Handmade Christmas Challenge ~ Ribbon Flower Pincushions

For as long as I can remember I have been making Christmas gifts to share with family and friends each year.  I love to give and receive items that have been created by hand. 

This year SewCal Gal has been hosting a Handmade Challenge, and this month of December is the Christmas Challenge.  Following are photos of the item I have been working on this year for Christmas gifts.  Ribbon Embroidered Pincushions.

Originally I was following a blog that was hosting an embroidered flowered pincushion tutorials,  unfortunately the project entire instructions will not be available in time for completion this Christmas.  I still wanted to give handmade pincushions as gifts, so using the ribbon embroidery flowers Kathy Shaw had taught me this fall, I was able to alter my plans and have created these ribbon embroidered pincushions.   There are 10 in all.

I cut out the foundation fabric circles of a light blue linen, and then embroidered flowers using different types of ribbon.  Later I stitched the greenery in stranded cotton and more ribbon .  I then embellished with some beadwork.

I used the sewing machine to attach the bottom of the pincushion to the embroidered tops.  I used a suede fabric that will help the pincushion stay in place while using it.  Once turned right side out, I filled with polyester batting and closed up all but a teeny hole, and couched a matching trim all along the seam.   The trim ends are tucked inside the cushion in the teeny hole to hide the ends.  For some of the pincushions I embroidered a whipped running stitch of perle cotton around the edge and  wove multiple strands of perle cotton through the stitches to create an edge trim that would match the flowers.  

Once completed I used crochet cotton to divide the pincushion into sections, 4, 5 or 6 sections to each pincushion.

   Hard to choose a favorite.... I think the all teal ribbon flowered one will be the one I keep for me :)

Hope you are enjoying the Christmas Holiday Season and you are finding lots of inspiration!

Finished the centers with a flat button on the bottom and a shank button on the top.   four of them have a special gold vintage with rhinestones in them, well, those buttons were saved from an outfit I made when I was a young teenager:)   Three of those cushions will go to my children for Christmas, and one, the teal with all the needles in it, that one is for me  :)

Merry Christmas
Godspeed,
mary