How to Make a Tomato Pin Cushion or Pin Keep
A few days ago I sat down to make a pin cushion for myself and before I knew it, I had made over a dozen of them. These little wool tomatoes were so addicting, I just couldn’t bring myself to stop.
Most of the ones I made were from hand dyed wool, and a few from some velvet I had dyed, but I imagine you could make these out of any old scrap fabric you had on hand. Maybe something with a vintage patterns or polka dots would be fun too. I stuffed my pin keeps with crushed walnut shells, not only for weight, but because the walnut shells help to sharpen the pins as they are retrieved from the pin cushion time and time again.
I am a visual learner, so I took a boatload of pictures in case you wanted to make one {or a dozen} too. Ahh winter. It’s the best time to get crafty. 😉
Have a wonderful weekend everyone,
~Mavis
For more cool crafts you can make at home, check out my Arts and Crafts page.
These little pin keeps will be available in my Etsy Shop update tonight if anyone is interested.
How to Make a Tomato Pin Cushion or Pin Keep
Supplies
- 4 inch x 8 inch piece of red wool or velvet fabric
- 3 inch square of green wool for stem and tomato cap
- 3 feet green DMC floss {I used all 6 strands} for ribs on tomato
- 2 feet of red DMC floss to stitch the tomato together {I used 2 strands at a time}
- Crushed walnut shells
- Pearlized pins
- Needle and thread
Directions
Cut {2} 4″ circles of fabric {I used a plastic sour cream lid as my template}. Cut a 1″ x 2″ rectangle of green wool for the stem and a 1″ star like cap for the top of the tomato.
For the tomato:
Place right sides together and stitch together making sure to leave enough room to turn your fabric right side out. Fill the tomato cavity with crushed walnut shells and stitch closed.
Tie a triple knot at the end of your green embroidery floss and bring your needle up through the center of the bottom of the tomato and then as evenly as you can repeat until you have 6 ribs on your tomato {see pictures}.
Tie a knot at top of the tomato and tack the tomato cap into place with a stitch or two. The roll the 1″ x 2″ rectangle of green wool for the stem and stitch up the sides and attach it to the center cap securing it to the center of the tomato.
Add a few pins and you’re good to go!
Becky Swanson says
Mavis, can you comment upon the ground walnut shells you are using? A specific supplier or brand?
Thank you, Becky S
Mavis Butterfield says
There is a link in the post. I bought the 10 pound box as I plan to make more. 🙂 They work great and have no odor.
LindaA says
Petco has crushed walnut shells, it’s used for reptile bedding.
Barbara Benware says
Mavis, Have you watched Anne With An E on Netflix yet? The last season is now on!! Can’t wait to binge watch tonight. Have a great weekend.
Sharon says
Adorable!!
Linda Practical Parsimony says
nice! Did you crush the walnut shells yourself?
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! No.
Margo says
I remember learning to make a pin cushion like this in my grammar school Home Ec (yes! I am dating myself!) over 60 years ago. I still have the one I made. Don’t remember what we stuffed them with. I like the walnut shell stuffing idea.
Deborah says
I made my mother one, but stuffed Min with polyfill. I have it now as she’s passed on.
Barbara says
I made a pin cushion of hair from my brush wrapped in layers of foil. I plan to cover it in fabric. The foil sharpens the pins and the hair polishes them. And it’s easier to obtain than walnut shells.
Jude DeWitt says
You are so exceedingly clever! Walnut shells for the tomato so everything stays sharp makes so much more sense than that silly little strawberry filled with sand.
kim Johnston says
My old tomato pin is falling apart and the strawberry was lost years ago. I will get to work!
Karen Kavanagh says
Emery is what the little one has in it. Used for sharpening needles & pins and removing rust
Nora says
I can totally see miniature pumpkins in shades of orange or muted greens… slight adaptation of the leaf shape might be necessary; but otherwise no changes should be needed. I think they would be just as adorable.
Shanna VonDielingen says
Genius! I’ve got a plethora of fabric that I can request the use of from my husband’s grandmother, whom we live with and help out, she loves having us around so the fabric won’t be an issue. The walnut shells might be an issue on our quite limited budget, but we already have steel wool so I may substitute that ….. I’m definitely eager to try this pattern.