It all started with a pin cushion swap. I joined a Facebook group ( love those, right?) and we all agreed to make a pin cushion and swap it with someone else in the group. I hadn’t really thought about pin cushions before. I had never made one, and had been using the same cheap and nasty ‘tomato’ pin cushion I had received years before.

So I got to work researching and looking for ideas. Naturally, that meant my first stop was Pinterest! You can see my inspiration here. (I only started on Pinterest recently and boy, is it addictive? But more on that later!)

I created a simple fabric pillow pin cushion first. And I added some hand made felt flowers, some ric rac and a bit of sparkle.

It turned out so cute, that I made a few more. I love the blue and pink in this one!

I really have a thing for felt though, so I whipped up this sweet little cupcake using a May Blossom pattern. She was fun to create!

I created a very simple little felt bunny as part of a photo shoot we did at Easter. The project (and the photo shoot) featured in the Celebrations Issue of Tickle the Imagination magazine.

You can find the template and how to make the bunny HERE (as well as lots of other great tutorials from some very talented crafty ladies!).

I realised after all of this, that I really LOVED creating these mini little treasures, and I wanted a design that reflected Molly and Mama. I grabbed the sketch book and came up with a sweet smiling face. She was easy to translate into felt!

Then lots of others showed interest in Miss Molly (as she was affectionately named). So I started the process of writing my very first pattern. Now, I’m by no means an expert when it comes to sewing, but I wanted to write a pattern that a beginner could not only understand, but could create easily as well. I really hope I achieved this!

Miss Molly has been such a popular seller and she really is so simple to sew. If you’re not confident with blanket stitch then an overcast stitch will work just as well. Miss Molly is available as an instant download in my Etsy store, and also via my shop.

 

More recently, I needed a new project for a pin cushion showcase and I came up with Miss Betty!

I didn’t have a pattern to piece her together, but I did have an applique template and I knew it would work. So I ‘hacked’ my own applique pattern (which you can buy here) and pieced her together. I was so pleased with how she turned out, that I’m working on a pattern just for her.

I also created this pretty little piece with a lucky felt four-leaf clover. You can follow the tutorial to create your own HERE.

My lovely local Quilting Store (the Quilter’s Angel) is stocking print versions of the Miss Molly pin cushion and they’re wanting more patterns too. So I better get my skates on and start writing! Any ideas?

Happy sewing, Lauren x