Etsy's Handmade Blog
How-Tuesday: Zakka Pincushion Tutorial
Story by katiearms, missbatch
Published on March 10, 2009 in How-To 		Photo by

Yoko Inoue for Zakka Sewing

Download the complete project instructions here, or follow along below, courtesy of Zakka Sewing by Therese Laskey and Chika Mori.

Pretty wrist pincushions are the perfect accessory for sewing—the pins are always where you need them. This one looks like a flower corsage that you might have worn to your high school prom. To change the size of the band, measure your wrist and add 1" plus an additional 1/2" for seam allowances; this becomes your strap measurement. All the other measurements and directions remain the same.



Flower Corsage Pincushion

Materials

Scrap of linen, 6" x 8 1/2"
Scrap of eyelet cotton, 4" square
Scrap of printed cotton, 4 1/2" square
Scrap of tan wool felt, 1 1/2" diameter circle
Plastic from gallon milk container, cut to 1 3/8" diameter circle (for pincushion liner)
All-purpose thread to match fabrics
1" length of 5/8"-wide Velcro Fiberfill
Flower pattern (shown below)






Preparing the Fabric

Cut using pattern
Cotton: 1 large flower
Eyelet cotton: 1 small flower

Cut freehand
Linen: 1 circle, 1 1/2" in diameter
           1 rectangle, 2 1/2" x 8 1/4"
Wool felt: 1 circle, 1 1/2" in diameter
Plastic: 1 circle, 1 3/8" in diameter

Seam allowance: 1/4"


Zakka Fact: 
With so many people crafting and sewing, making a pincushion is a way to demonstrate a personal style
with a practical object. Tons of made-in-Japan pincushions were imported to the United States in the
1940s – 1960s, including the ever-popular tomato.


Making the Pincushion

1. Make Flower
Edge-stitch around the petals of both flowers, to deter fraying. (Drawing A)

Layer the flower pieces, right side up, from the bottom up as follows: large flower, small flower, and linen circle. (Drawing B). Adjust the two flowers so that their petals are "staggered" (Drawing C), center the linen circle three times, sewing through all three layers. Set the flower aside.

2. Make Strap
Fold the linen rectangle in half lengthwise and press it. Then turn under the rectangle's three sides with raw edges in place. Edge-stitch around all four sides.

Stitch the Velcro's loop side on one end of the strap and its hook side on the underside of the strap's other end (Drawing D).

3. Put it All Together
Stack and pin the layers from the bottom up as follows: wool felt circle, plastic circle, strap, and flower (Drawing D). Blanket-stitch the wool felt to the flower, leaving a 1" opening.

Stuff the circle with fiberfill, placing it between the plastic and strap. Hand-sew the opening closed.

Note: The fabric flowers' edges tend to fray: if you want a more finished look, use felt or Ultrasuede.




Thanks to Therese Laskey, Chika Mori and the folks at Stewart, Tabori & Chang for sharing this project. Check out zakkahome.com for more information about the book.

More project downloads are available here! Check out all the How-Tuesday content!

Tags authors, books, Chika Mori, DIY, fabric, flower, How-Tuesday, instructions, Japan, Japanese, kawaii, needlecraft, notions, pdf project, pincushions, project, sewing, sewing supply, step-by-step, supplies, Therese Laskey, tutorial, wrist pincushion, Zakka, Zakka Sewing
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52 comments     Login to add your own!

March 10, 2009 at 4:39 p.m. XPoppysWickedGardenX

Oh this is too adorable! I think I might end up with pins through my arms though LOL! I would make this in Orange and be in LOVE!

March 10, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. PipocaHandmade

Too cute! This is much more chic than my chinatown tomato cushion! Thanks for the post. Love the selection!

March 10, 2009 at 4:48 p.m. littlepancakes

cute! I was just thinking about buying a pincushion so this is perfect

March 10, 2009 at 4:51 p.m. ManoCelebrates

This is adorable and cute!

March 10, 2009 at 4:51 p.m. InuInspirations

How cute! I love pincushions so I may just have to make one of these!

March 10, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. 3squares

Adorable. Thanks for the lesson!

March 10, 2009 at 5:06 p.m. dragonhouseofyuen

very nice indeed,
I love pincushions - especially the ones that are not animals - could never put a pin in an animal cushion (ow!)

March 10, 2009 at 5:11 p.m. maiziedesigns

Thanks for sharing this-what a great puncushion intrustional guide. This will come in very handy!

March 10, 2009 at 5:43 p.m. principessaemicranie

will try to make it asap!! thanks for sharing honey :)

March 10, 2009 at 5:49 p.m. elizandaxel

Such a fantastic pincushion!! Thanks so much for the tutorial. :)

March 10, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. Waterrose

What a cute idea! Thanks for sharing the how to!

March 10, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. gloilocksandbody

Its soo adorable!

March 10, 2009 at 6:34 p.m. BLUERAINBOW

great article! thank you for sharing the instruction!

March 10, 2009 at 6:52 p.m. funkeyfinds

oh lovin it!!

March 10, 2009 at 6:57 p.m. MyWisteriaCottage

It's nice that this is comunity to the degree that someone is willing so share knowledge for free instead of charging people for this pattern.

March 10, 2009 at 7:33 p.m. IceCreamCandy

this is so cute!!!

March 10, 2009 at 7:41 p.m. BohemianThings

These instructions are great. It's so simple to follow. I will certainly be making this one. Cute!

March 10, 2009 at 7:52 p.m. bhangtiez

very cute, thanks 4 sharing your talents.

March 10, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. odiliafu

Cute!! Thanks for the tutorial!

March 10, 2009 at 8:44 p.m. Rose442

Very cute,I will pass this on to my friends!

March 10, 2009 at 9:16 p.m. uncharted

what a cool book - thanks for the how to

March 10, 2009 at 9:36 p.m. jimena

great!! thanks!

March 10, 2009 at 9:42 p.m. PetDrawings

love it!!

March 10, 2009 at 10:10 p.m. PussDaddy

That is such a cute pincushion!

March 10, 2009 at 10:40 p.m. ArtBalance

beautiful! thanks so much for the inspiration & instructions!

March 10, 2009 at 10:40 p.m. FancifulForm

Ahhh! So cute!

March 10, 2009 at 11:08 p.m. PatternsAndSuch

great project - I can't wait to try it!

March 10, 2009 at 11:13 p.m. MyJunkyTrunk

Really adorable!

March 11, 2009 at 12:02 a.m. washimatta

fantastic little project.

cheers for sharing.

March 11, 2009 at 4:34 a.m. diannek

I am making one as I type, well almost very cute very useful.

March 11, 2009 at 5:34 a.m. ishtarolivera

Nice tutorial!
I think I´ll try making one!

March 11, 2009 at 5:56 a.m. theaxx

This is totally cute. I'm FOREVER losing my needles(and possibly my braincells with them!!!!!!) So perhaps keeping them on my wrist is the answer.

Will give it a go, Oh to have a second to make something so useful and crafty!

thea.
xx

(www.forthevisionaries.tumblr.com)

March 11, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. NAKPUNAR

Very nice. Also you can use emery to fill your pincushion. If you want to know what is emery please visit my store!

March 11, 2009 at 9:17 a.m. EpicBones

perfect, love these how-tos

March 11, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. bettesbags

How wonderful! I love the eyelet fabric. Very pretty

March 11, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. metrostation

Very cute would love to learn this!

March 11, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. ooty

cute =0)

March 11, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. shopgoodgrace

Love this!!

March 11, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. SugarAndSpice

OH how cute!

March 11, 2009 at 12:37 p.m. autumnsarrival

Pincoushins are the best! Thanks for a great tutorial!

March 11, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. franzidesigns

This is so great! I'm always dropping pins all over. Can't wait to make it!

March 11, 2009 at 3:12 p.m. MyMenageries

I needed a pincushion that I could keep track of. Thank you for the tutorial.

March 11, 2009 at 3:41 p.m. recupefashion

very inspirational. love it

March 11, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. LoveAppleBoutique

Great tutorial. Cant wait to try it out.

March 11, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. mykonos

lovely!!

March 11, 2009 at 10:20 p.m. akane

I absolute looooooove zakka items!

www.akanedesigns.blogspot.com

March 11, 2009 at 10:21 p.m. lucybluestudio

That is such a cute project. I wish I sewed! But luckily, I know lots of people who do and I think I could manage at least that much to make pincushions as gifts for them...

March 11, 2009 at 10:25 p.m. alwaysusie

Sooo cute and wrist pincushions are so handy.

March 12, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. thymbyldesigns

So generous that they share this tutorial with Etsy. The book has been sitting on my book shelf (next to all my Japanese tezukuri zakka books) ever since it came out!

March 12, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. ShiningStarGlass

great instructions. I always lose my pins (and then step on them!) so I'll be making one of these. thanks!

March 16, 2009 at 7:48 p.m. TreeHuggerStudio

CUTE CUTE...........................
http://TreeHuggerStudio.esty.com

May 19, 2009 at 3:55 a.m. tinyspace

very very cute!!! i want one!

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