Floating stitches make a strippy pincushion sparkle!

I enjoy this time of year in my quilting space; all the gifts have been made, and I have some time to tidy my sewing room before new programs start next year. In yesterday’s post I looked at the ways the PFAFF performance icon can help make quilting through the dark months of winter brighter. Today I’ll use some of my leftover scraps to make myself a new pincushion. The fabric requirements were listed in yesterday’s post too.

To start the pincushion, I fussy cut a 2½” x 1½” rectangle of fabric, then cut two 1½” squares. I decided I would join the strips with some of the floating stitches on the performance icon because these stitches are one of my favorite features. I used white thread for all the stitching so the stitches would contrast with my fabrics. For best results when using the floating stitches, it’s recommended to use a stabilizer; I use a thin strip of the INSPIRA Fast & Easy Tear- A-Way Light stabilizer.

The fun of the floating stitches begins after you’ve completed the stitching – you gently tug the seam open to reveal the stitches.

To continue the courthouse step construction, sew two 1½” x 3½” long strips to the top and bottom of this unit. I picked a different floating stitch for these seam lines.

To keep the pincushion growing in length, add an additional row of 1½” x 3½” strips to the top and bottom. These strips are of my darkest fabric and are joined with yet another floating stitch.

Ironing the pincushion top will help set the stitches and push the seams flat. Before sewing the front to the backing, I decided to add a few more stitches in the first pair of wide strips. I selected two different stitches from the Antique Hand Embroidery Stitches menu. Again, I put a thin strip of the INSPIRA Fast & Easy Tear- A-Way Light stabilizer under the strip to be stitched. Gently tear away the stabilizer before sewing the pincushion together.

Place the pincushion top and bottom with right sides together, and sew using a ¼” seam allowance and the ¼ Inch Quilting Foot for IDT System, all the way around the sides leaving a large opening on one of the short ends. Now you can either pour in some crushed walnut shells or stuff the pincushion with some leftover batting or another alternative filler. Once the pincushion is filled, fold in the seam allowance and carefully stitch the end closed by hand.

The strippy pincushion is a great addition to the PFAFF performance icon and fits snugly into the wide throat area. There’s still plenty of room to quilt and keep your pins handy! Best of all I made something for myself and shared a small tidy up project with you. Join me tomorrow for more quilting fun!

This is part 2 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 1: Making quilting bright with the PFAFF performance icon

Go to part 3: Performance icon: built-in tutorials keep you learning and safe at home!