How to Make a Teacup Pincushion

A Vintage Teacup and Saucer Holds Miscellaneous Sewing Supplies

© Melissa Howard

Mar 12, 2008

Make a teacup pincushion:

Supplies

• teacup and saucer
• adhesive suitable for porcelain
• wool scraps
• wool felt in various colors
• beads (e-beads and miscellaneous beads)
• thread and/or embroidery floss
• pretty straight pins

Instructions

1. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, glue the teacup and saucer together (for most strong adhesives, it is very important to do this in a well-ventilated area).
2. Cut the wool scraps up into small pieces with a scissors. Put the pieces in a blender with plenty of water and blend until the wool fibers loosen up (it will look like lint floating in the water).
3. Drain off the water and form the wool into a ball. Tie it up inside an old hanky or a scrap of fabric.
4. Put in a pan of water and boil on the stove-top for about an hour. This will form the pincushion body.
5. Do not remove the pincushion body from the hanky. Put the ball into the dryer to dry out (it may have to run with several loads of dark laundry before it is dry).
6. Cut a circle of felt big enough to fit around the pincushion body.
7. Cut five large semi-circles and five small semi-circles to use as petals for the flower.
8. Cut three leaves slightly larger than the larger semi-circles.
9. Sew the leaves to the center of the pincushion cover using coordinating e-beads.
10. Using thread run a few large stitches along the straight edge of the semi-circle. Pull the thread tight and tie into a knot. This will pull the base of the petal together and give it shape.
11. Sew the larger petals to the pincushion cover first. Sew the smaller petals on top of the larger petals.
12. Cut a small circle of felt just big enough to cover the base of all the petals. Use miscellaneous beads to sew the center of the flower down.
13. Run a gathering stitch around the perimeter of the pincushion cover. Put the pincushion body in the middle of the cover and gather the thread tight.
14. Glue the pincushion to the inside of the teacup.
15. Push it full of pretty, straight pins.
16. Give it to a dear friend.

Ideas and Suggestions

• It certainly is not necessary to stuff the pincushion with wool. However, wool prevents needles and pins from rusting and helps keep them sharp; so if you use wool for anything (from knitting new sweaters to fulling old sweaters for purses) save the scraps to make pincushions or stuffing for other small items.
• Don’t buy beads for the center of the blossom. Look in your jewelry drawer for necklace you don’t wear anymore and preserve the beads in this special keepsake.

About the Sample Project

The sample projects were glued with Liquid Nails as no other clear adhesives were available when the project was in progress. It would be wise to use a clear adhesive rather than Liquid Nails. Liquid Nails leaves a brown residue if you are not extremely careful when cleaning it up (it requires paint thinner to clean, which is another drawback).

Pincushion 1

Pincushion 1 - Different Angle

Pincushion 2

Necessary Supplies

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