A Pin Cushion that Protects Your Pins - Tutorial

Most of us grew up with the standard of pin cushions - the tomato! I have an entire collection of pin cushions of all shapes and sizes, but when I think "pin cushion", this is the image that comes to mind. The problem with any pin cushion is that it is not practical for carrying to class. The pins crush down into the cushion or get caught on things. You might even find one in your finger if you reach into your tote to pull something out!

I was in my local grocery store last week and saw this little tomato keeper. I immediately thought PIN CUSHION! It is made to keep a tomato in and has a screw off top. (If your grocery store doesn't have one, you can find one HERE. (I paid around $4 for mine.) It also comes as an onion, a lemon, or a lime!
In about 5 to 15 minutes, you can have a pin cushion that will protect pins, needles, and even thread. 

1. Put a 4" styrofoam ball into the bottom of the tomato holder.  Cut it off level with the bottom. Bevel the edges so your screw on top will still operate. (Test it.) You may want to do this outside as styrofoam is really messy.

2. Put glue in the bottom of the holder and push the styrofoam into it. 

3. If you want a thread holder in the center, snap off a plastic stir stick or a skewer to about 3" long (test it by trying to put the cover on) and pushing it into the center. Remove it. (You needed the hole to make finding the center easier later.) Cover the top of the styrofoam with a circle of batting if you want to make it smoother.

4. Cut a circle of felt a little larger than the styrofoam. Tuck it in all around using a butter knife.

 5. This step is optional, but gives a nice finish. I trimmed the seam allowance on some enclosed cording trim. I ran a line of glue around the edge, deep down under the screw ridges, and pushed the cording down between the holder and the felt. A contrasting color, like green, might show up better, but it makes the felt snug and looks nice. Test to be sure your lid will close.

6. Find the center and punch through the felt with the tip of some small scissors. 

7. Cut a little piece of green felt like the top of the tomato and make a snip in the center of it. Put the stirrer through the snip. Put glue in the hole and push the stirrer into the hole. Put a little glue under the green to hold it in place. Let the glue dry, but before that, be sure your lid will screw closed. 

 Put your pins in and screw on the lid. That's all there is to it! Now it is safe to carry around in your tote bag. It will hold a LOT of pins, too!
                           Wouldn't this be a fun little gift?

(Note: I use small spools of silk thread for my applique and they fit perfectly on the little thread holder. Large spools will not fit.)

Of course, it has not escaped my attention that you could just plop your old tomato pin cushion in the tomato keeper to put it in your tote, but what fun is that? This is much nicer I think!