Weekend Warrior Wednesday: Flower Pincushion Cuff

Flower Pincushion Cuff
By Andrea Goddard, Quiltique

Supplies

• Fabric for Cuff Band
  • Two 3-1/2” X Wrist Length*

*Wrist Length is calculated by measuring the circumference of your wrist and adding 1-1/2”.  If you are unaware of the wrist size for someone, 9-1/2” is a general measurement to use.

• Pellon Shape Flex
  • Two pieces cut the same size as the cuffs
  • Two 5X5 Squares for flowers
  • Two 5X5 Squares for circle center
  • Two inches of 5/8” Wide Velcro
  • 55007 Accuquilt GO! Round Flower die
  • 55012 Accuquilt GO! Circles 2”, 3” and 5”
  • Buttons for embellishment
  • Coordinating Size 8 Perle Cotton
  • Polyester Fiberfill
  • Chenille Hand Sewing Needle

Preparation

Cut out your flowers and circles from the Accuquilt GO! Cutter.  

The flowers will be cut using the 55007 Round Flower on the die.  You can run both through at once, placing the squares over the flower section only.  Follow the Accuquilt GO! directions to cut two flowers.

The circles will be cut using the 3” circle on the 55012 Circle die.  This is the center circle.  Follow the Accuquilt GO! directions to cut two circles.

Iron the Pellon Shape Flex to the wrong side of each cuff band.  Make sure to use a pressing cloth to avoid a sticky iron.  The rough side of the Shape Flex should touch the wrong side of the fabric.

Using a heavy spray starch, starch both of your flower pieces.  This will prevent fraying while assembling your cuff.

Assembly

All seams are ¼ inch unless otherwise specified.

Place the cuff bands, with Shape Flex ironed on, right sides together.  Sew around all four sides leaving a three-inch opening on one of the long edges.

Trim the corners, making sure not trim into the seam.  Turn right side out through the opening in the side.  Press flat, making sure all four corners are pushed out. 

Topstitch 1/8” around all four sides.  The opening will be closed in the topstitching.

Attach hook side of Velcro to the top right of the cuff aligning the right side of the Velcro with the topstitching. Topstitch the Velcro in place making sure to catch all four sides.

Attach loop side of Velcro to the bottom left of the cuff aligning the left side of the Velcro with the topstitching.  Topstitch in place.

Assemble the center by taking the two 3” circles and sewing around the circle with right sides together.  Leave two inches open for turning.  Sew slowly to make sure you are sewing in a circular motion! .  

Turn center right sides out and stuff full with Polyester fiberfill.  Hand stitch the opening closed.  Mark the center of the circle on both top and bottom with a fabric marking pencil.

With a length of Perle Cotton about 20 inches long thread on a Chenille needle.  Tie one knot at the end of the thread.  Pull the needle from the bottom all the way through the top center mark.  The knot should be square in the bottom center. 

We are going to divide the circle into 8 pieces.  Think of it as cutting it up like a pizza with our Perle Cotton.  Wrap the thread back around to the bottom center and up through the top center to create one piece of the division. 

Pull the thread nice and tight so it indents into the stuffed circle.  You will want to create your horizontal and vertical pieces first to create nice straight lines.  You will always go up from the bottom center through the top center.  Once the horizontal and vertical lines are created, finish with the two 45 degree lines. 

You should end with the thread in the center of the bottom of the circle.  Go back through the center one last time and attach a decorative button to the top.  Bring the thread through the button and down the center to the back.  Tie a knot at the base of the center on the back and trim the thread.  Set the center aside for now.  

Stack your two flowers so that the petals of the top layer are in-between the petals of the bottom layer.  Tack down to the center of the cuff with a few small stitches, making sure not to go through the bottom layer of the cuff band.  

Using the Perle cotton attach the center circle to the center of the flowers.  You will need to fold down the cuff and sew a small circle going around the inside center of the cushion.  Make sure you catch the side of the pincushion and both flowers as you stitch. Tie off, once completely sewn in place. 

Add some buttons to the bottom of the cuff to make it look like it is buttoned on. This is a great chance to use some unique buttons!  I used two large buttons for mine, but three smaller buttons also works well. 

You are done!  Wear it on your wrist whilst sewing to keep you pins right at hand; or jazz it up with some cute decorative pins as a gift for all of your sewing friends.  

Fabrics used in sample are Cherry Fiz by Quilt Soup for Henry Glass Fabrics and Sew Stitch by Aneela Hoey for Moda Fabrics.