Crafty Pincushion Organizer

An embroidered pincushion organizer keeps sewing essentials in reach, and brightens any room's decor.

Fill it with all your most used notions to keep them handy. Pencils, marking pens, craft knifes, and seam rippers store neatly in each corner, safely tucked into the folds.

Read on for project instructions!

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies Needed:

1/4 yard cotton fabric (for outer shell -- I used lightweight twill)
1/4 yard cotton fabric (for inner lining -- I used quilter's cotton)
4 3/4" wide by 4 3/4" high piece of heavy weight stiff fusible interfacing
Medium weight cutaway stabilizer
Temporary spray adhesive
Air-erase pen
Polyester fiberfill
Nylon monofilament thread
Needle and thread for some hand sewing

Special Project Notes:

Designs Used:

I used designs from the small sizes of the Crafty Cameos Design Pack for my pincushion organizer. Visit the Crafty Collectibles department for lots of designs that are cute for this project!

Finished Size:

7" wide by 4 1/4" high by 7" deep

Gather Materials:

First, to prepare the fabric for the outer shell, using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, draw a 6 1/2" wide by 5 1/2" high rectangle on the fabric (I used lightweight twill). Measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks.

Hand drawing two overlapping squares on peach fabric using a red transparent ruler and blue fabric marker pen on a white surface.

Create paper templates of the designs. See these handy instructions for more information about making and using templates. Make sure the design fits well within the shape. There should be at least 3/4" of space between the outer edges of the design and the edges of the shape.

Hand holding a printed paper with a scissors illustration framed by floral oval patterns on peach fabric marked with green grid lines and rectangles.

Start Embroidering:

Remove the template and spray a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is aligned with the center point on the fabric, and embroider the design.

Embroidery hoop securing salmon-colored fabric with blue grid lines stitched on it, on a neutral light surface background.

When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery. Cut out the shape. Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for a total of four panels.

Peach fabric square with embroidered green pincushion and red pins inside a decorative red oval frame, scissors edge fabric, white background.

Next, align the second panel on top of the first panel, right sides together, and pin in place along the right side. Sew a 1/2" seam along the right side only. Press the back seam open with an iron.

Hand holding two layers of peach fabric with a red embroidered circle. Blue grid lines are drawn on the fabric, and the background is white.

Place the third panel on top of the second panel, right sides together, pin in place along the right side and sew a 1/2" seam along the right side only. Press the seam. Repeat this process for the remaining panel.

Peach fabric strip with four round embroidered patches, each bordered by red thread; patches show scissors, thimble, spool of thread, and pincushion.

To prepare the inner lining fabric, cut four pieces of fabric (I used quilter's cotton) to 6 1/2" wide by 5 1/2" high. Assemble the pieces together just as you did for the inner lining.

Long rectangular fabric piece with pink and red floral and paisley patterns, folded slightly at one end, set against a white background.

Lay the embroidered outer shell flat with the right side facing up. Align the inner lining on top, right sides together, with the seams aligned. Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the top and bottom edges only. Leave the side edges open for turning.

Hand holding a long pink fabric strip divided into sections with straight pins securing each section, against a plain white background.

Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams. Sew a 1/4" seam along the left short end to close it (leave the right end open for stuffing). Then, turn the fabric of the right short end in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Stuff the first panel with fiberfill. Then, push the fiberfill to the side away from the first seam and pin the layers of fabric in place.

Hand holding a peach pincushion with two embroidered patches—gold scissors with a purple ribbon and a thimble with needle and green thread—framed by red borders.

Sew a one inch long seam in the center of the existing seam. This binds the layers together but allows the top and bottom of the panels to flatten out a bit. Repeat this process for the second and third panel.

Close-up of a sewing machine needle stitching pink fabric with red embroidered trim and circular designs. The fabric is gathered and secured under the presser foot.

When you reach the fourth panel, stuff it as you did for the other panels and insert 1/2" of the raw end (left end) inside the right end (folded end) forming the cushion into a ring. Align the seams and using needle and thread, tack the layers together at the top and bottom (where the seams align).

Stitch both layers together in the center of the fold (just as you did in between the other panels). Sew the remaining openings closed by stitching through just the top layers on the outer shell and just the top layers on the inner lining. Turn the cushion inside out to reach the inner lining layers. Turn the cushion right side out.

Close-up of hands threading a needle with white thread next to a fabric pincushion in peach and pink tones on a white surface.

To prepare the bottom of the cushion, cut two pieces of fabric to 5 1/2" wide by 5 1/2" high. Align the pieces together, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along three sides only. Leave one side open for turning.

Hand holding folded pink fabric with floral and paisley pattern; three colored pins (red, green, yellow) stuck in fabric on beige background.

Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams. Cut a piece of heavy weight stiff fusible interfacing to 4 3/4" wide by 4 3/4" high and insert it inside the fabric. Turn the fabric of the opening in 1/4" and press. Then, press the square to activate the fusible interfacing. Top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edge of the square.

Hand holding layered square fabric pieces with pink floral patterned fabric on top and white batting underneath on a white surface.

Next, align the bottom piece with the bottom seam of the cushion and hand stitch in place.

Hand holding a needle stitching the seam of a beige fabric pincushion with pink patterned top and embroidery on the sides, against a light background.

Get Inspired:

And your pincushion organizer is complete!

Hand holding a purple pen next to a soft, square pincushion organizer with pink patterned fabric, holding scissors, glue bottle, pen, and yellow measuring tape. Multi-colored buttons scattered on white surface.