Prepare and clean the
containers. Rubbing alcohol helps remove any residue that would prevent glue
from sticking on the canning jar lid. Peel off any paper from the tea container
or whatever container you may be using. Cut off any strings.
The first part of the
tutorial will focus on the canning jar because it is a simpler pattern.
For the dome of the pin
cushion, mark a circle about twice as big as the base of the pin cushion. I was
able to find a plastic lid that worked. If you are having trouble finding
something, you can use the string method.
String Method: Measure a
string the width of the lid. Pin or tack the string in to the material. Attach
a pen or pencil to the other end. Draw a circle around the pinned end of the
string.
Press the circles.
On the large circle, sew a
zig zag stitch over thread or dental floss to create gathers. Sew around the
edge of the circle. Then pull the thread/floss to create the gathers.
Gently use your fingers to
move the gathers evenly around the larger circle. Continue to pull the gathers
until the opening of the large circle matches the size of the small circle.
Whenever I knot my thread, I insert the needle one last time
into the fabric at the base of the knot and exit the needle anywhere from half an inch to an inch away. Pull
the thread through and trim where the needle exits to keep the thread
tucked neatly away.
Glue the pin cushion to
the bottom of the canning lid. Notice the rubber seal is visible. That will
allow the ring to secure the lid to the top of the jar.
The rubber seal is no longer
visible when the ring is added. The pin cushion can also be turned so it is
inside the jar for child or pet safety.
Glue lace around the
outside of the ring so it is standing up. Make sure you do not get glue inside
the ring or it may prevent the lid from screwing onto the jar.
Now, glue lace around the
ring so it is hanging down like a skirt.
Glue a ribbon around the ring
to cover the lace seams. Tie a bow or glue a bow onto the ribbon for the final
touch.
Use the lid for the
pattern. Trace five circles.
The dome of the pin cushion
should be about twice as wide as the base. I used the same plastic lid.
Measure the lid height. Add
an inch to the measurement for seam allowances. This lid measured approximately
1 ½ inches. The fabric was cut to 2 ½ inches.
Measure the bottom of the tea
container and add an inch. This one measured about 4 ½ inches so the fabric
will be cut to 5 ½ inches. Do not include the white lip in the measurement for the fabric. It needs to remain bare so the lid will fit.
Measure around the container
and add an inch. This one measured almost 10 inches. The fabric was cut at 11
inches.
The fabric pieces you should
have are: 1) A piece for the bottom of the container. 2) A piece for the top of
the container. 3) A large circle for the dome of the pin cushion. 4) A small
circle for the bottom of the pin cushion. 5) Two circles for the top of the
container. 6) Two circles for the bottom of the container.
*Remember, you should have a
total of five small circles. The picture looks like it only has three. Two are under the other circles.
On the large circle, use a
zig zag setting to sew over a long piece of thread or floss to create the
gathers.
Use your fingers to move the
gathers evenly along the thread/floss. Continue making gathers until the dome
has an opening that matches the size of the base.
Pin the bottom of the pin
cushion and top of the pin cushion, right sides together. Sew leaving an opening for turning. Remember to lock the stitches.
Turn the pin cushion right
side out and fill with stuffing. Use your favorite. Then hand sew the opening
closed. After knotting the thread, you can insert the needle at the base of the
knot and exit the needle ½ to 1 inch away. Clip the thread where the needle
exits to keep the loose ends tucked away.
Glue the pin cushion inside
the lid of the container. Only add glue to the bottom of the pin cushion or the inside of the top of the lid. The sides need to remain glue free so the lid will still fit onto the container.
The fabric to cover the side
of the lid for this tea contain measures 2 ½ inches by 11 inches. Press a ¼ inch
seam along the 11 inch side.
The fabric to cover the side
of the bottom part of the tea container measures 5 ½ inches by 11 inches. Press
a ¼ inch seam along the 11 inch side.You can sew the seam flat at this point if you find it easier. I chose to wait to sew the seam.
Fold both fabrics right sides
together so that the 11 inch length is halved. Pin and sew with a half inch
seam allowance.
Sew the circles right sides
together along the traced line. Complete the circle so there is no opening.
The fabric for the lid and
bottom should now look like a tunnel. Press the seams open. Then pin the
pressed seam for sewing. Sew to finish the edge.
Turn
circles right side out. I use a wooden skewer to make sure the edges are fully
pushed out. Press with an iron.
I had quite a bit if trouble
getting the outside to fit correctly over the tea container. Finally, after
many tries, I was able to sew the outside loose enough to fit over the container.
It was looser than I would have liked, but with all my previous problems, I decided to
keep it this way. Because it was a little loose, I glued the lace on first to
make the fabric a little snugger. Then I added the “tunnels” of fabric and
hot glued the seams over the lace.
Feel free glue the fabric
first before the lace. Do whatever works better for
you.
Hand baste thread about ¼ of
an inch from the raw edge. Then pull to create gathers to fold the material
over the edge. (Much like English paper piecing.) Make a knot to keep the material over the edge.
To finish the lid, pin lace
around the raw edges. Lay one of the circles over the lace and pin in place. For
the bottom, lay the circle over the raw edges and pin in place. Hand sew to finish.
*The lace and circles can be glued
into place instead of stitched. 
Add red ribbon where the
fabric meets the lace and you are finished.
When the lids are on correctly, the pin cushions are hidden
away in both containers.
