This free, easy craft tutorial will show you two ways to make a pincushion from a vintage teacup and fabric scraps.

The first way shows you how to make a pincushion that you can take in and out of your teacup, the second shows a super fast method that uses glue to hold the pincushion in the cup.

Both methods require basic sewing skills, the first is more fiddly but both are suitable for children to have a go at with a little bit of supervision; even non-sewing dad won’t be too taxed helping a child make this as a Mother’s Day gift for a crafty mum.

To make the pincushions you will need:

• A vintage teacup, china dish or even an egg cup.
• Scraps of material and lining material, about 25 cm x 25 cm would be enough
• Paper, pen & craft scissors to make the pattern.
• Scissors, pins, needle and thread.
• Embelishments, ribbon scraps, embroidery threads (optional)
• Stuffing – you can buy packs from my craft supplies page here
• Hot glue gun (for the second version only)

Version 1

Draw a template for your pincushion, I drew around the saucer that came with the cup and cut out using craft scissors.

Pin this onto the main fabric and cut out a circle of the fabric using sewing scissors.

Now is the time to embellish your fabric. I used a scrap of ribbon I had and pinned and then sewed it to the main fabric.  I used my sewing machine to stitch the ribbon on  but a simple running stitch by hand will do just as well.

Next I altered the pattern for the lining.  Cut to the centre of the circle of paper and fold back 1/8th of the circle.  An easy way to work this out is to fold the circle in half, then quarters then 1/8ths and use the fold lines as a cutting and folding guide.

Pin to the lining fabric and cut out.

Place the lining fabric in your cup and adjust until you have a cone that sits neatly in the cup.

Pin to secure the shape.

Using a loose running stitch sew around the edge of the main fabric.

Place the fabric over the top of the cup and draw the thread tight, this will gather the fabric around your teacup.  Tie off the lose ends and slip the fabric off the cup.

Place the top fabric into the lining cone, make sure that the right side (the side that will show) is turned to the inside of the cone.

Pin the top to the lining and sew the two layers together.  I used my sewing machine but a neat hand sewn running stitch will do just as well.

Using the open edge of the lining turn the pincushion right sides out.

Stuff the pincushion nice and firmly and pin the opening shut.

Handsew the opening in the lining shut.  Don’t worry if it isn’t very neat, it won’t show anyway!

Pop the finished pincushion into the teacup and add pins!

Version 2

Prepare a pattern in the same way as version 1, it will need to be quite a bit bigger than a saucer, a side plate should be big enough.

Cut out and embellish your fabric.  For this one I pieced some scraps together to make a patchwork effect.  I embroidered a heart and the word “mum” by hand.

Sew a loose running stitch around the edge of the fabric.  I used embroidery thread as I wanted a strong thread that would hold.

Place a ball of stuffing in the centre of the fabric circle and pull the thread to gather the fabric around the stuffing, add more stuffing if needed.

Tie off the thread.

Place the finished pincushion in the cup using a hot glue gun to secure it to the cup if you wish.

I’d love to see your finished pincushions or other Mother’s Day gift crafts, please leave a comment with a link to share.