Pages

Saturday 24 January 2015

How to make a Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion - Tutorial

Magnetic pin cushions are really handy for keeping your pins in one place, the only problem is... they're not made of fabric! Traditional pin cushions are very useful when you have to take a pin without looking (because you're busy working on your quilt...) and you don't want to hurt yourself!
So how about a Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion? On one side of the pin cushion a magnet keeps your pins in place, on the other side you can insert your pins when you need too.



Here is what you need to make a Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion:
  • A flat rectangular magnet (even a old one will do!)
  • 6 pieces of fabric, each one sized at least 1/2" longer and wider than the sides of the magnet. You can use scraps of fabric or a few 5" squares from a charm pack if you like.
  • Pincushion filling;
  • A glue gun
Seam allowances are always 1/4".



Before starting, check your magnet is strong enough to hold pins by placing a piece of fabric between the magnet and some pins. If you can turn the magnet upside down and the pins stay in place then your magnet is strong enough.


Start by cutting two pieces of fabric for the top and bottom of the pin cushion. Each piece must be 1/2" longer and wider than the magnet. 


Then cut four pieces of fabric to make the sides of the pin cushion. The length of each piece of fabric must be 1/2" longer than each side of the magnet. The width of each piece of fabric depends on how thick you want your pin cushion to be. For the pin cushion in the photos the sides are 2 1/2" high (including seam allowances). Sew the four sides together right sides together with a 1/4" seam allowance, making a ring (stopping a 1/4" from each corner).


Now sew the piece of fabric for the top to one side of the ring, stopping again a 1/4" from each corner. Iron the pieces you have sewn together.


Using a glue gun, put a line of glue just around the seam on the wrong side of the top piece of fabric and glue your magnet into place (magnet side towards the fabric). Leave to dry.


When the glue is dry, turn the pin cushion with the magnet underneath and sew the top piece of fabric and the fabric ring right sides together (always stopping 1/4" from each corner). Leave an opening on one of the long sides for turning the fabric right side out. The opening must be at least as long as the width of the magnet, especially if the magnet is too stiff to bend through the opening.


Turn right side out, using a chop stick (this is my favourite tool but you can use any other blunt pointed tool) to help you turn the points out. Stuff with pincushion filling and hand sew the opening closed. The magnet will make the base of the pin cushion flat and heavy enough, so you won't need to use crushed walnuts as a filling. 

And here it is, your finished Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion!


The fabric used for the Two-Sided Magnetic (Fabric) Pin Cushion is Sew Yummy by Monica Solario-Snow for Cloud9 Fabrics. I was so very lucky to win a set of 5 inch squares of this fun fabric from Quilt Taffy. Don't miss Quilt Taffy's blog because they have lovely posts and weekly giveaways of wonderful fabrics!

Sew Yummy!

P.S. Remember there is a magnet inside your pin cushion: iron only with a very low temperature so you don't melt the magnet and don't put the pin cushion near any devices that can be damaged by magnets!


We are joining this year's Finish-Along at Adrianne's On the Windy Side with our Two-Sided Magnetic Pin Cushion. Our original list for Q1 is here, so that's one ticked off!

2015 FAL at On the Windy Side

Follow on Bloglovin


Linky Party 2015

42 comments:

  1. I like it! Instead of gluing the magnet, I would probably sandwich it between two layers of fabric to hold it in place.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Clever idea and an easy to follow tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brilliant idea :) ! Thanks for the tutorial - I have a collection of magnets that come through the letterbox with a small local trade directory twice a year (you're supposed to stick it to the fridge). Now I know what I'll do with them!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a clever idea, and a great tutorial too, thanks. Pinning!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's a very clever pin cushion! The fabric is adorable! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a cute and functional idea! Sometimes, when sewing along, I hate to take time to get the pin jabbed in the fabric... the magnet side would grab it easily!
    Thanks for the tutorial!!
    Susie

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a wonderful tutorial and a clever idea! That'll make a gorgeous gift for my sewing friends :-))))

    ReplyDelete
  8. cool idea, love the tutorial

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is a great idea! I can't wait to try it. Your instructions are so clear, I'm sure it won't be difficult. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great idea!
    Thanks for sharing with us.
    Ciao
    Norma

    ReplyDelete
  11. Clever and cute, thanks for the tute!

    ReplyDelete
  12. what a cool idea! well done and thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an awesome idea and great tutorial! Hmmm, chopsticks. . . that is a GREAT tip! Thanks for sharing that :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, I love this!!!!
    Thanks for the tutorial, you make it seem so simple!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. what a handy tutorial, thanks for sharing. The fabric combo is perfect!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such a good idea! Thank you for sharing! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love it! I have added magnets to my pin cushions before, but your's looks much better, love the fabric you used.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great DIY! Your post is one of the shout out features! Thanks for sharing at the party! Theresa @DearCreatives

    ReplyDelete
  19. Such a great idea. thanks for linking to the Do Tell Tuesday party! I'm glad I came.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm not a quilter but I think your pincushion is really cute!

    ReplyDelete
  21. So so cute and clever, I love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bellissima idea! I love it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. So cute and useful! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Such a clever idea and it turned out really cute!

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is such a handy tool! I love that it is two-sided so you can also use it as a normal pincushion. Thanks for making this tutorial!
    I featured your post on my blog, click here to see it.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Really cool ideas you have there! Definitely have to make any one of those.

    magnetic pins

    ReplyDelete
  27. I bought some business card magnets, but found they were not strong enough to pick up pins. I added one ceramic magnet and that helped. I thought it would be a good idea (for the pins) to use steel wool to stuff it. To keep the steel wool from coming through the fabric, I interfaced the fabric. That did not prevent the steel wool from coming through the fabric. I love the idea and thinking about what else to use for stuffing . . . I guess polyfil would be next. Thanks for the idea. I cut the short side pieces 2.5inches square. Next time I would make it a little taller. Sewing the last piece on was a bit "fiddly."

    ReplyDelete
  28. Just found this ion the aurifil blog...so clever. I do a tips and tutorial linky party for the end of the month ... love to have you link up. Meanwhile, I am bookmarking this for me!

    ReplyDelete
  29. We tikauo deal with thousands of exports with great service giving excellent offer prices. Buy Home Textiles Online UK and be a part of us for your upcoming shopping with hassle-free products. Our handcrafted textiles will be so attractive and tailored with great conceptual fantasies.

    ReplyDelete