As usual, I have a bunch of things going on in my stitchy universe these days.
As I started to fill this week's pin cushion with wool batting scraps, I wondered just how much batting actually disappears into one pin cushion.
I can't say I've been keeping track.
I just stuff until the pin cushion feels puffy enough.
Just for fun, I pulled out my basket of strippy batting scraps and heaped them next to the wimpy pin cushion that was ready for foof (or is that spelled phoof, or maybe phooph).
All this batting went into that one little pin cushion!
Until recently, I had a large basket full of strippy batting scraps.
You know - those bits of leftover strips trimmed from the edge of the quilt after it's quilted?
If you haven't finished a quilt in a while, your batting scrap stash may be suffering. I've only finished a couple quilts recently, so I haven't really been adding to the basket much lately.
But . . . Look what has happened!
My basket is almost empty! There are still several pin-cushions-worth of scraps left for a few more pin cushions. But at the beginning of the Pin Cushion project, this basket was stuffed (pun intended!)
That makes me happy. I LOVE to use up scraps of any kind! Another added benefit from these puffies. Scroll down to the end of this message for the beginning of the story. . .
In other stitchy news, every year, I add a hand made ornament to my holiday greeting cards. In the past, I have struggled with the concept and ended up in a scramble starting right about this time of year.
For the last couple years, it has worked out nicely for me to come up with an idea early in the year and pace myself, making one ornament each week through the year.
The photo on the right is a sneaky peek of this year's ornament. The bulk of the stitching is done for almost 40 ornaments, but there are a few finishing steps to complete before I feel ready to reveal the design. As you can see, it involves stitching on plastic canvas.
And if that isn't enough stuff to report on from my world, evenings with binge TV streaming just wouldn't be complete without some stitchy goodness in my hands.
My Mickey needle minder ( a former lapel pin) is keeping my place for my next session on this project. I was initially little concerned about the thread and fabric color combination on this one, but it's growing on me.
Puffy Pin Cushion #30
This week's finish. Little bit of blue, little bit of green, little bit of gray, and little itty-bitty chain stitches to make up the flower petal stitched embellishments. For the stitching, I used 12-wt hand-dyed perle cotton from Art Fabrik (one of my favorite brands!)
10 to go! . . . TEN!!
You can make your own four-patch pin cushions. For the step-by-step tutorial, jump over to the blog and scroll down to the first Puffy Fours post from March 5. That's when I started, about the same time the world was shutting down. And that'll bring you to the beginning of the four-part tutorial.
Happy Stitching!
Joan Ford
Head Hummingbird
I have quite a bit of cotton batting strips. I am saving them for future quilt as you go projects.
Your newsletter is so much fun to read. Thank you!
Thanks for following along! Good idea for your batting scraps!