Super Cute and Easy Pincushion

 This cute little pincushion works up quick, using materials you probably have around the house, and is cute and useful as well. These make a perfect little gift for anyone who sews, or just to keep for yourself :)

What you'll need:

- Some sort of ruler or tape measure

- Scissors

- Pencil or pen

- Paper towel tube and a small piece of thin flat cardboard (like from a cereal box)

- Needle and thread

- One or two small pieces of fabric (pictured is a scrap of cotton print and salvaged old hand towel)

- Small handful of stuffing (you could also use shredded fabric or yarn)

- Washers to use as weights (these are optional, but make the pincushion a little more stable)

Step 1: Prepping the cardboard

Cut the paper towel tube to the height you want your pincushion to be. I used 1 1/2"

Use the paper towel tube to trace two circles onto the flat cardboard

Trace the outside of the tube for one circle, and the inside of the tube for the other. Cut out both circles.

Step 2: Covering the tube

Choose what part of the fabric you want to use and lay the tube on it. Make a mark on both the tube and the fabric.

Carefully roll the tube along the fabric one full turn. Use the mark in the tube to make a second mark on the fabric.

Measure and mark the fabric 1/2" longer than the two marks you just made and 1/2" wider than the length of your tube (so for a 1 1/2" tube the fabric will be 2" wide.) Cut out this rectangle and sew the short ends together with 1/4" seam allowance.

Slide the fabric around your tube. With a long piece of thread, take the needle up through the top edge of the fabric from the inside.

Then take the needle down through the bottom edge. Continue alternating between the edges in a zig-zag, working your way around the tube.

Once you've laced all around, the fabric should be held snugly to the tube and the two edges folded in.

Step 3: Making the cushion top

Lay your cardboard circles on the second fabric. Trace a circle 1/4" bigger than the bigger circle, and one 1/2" bigger than the smaller circle.

Cut out both fabric circles.

Sew a running stitch around the edge of the larger fabric circle.

Pull the thread to cinch up the circle a little. Stuff in the stuffing and place the smaller cardboard circle on top.

Cinch the thread until the edges of the cardboard are covered. Stich a few times across the cardboard circle to hold it all snugly in place.

Set the cardboard circle just inside the top edge of your tube. Sew around the top edge of the tube, securing the cushion in place.

Step 4: Making the bottom

Similarly to the tube, lace the remaining fabric circle around the bigger cardboard circle so all the edges fold over.

If you want to add a little weight to the bottom of your pincushion for stability, slide a couple metal washers under the lacing stitches.

Set the covered circle onto the bottom end of the tube and sew around just like for the cushion top. Make sure all the fabric edges get tucked in.

Step 5: That's it, stick a pin in it and enjoy!