28 more comments...

More Projects