Make-Do Pincushions

By Denise Davis

A tutorial on creating your own make-dos, which are typically put together using an assortment of
vintage castaway objects, married together into an interesting new object, making them useful once
again. Make-dos are perfect for needful primitives and folkart works of whimsy. Creating make-dos
from items that would otherwise end up at the dump, is one small thing artists can do for the planet!

Suggested objects for bases- these are some of the things I have used, but please have fun
with this and let your imagination be your guide!

Old candlestick holders, wooden salt shakers, pepper mills, potato mashers,
funnels, doorknobs, millspools, wooden thread spools, chippy old architectural
pieces. Also teacups, pottery, broken stemware, vases, clock cases, oil lamp
bases, old shoes.

Suggested materials for pinpoking- what better fun than to scour the thrifts, flea markets,
and rummage sales for unique textiles. Before doing all that stitching, be sure pins and
such will go through easily without snagging the fabric.

Fabrics of all sorts from the scrap bag, calicos, old woolens, quilt squares, cutter coverlets and linens.

Suggested materials for embellishment include but are not limited to-

Embroidery floss, crochet thread or button thread, old buttons, skeleton keys, hangtags (see my
tutorial), funky hatpins, rusty safety pins or bells, antique trade cards or needlebooks, old thread, tiny
scissors.

Suggested needful things-

Tacky glue, strong sharp needles, stuffing. I prefer wool stuffing, but also use polyfil and even
sawdust. If using wool materials, I always add some cedar shavings or dried wormwood to repel the
moths.

Once you’ve made a couple of these, you will be addicted. There are numerous patterns across the internet to
start you on your way, or you can try your hand at your own designs.

Make-dos can be crafted in any number of ways and I’ll give you a few examples to get
your creative juices flowing…

My favorite shape is the heart, which you can either draw freehand, or
cut from a fold of newspaper if you’d like a symmetric shape, with both
sides identical. You want the bottom of the heart open for the base to
fit into, similar to the drawing. Cut two pieces from a fold of fabric.

Figure out what you’d like for a base. The base should fit well with
both the size of the piece, and with the materials used. Make sure it’ll fit inside the
opening before starting.
Stitch your heart pieces together, with right sides of fabric inward, leaving the bottom open. Trim the seams
and turn the heart right side out. Stuff firmly to the bottom edge. As you stuff, push stuffing to the outer edges
and keep the inside less firm, and a bit hollow near the bottom. Hollow the bottom out enough to insert the
base. Test for fit. Remove the base.

Although I don’t believe in using glue for holding my crafts together, I find a nice dab of tacky glue really helps
to create a strong makedo.

Pour a small amount of tacky glue deep down into the center of the piece, and insert the
base again. With the piece upside down, either stitch around the opening edge, pulling
to gather shut around the base, with raw edges tucked inside, or wrap around the raw
edge several times with crochet thread or strong cord.

Place upright and let it dry before handling. Once dry, you may embellish with
embroidery or trinkets and treasures of your liking. To create an instant heirloom, be
sure to sign and date your work. (note… if using broken stemware, it’s best to wrap the broken edge with duct
tape to prevent injury). This makes a sweet gift, sure to be treasured always by the recipient.

Another type of pincushion I enjoy making is a ball shape, created by using a circle of fabric, perhaps about
14”. You can do two things with this, either mount it on a base, or insert it into a teacup or old shoe. I will
instruct on both ways.

On a base- Cut your circle, and stitch around the outer edge with a doubled strand of
buttonhole thread. Pull thread to gather the circle partway shut and insert a large ball of
stuffing inside.

Pull to gather shut a bit more, and stuff as firmly as possible. Adjust stuffing as you did
with the heart, and insert the base inside to test for fit. Remove the base and pour a bit of
tacky glue inside before reinserting. Gather the rest of the way shut, and take a few stitches
to hold in place. Let dry before handling. Embellish in the same manner as the
heart.

Inserted inside an object- finish the circle in the same manner as above, but gather
the opening shut once you’ve firmly stuffed it. Test for fit inside the object you’re
using, and then remove it. Pour a bit of tacky glue around the inside edge before
reinserting. Let dry before handling, and then embellish.

Other favorite shapes for make-dos are birds, strawberries, and stars.

My wish is that this has sparked your imagination to dream and to create some treasured pieces of your own!
Happy stitches!

Denise Davis

www.sassafrashill.com

all rights reserved