Fabric and Pins

Nine metres of new fabric :: mine all mine.
Bought from The Little Fabric Shop.
First time I have ever purchased fabric on-line.
First time I have ever had the absolute heart-skipping pleasure of having fabric arrive through the letter box in blue plastic parcels.

I deliberated long and hard about spending money on nine yards of fabric without a purpose for it.
I wanted to buy it just because it was so pretty, because it squeezed my heart like Greengate products do.
In my defence, it was in The Sale, and if you hurry, the sale is still on and there are some fabrics left at the bargain price of £3.99 per metre.
And in the grand scheme of things, Three-ninety-nine is not a great deal to pay for one metre of printed cotton deliciousness.
But multiply that by nine and yes, I did feel a bit guilty spending that sort of money on fabric.
Didn't last long though, I never generally give in to Guilt for more than a day or so.

I find this fabric so damn pretty and charming, it captivates me.
It's been lying around in the Attic for a month or so now and I have done nothing more than gaze at it, arrange it, stack it, fold it, re-arrange it some more and photograph it.
I've been using Flickr to search for some likely projects for this fabric of mine.
I do love Flickr, it is so completely brimful of inspiration.
So I've been pondering some ideas :: maybe a patchwork cushion or two, perhaps something like this? Or maybe this?

Remember the other day I was talking about the Chain-of-Influence?
Well this is how the most recent chain went ::

Yarnstorm :: Anna Maria Horner :: Flickr :: Red Rapunzel :: Wild Flower Pincushion

So this is what I've been up to this morning, I've been stitching myself a Wild Flower Pincushion. And  I'm pleased to report that unlike the Twig Project AKA the Bird Mobile, this attempt at sewing from a pattern was free of hissy fits and blue language. Thank heavens.

I am pleased with it, and I love the patchworky effect with the different fabrics combined.

 

And its a whoppa this wild flower pincushion. Look at it next to my miniature patchwork pin cushion of old and you get the scale of it. I made that little hexagon pincushion of old :: paper-pieced and hand stitched it when I was about 13 years old, .

 

Oh I do love these fabrics, did I mention that? They make me sigh with pleasure.

I still think I want to try a log-cabiney type patchwork cushion with them though.
Any other suggestions for pretty florally, stitchy fabric projects? That don't involve twigs?

 

Comments

[Lucy @ Attic24]

Hi Rose...
I found the original pattern via Anna Maria Horners blog, the links are still in her sidebar and working as far as I can see....
try this...
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/wild-flower-pincushion/

hope this helps, the stitching-up diagrams are there.
Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To: [email protected]

[Rose Holman]

HI, I downloaded the free PDF to make this pincushion ages ago and now I cannot find the instructions for sewing it together ANYWHERE on the web, it seems to have disappeared from the better homes and gardens website. So I am left with the PDF of the pattern but no way of knowing how to sew it all together, don't suppose you have the instructions and they are simple enough to write down? Please please please with a cherry on top? I am a big fab of your blog!!!!

[noga]

!

ely fabric...and the pincushion are wonderful too. I am a sucker for pretty fabric and will buy it for no reason...then have to use it to ease my guilt!

[cathleen]

If you would open a little Etsy dream shop of your own and sell these cute little wild flower pincushions...I may have to buy one from you, Lucy.

[Lace hearts]

Not only did you get me making birds last week, to the expense of the housework, you've now had me ordering that lush fabric. I think I'd better stop popping into your blog! lol. x

[Sarah S.]

Oh what a lovely pin cushion!

[Cele]

Oh Lucy your pin cushion is so beautiful. I love the rose in the centre and the fabric combo is stunning. I've been away for a few days and have just checked your blog this morning. I love the tiny patchwork one too. How clever you were at 13.
Your new fabrics are gorgeous. Thanks for the shop link. Can't wait to see what else you do with them.

[kitschen pink]

Oooh! Smily happy fabrics. Temptress! I'm off to take a look at the sale! t.xx

[Yvonne]

Love the pin cushion!
I'd use the fabrics to make a simple quilt/throw. I've just made one mixed with plain fabric, fleece backed and buttons on the corners of each square iykwim. I have a photo on my blog.
Yvonne

[do you mind if i knit]

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous................ lovely, lovely, lovely................. and all absolutely delicious! That's all there is to say really!!!!!!!!!!! XX

[kali @ poppy lane]

miss lucy! evil temptress indeed....whhhhaaaaa...your fabric and cute pincushion are just too much this early in the morning for me!
i'll come back and dribble some more when i've recovered a bit.
xo, kali

[Goosey]

That is lovely fabric...and the pincushion are wonderful too. I am a sucker for pretty fabric and will buy it for no reason...then have to use it to ease my guilt!

[Anna]

Oooh, OOOH! Make a patchwork apron!! Then you can wear it every single day and smile with pleasure at your cleverness. Yes indeed, that is what I would do. Alas, I struggle to sew a button on though.Instead the lovely List Writer makes me beautiful aprons to wear to work each day. They are reversible too!x

[Joanna]

Are you some sort of "evil temptress"? That is a beautiful pile of fabric. I still haven't got round to doing the birds yet and now you tepmt us with more things!

[Kathy]

Hi,
This is in regards to your very funny "Twig Project" post. I believe I have the answer for your balancing problem. If you want to give me your e-mail, I'll send you pictures and explain how I did it without having to glue the birds. BTW I just discovered your blog and am enjoying it.
Kathy

[Natalie]

Lovely pin cushion Lucy - there is so much work in it and the fabric is so pretty - How about making some baboushka dolls with your new stash, you could do them in reducing size, each in a different but co-ordinating fabric? - Natalie x

[jane]

Such beautiful fabrics..I'm going to take a peek at the website now...I love the pin cushion, you can use the petals for needles as well.
I love the idea of making a cushion like it, that would be lovely.
Jane.x

[driftwood]

oh that fabric is gorgeous! quilt I think!

[cathleen]

There is nothing quite like the expectation of a package coming in the mail especially if it's some new fabulous fabric. Love, love, love these bright colorful fabrics, Lucy. And thanks for sharing the pincushion directions. My little pincushions are store bought...I never made a homemade one before but it looks like I'm going to now. Enjoy your day!

[simone]

The little pincushion you made as a girl is very dinky. I think your flower pincushion is great. Why don't you scale up the pattern and make a super dooper cushion for the sofa/chair etc?

[grace]

So i sit down for a lovely computer browse while my littlies are - finally- asleep - find your fabby blog..............and spend money at the fabric shop!!!! All excited about my parcel of yummy fabric now, thank you for cheering up my afternoon.

Where can I get the pattern for the delicious pincushion (cannot wait to make it!)

Thank you
grace