Tomato Pincushion Tutorial

If you've dropped in by chance, then welcome to my first tutorial. Pull up a comfortable chair, grab a cup of tea...or coffee if you prefer...and follow along. If perhaps you're joining me because you have the same obsession with pincushions as I do, then welcome to my PA (Pincushions Anonymous) meeting. Tea and coffee are the beverages of the day.

At the outset, I would like to apologize for a few out-of-focus photos. I'm still learning about my camera and I think I just might have gotten a wee bit too close on some of them. Hopefully you'll still be able to follow along and if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask.

So without further ado, let's get started. What you'll need are scissors, fabric of your choosing, sewing needle and thread, florist's sand or polyester batting for stuffing, a 5" needle or any long needle, green cotton perle thread or 2 strands of green floss, green wool or felt and fabric glue.


First we'll need to cut a rectangle of fabric on the bias that's twice as long as it is wide. In this case, our rectangle will measure 10" long x 5" wide. To do this, line up the 45 degree line on your ruler against the bottom edge of your fabric. Measure 10" across the top then cut along the top or leading edge of your ruler with your rotary cutter.

Next, slide your ruler up 5" and cut along the leading edge once again.

Trim off either side so that your rectangle measures 10" long x 5" wide.


Fold your fabric in half, right sides together and join ends with a 1/4" seam.

Double your thread and sew a running stitch around the top edge.

Carefully pull pull on the thread to cinch the fabric then secure with stitches.


Turn your pouch right side out.

This is the sand I use which can be purchased at Michael's in the florist department. However, you can use crushed walnut shells (available in most pet stores and used as pet litter), uncooked rice or anything else that you think might work. The reason I like to use sand is that it acts like an emory board and sharpens your pins and needles as they are inserted and removed from the pincushion. (Doesn't that word make your heart beat just a little bit faster?)

Stuff the pouch with either the florist's sand or batting to about a 1/2" to 3/4" from the top edge.

Sew a running stitch around the the open end and pull the thread to cinch the fabric in the same way you did with the bottom.


Then tack with a few stitches to close...


and then knot. Grab the pincushion as you would a ball and tap it on the surface a few times to manipulate the sand to the shape you want it.


In order to mimic the shape of a tomato, double thread a long needle with either green perle cotton or floss and pull it through the "core" starting at the bottom and wrap it around the tomato a few times. Knot the thread at the top to secure.

For the tops, freehand a six-pointed 'star' on the dull side of a small piece of freezer paper. The 'star' does not have to be perfect. Cut it out and iron the shiny side to the wrong side of the wool or felt.


Cut along the outside edges. Save the freezer paper template to re-use if you wish to make more than one tomato pincushion.

Using a single thread of your perle cotton or floss, sew a loop through the center of the top, starting and ending on the underside.

Put a drop of fabric glue on the underside

and affix to the top of the tomato. And, voila! You're done! Just like that!

Use your imagination because the sky's the limit when it comes to functionality or decor. And just in case you forgot...

You can NEVER have too many pincushions!