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Kitchki Pin Cushions {tutorial on making your own}

Created By: Becky  |   8 Comments

I saw the cutest small porcelein, kitchki -is that what those type of things called?, vintage pin cushions…… at a boutique recently and thought—those are sooo cute! I really wanted one, but missed my chance to buy one and so here goes – Make it yourself!
Make kitchki pincushions -a tutorial / patchworkposse.com #pincushions #tutorial #kitchki
You first need to shop the Thrift stores-  or maybe your grandmas house or where ever you can find a nice little collection of porcelein containers. They can be really anything. Just think- will this hold a stuffed little ball of wool or cotton? I went for the glass, porcelein ones. There is a lot out there right now that are resin, but i don’t like that look as much as the glass kind. If you think it can work – get it!
Here is my stash before the transformation. They were all under $1.00! can’t beat that!
There were the 3 that had no lids on them anymore. The 2 little teacups are handpainted and signed! that is kind of fun. The little boy- I think he is a flower container. The chimney stack will soon be stuffed! and the duck- just so 1980’s especially with the bow! but he has a hollow back and soon it – he- will be stuffed too!
kitchki_pins
After picking your favorites out and bringing them home you need to stuff them.

Stuffing: I used that wonderful wool stuffing that i got at the garage sale. It is soooo dense. You can really minipulate it’s shape, much different from polyfil.
Outside: I used felted wool sweaters. I thought that they might look a bit cuter than cotton in these. You really could use whatever you have on hand though.

I cut the wool and then sewed two edges, turned it right sides out, and then stuffed it! I stuffed it a lot! Then i jammed it into the holes, making sure that the seams were underneath and tucked in the sides so only a smooth top showed. If it didn’t make a nice rounded hill, then i would remove the tube, stuff some more and go jamming it back in again. I didn’t use any glue {at first i thought i would} and they stayed in their place pretty good.  {I think really because they were so jammed with stuffing} I think also that the ones missing lids had an edge on the top {where the lid would sit} so that helped keep all that inside. A smooth side would definitly not hold the cushion down and in.

See what you get when finished:

pincushioncollagekitchki
His chimney was very deep, so i left the green flower {i can’t think of that name–} stuff inside and just jammed the top bit full of the wool and wool stuffing.   I decided to just leave the ducks bow and add a red velvet pin cushion.
So, if you are in need of a cute and quick little sewing present….go take a look around….and make yourself a little something. Share it if you do!!
Becky
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Comments

  2. I just love your idea. I collect old pin cushions now I can make some out of my old kitchki. Thanks for sharing

  3. These are so cute. It would make me smile all the time I was sewing. I’m sure they brighten up a sewing area.
    .-= Robin (rsislandcrafts)´s last blog ..January’s Posse Project =-.

  4. Oh I love them! The great thing about making them yourself is that if they get broken some how it’s not as “painful.” As you said, you got all of the containers SUPER cheap. The end products are just awesome!

    Looks like it’s time to hit the thrift stores!!! Woohoo!

  5. I think the word you are looking for is Kitsch or Kitschy (pronounced kitchy like itchy with a k but slightly sh on the ch)

  7. They all look great. I’ve also been collecting suitable items over the past year and hope to ‘stuff’ them all in the coming weeks 🙂

  8. we have made these for sale for the quilt show boutique . pressed glass, porcelain, silver plate.
    always a great seller.

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