Pincushion Appeal: Patterns for Pincushions to Make You Smile
If the cold weather has you staying inside and you are looking for a quick project, I thought these cute pincushions would be perfect. Designed by Cecile McPeak and Rachel Martin, mother-and-daughter team behind Just Another Button Company, the collection features eight whimsical pincushion designs. You will find a cactus, Santa, a snowman adorned with a bird on its head, a whale, and my favorite, a bird. The designs utilize buttons, felted work, embroidery floss, yarn and other craft materials. I know you will have a hard time picking which to start with first. --Morna McEver Golletz, ICAP Newsletter, January 2014We are a spoiled generation of stitchers. Way back when, like say until the Industrial Revolution, simple straight sewing pins were a treasured luxury. Handmade and hard to find, pins were carefully bought and hoarded as prized possessions. (Hence the term "pin; money" referring to women who socked away their pences and pennies to buy pins. Think of it as early stash!) And what better way to protect your precious pins than a beautiful, handmade pincushion? Well, we still love 'em, even though we completely take pins for granted in this age of mass production. Mother and daughter duo Cecile and Rachel bring us eight darling pincushion projects, each made from felted wool. These projects are cute, sweet and clever, and even if a pin never pierces the wool, you'll still adore looking at your efforts! We especially likeMr. and Mrs. Spoolkeepand wish, just for a moment, that we were single and looking forward to a wedding where we could use them as our cake topper! (Hmmm, maybe another one of our assorted daughters will tie the knot soon ....) --Generation Q Magazine, March/April 2014Now for something completely different. If you're not a collector of pincushions you will have to indulge me with this book review. This book has some adorable designs for you to create your own pincushions. The authors use felted wool and other embellishments to produce eight whimsical creations. These pincushions would make a perfect gift for a quilting friend who collects pincushions (I know I am not the only one!). I have some wool fabric by my washing machine waiting to be felted and this may be just the purpose I need to motivate me to get it felted. You can, of course, purchase felted wool for these projects. The authors have included sources for their supplies. --The Canadian Quilter, Spring 2014