The Twisted Stitcher Tutorials: Mattress Pincushion/Pinkeep

Tutorial for Mattress Pincushion / Pinkeep

Items List:
1. Finished Stitched Piece
2. Fusible Interfacing (I used Pellon brand)
3. Iron
4. Scissors
5. Thread to match your linen/aida
6. Needle
7. Fiber Fill Stuffing (I used Polyfill brand)
8. Fray Stop Glue (I used Aleene's brand)
9. Complimentary Pearl/Glass Headed Pins

STEP ONE:
Make sure that you backstitch around your stitched pieces (TOP/BOTTOM/SIDES) this is where you will stitch the pincushion together to assemble it. Take some real time to count and re-count to make sure everything will match this is what mine looked like:

I backstitched 6 threads ( or 3 "blocks" if we're talking over 2 threads) from the design.

I also stitched side panels for the mattress pincushion; since my linen wasn't long enough for a single strip...I made two strips. I had to count and recount to make sure that my "strips" were long enough.

For instance my top and bottom designs were 46 x 53 stitches...therefore my strips were:

3 (over two (6 threads) away from design) + 46 (width of design top/bottom) 6 (over two (12 threads) between two side panel designs) + 53 (heigth of design top/bottom) + 3 (over two 6 threads) away from design) THIS EQUALS: = 111 in length (over 2 threads)

I then did the width as 12 (over 2 threads) for sides of mattress.

So FINALLY my "Strips" were 111 stitches long and 12 wide

After you get your backstitching done then you are ready to prepare your fabric for cutting.

STEP TWO:
Iron on the fusible interfacing:

STEP THREE:
Cut out the pieces...I would suggest cutting them at least 6 threads from the backstitched part.
Then use your finger and squirt a drop of FRAY CHECK or STOP FRAY glue and run along all sides of the pieces...let dry. (This will allow the linen not to fray and "lose" your backstitching when sewing the pieces together.) The glue part may be skipped, however I HIGHLY recommend it!