Note: This is a revised re-post of my original tutorial at Riley Blake Designs' "Cutting Corners" back in November of 2014. As I continue to have requests for the tutorial which is no longer available at the previous link, I'm sharing it again here at Quiltscapes.
This adorable little "
Snippet" is perfect for your own sewing room or to make as a gift for friends. A couple of scraps and a bit of stuffing or filler - that's all you need!
"Little Birdie" Pincushion
Main Print, Body: 2-1/2-inch x 5-inch rectangle
Accent Print, Head: 1-1/2-inch x 5-inch strip
Tail accent: 1-inch x 5-inch strip
Wings: 1 (or 2) 2-1/2-inch square
Beak: 1-1/2-inch square (Yellow/Gold)
Filler (poly fiberfill, wool roving, silica sand, rice, ground walnut shells, lavender, etc.
Glue Stick
INSTRUCTIONS: Prepare Beak
FOLD 1-1/4" beak square in half; PRESS.
Bring folded corners to the center, forming a triangle (prairie point); PRESS again.
FOLD in half again to form a pointy little beak.
Set aside.
Stitch Wings:
FOLD the 2-1/2" square diagonally in half, right sides together and STITCH raw edges together using 1/4" seam allowance. Backstitch at beginning and end.
CUT stitched triangle in half.
Trim corners, turn each wing right side out (use a chopstick); PRESS.
OR cut two 2-1/2" squares for wings and fold just like the beak as diagrammed above (instead of stitching, cutting, turning, etc. Yes, I'm a lazy-girl sewist. If there's an easier way...)
ARRANGE wings along one edge of body as diagrammed, 1/2" from the outer edges, leaving about 1-1/2" of space between the wings. Trim corners.
PIN or *GLUE in place.
LAYER 1-1/2” head strip right sides together over wings; PIN. LAYER 1” tail strip right sides together along opposite side. STITCH both to body using 1/4” seam allowance.
PRESS seams open, then PRESS tail piece under 1/4" to form a crease for the final seam.
FOLD bird unit right in half with right sides together, matching side seams; PIN. INSERT folded edge of beak about 1/4" down from the center fold line. PIN or GLUE beak in place.
STITCH as diagrammed, enclosing beak, pivot at the corner and stitch the bottom seam. Backstitch at the beginning and ending.
Next we need to shape the little bird's body with a boxed corner seam:
With wrong side still out, flatten the unit by centering the bottom seam, forming triangle points. On the corner opposite the beak, finger-press the seams open and PIN, matching the seams. I find it's easier to create the triangle point if I insert my finger right into the corner to press the seams open. Double-check to make sure the seams are lined up!
MARK a straight line along the edge of the seam allowance, about 3/4" from the tip as diagrammed above &
STITCH on the line (right next to the seam allowance edge) to form the little bird's body.
TIP: Tuck the beak section down inside the body section to make it easier to sew the box seam.
TURN bird right side out.
FILL the bird head and only about HALF of the body with your choice of stuffing; about 2 Tablespoons of filler. Don't stuff it too full or you won't have a tail!
Next, Re-FOLD the raw edges at the bird's tail along the pressed lines. Center the seam and PIN.
STITCH by hand or *edge-stitch by machine to close the opening.
Hold the bird tail-side up so all the filler is out of the tail area. Pack the filler down toward the beak and body as tightly as possible.
Use a mini *elastic band and wrap it around as many times as possible without breaking to cinch in the bird's body and form the tail. Fan out the tail.
If you don't have a little tiny elastic band, you can double-thread a needle with matching thread or embroidery floss. Take a running stitch all the way around the body center about 1/4" away from the stuffing, then gather to form the bird's body and tail. Wrap the thread around several times and secure with a knot, then bury the threads.
For eyes, stitch buttons or seed beads, work a French knot or simply use *pins. Lastly, give a little tug on the beak to straighten it out.
Store needles in the tail - and load your new pincushion with pins, if you can bear to poke him!
See more ideas for your Little Birdie HERE.
Here is a whole flock of Little Birdies!
Make one, or make a bunch!
Be sure to attribute the design to Deonn Stott www.quiltscapesqs.com
or tag on social media, Instagram: @quiltscapades #littlebirdiepincushion
Happy Stitching!
*Lazy-girl shortcuts
Comments from RBD
November 03rd, 2014 at 12:17 a.m.
November 03rd, 2014 at 5:21 a.m.
November 03rd, 2014 at 7:15 a.m.
November 03rd, 2014 at 6:09 p.m.
November 03rd, 2014 at 6:39 p.m.
December 06th, 2014 at 4:56 a.m.
December 16th, 2014 at 7:25 a.m.
December 16th, 2014 at 1:50 p.m.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:41 p.m.
December 19th, 2014 at 11:26 a.m.
April 21st, 2015 at 9:28 p.m.