DIY – brogues inspired pincushion

Today I present to you, a brand new DIY which has been on my to-do list for like ages! I am not sure why but I tent to manage to lose my needles over and over again. Resulting eventually in that I almost sit or step on it (Ouch!). Time to treat me, and everyone who likes one as well, with a handmade, made with love, awesome brogues inspired pincushion. Let’s start!

Ps. why does it say ‘brogues inspired’? For everyone who doesn’t know what brogues are, you should definitely watch some of the Kingsman movies, love them! Or you could just google “brogues pattern” and check out much more inspirational patterns for your own pincushion.

What do you need:

• 2 pieces of wool felt (mine are 7×7 cm)
• 1 piece of leather (mine is 7×7 cm)
• Cushion filling
• 2 leather needles (blunt ones)
• Thread
• Hole punches (different sizes)
• Punching board (I use an acrylic cutting board)
• Wing divider
• Graph paper

Step 1: Design your pattern

The first step is to decide what pattern you would like on your pincushion. I love the basic pattern, of one large hole with two little ones vertically beside it, repeating over and over again. So that was the one I used on my borders. Next, I had to think both practically as stylish. You can’t just put all your needles through the leather as a fabric pincushion. Therefore I had to make enough holes but don’t make it look less fancy than the brogues! Once you’ve decided on your pattern, try to make it on ‘real size scale’ on your graph paper. This will make the transfer to the leather easier.

Step 2: Transfer your pattern

Since you’ve made a ‘real size’ pattern on your graph paper, you can easily just lay it on your piece of leather and carefully trace it or punch it even a little with your awl, (or a pen, pencil etc.). I’ve also already made a little line 0.5 cm from the sides, my stitching margin.

Step 3: Punching the pattern

The next step is to actually punch the pattern, from here on, there is no way back! But this is also the fun part!! Make sure your pattern is symmetric if it has to be, check it one more time… You know, I did warn you ;). Punch by punch the brogues pattern on your pincushion is getting more and more awesome. Don’t you think?

Step 4: Sewing 3 sides

Once your piece of leather is punched with the most fabulous brogues pattern it is time to make it into a pincushion. I choose for a classic combination of wool felt and leather (just as my leather laptop file folder case, another amazing DIY!!). You will see the lovely grey wool felt behind the brogues pattern, which gives an extra special effect to your pincushion. Before we fill it, you will have to sew 3 sides of the pincushion together. Just, place all three layers (leather, wool felt, wool felt) on to each other and sew it like you are used to. Eventually, it should look something like the image below.

Step 5: filling the pincushion

On to the next step, filling the pincushion. I’ve used some fluffy filling I had laying around from other projects (like the little valentine key-chain from last year). It’s a small cushion so you don’t need a lot of it. The more you use, the rounder the cushion will get. How much you use, it totally up to you 🙂 …

Step 6: Sewing the final side

Finally, we’ve reached the last step! This one is easy because all that’s left is to sew the fourth side. Since it will be much bulkier, I used some regular pins to keep it together until I’ve reached that part. And well, that’s it! Love it already, and I definitely will be having it by my side all the times!

I like to use more than just two needles just as you could see in the post on ‘gussets’ so I am glad I made me a pincushion. How did yours turn out?! If you’ve got any questions or if something isn’t clear, don’t hesitate to contact me!