An easy first hand sewing project
This is a quick and easy hand sewing project, it utilizes 2 construction stitches from the stitch library to make a small pincushion which can then be used to store your pins and sewing needles for future projects.
A 9 patch is a common pattern to sew fabric together in. A 9 patch is made by cutting 9 squares of the same size, typically 5 of one color and 4 of another, and arranging them in rows of 3 with the colors alternating. Many quilts use a 9 patch block, and you can even cut and sew a 9 patch back together to create other designs.
Begin by tracing out 1 1/2″ inch” squares. If you’re having a kid do this step, they will benefit from making a 1 1/2” square template from cardstock. These can also be drawn in a grid using a clear sewing ruler. Additionally draw a 3 1/2″ square for the back of the cushion.
On the wrong side of your fabric, mark dots every 1/8th of an inch, 1/4 of an inch from the edge on each small square and the backing. You can use this template to make the task easier. These dots will guide the hand stitches that hold everything together.
Once you have all of your squares marked and cut out, arrange your 9 patch with the right side of your fabric up. Take the top left square in the first column and flip it face down onto the square beneath it. Line up the edge of your fabric and pin the squares together.
Thread a needle with 6-8”” of thread and tie a knot in the end. For children I recommend cutting 10” of thread and doubling it, tie the two tails together in your knot and the thread will be unable to come unthreaded. Begin on one side, working from right to left if right handed, reverse if left handed. Put the needle down through the first dot, and back up.
Once the basic in and out motion feels comfortable, feel free to put the needle through multiple stitches before pulling the thread all the way through.
At the end of each length of stitches, take a small stitch over the same dot you have come out of, then thread the needle through the loop made and pull. This simple knot is plenty to hold your stitches in place.
Press your seam with your fingers, press the seam allowance towards your darker colored fabric. and line up the last block in the column. Make sure you are still lining up right sides to right sides, you should be sewing two different fabrics together every time for this 9 patch. Stitch along black dots.
When a column is sewn together, the center block will be 1 inch tall, and the top and bottom blocks will be 1 1/4 inches tall. Sew the remaining two columns together just like the first. Then we will begin sewing the columns to each other.
When you are pinning the columns, pin them right sides together and ‘nest’ the seam allowances. Because you have put the seam allowances towards your darker colored fabric, they will be going in opposite directions, this will allow you to seat the two seams right up against each other. Check the placement of both seam allowances and pin the columns together.
When you have the full 9 patch sewn together, place it face to face with your backing fabric (the 3 1/2″ block cut earlier). Use the same running stitch we’ve been sewing with all the way around the outer seamline, leaving the edge of one 9 patch block unsewn.
Clip off all 4 corners coming close to the stitching without cutting it. This removes bulk in the corners when we flip the cushion. Which it is time to do now!
Flip the cushion through the gap in the stitching, once it is right side out, pull out the corners with your fingers, or put a unsharpened pencil through the hole and push them out.
Iron your pincushion flat. The unsewn portion of the edge should have the seam allowances tucked in as shown, this will allow us to sew up the hole more easily at the end.
Stuff the pin cushion, and thread and knot a new needle. To sew the gap shut we will use a ladder stitch. Start your ladder stitch by entering the hole in your pin cushion, and coming up through the ironed fold, just next to your last stitch.
To continue the ladder stitch put the needle in through the fold and out again roughly 1/8″ on one side, then cross directly across the gap and do the same on the other side, alternating sides until the entire gap has been sewn.
Pull the ladder stitch tight when you reach the end of the gap.
Tie a knot at the end of the thread, then thread the needle through the pillow, and tug until the knot disappears past the stitching, then cut the thread. This will leave the tails of your thread inside the cushion and all knots hidden nicely.
Congratulations on your new pin cushion!
