I’m putting this nifty pincushion ring right on to my new list of gift ideas under $10!

Even without its delightful $7 price tag, what’s not to love?

An adjustable base-metal ring sports a tiny pincushion in retro print fabric (varous patterns are available, but I’m hooked on these teal squares).

Slip the ring on a finger while you’re sewing (or your craft-crazed friend is sewing) and the essential pins and needles are as handy as it’s possible to keep them.

And you’ll be glad to know (I was!) that there’s a solid base beneath the puffy padding, so pins won’t poke through to prick those busy hands…

I found this in the craft supplies section of the brand new Indie Fixx shop, along with matching rectangular emery pincushions ($9) to keep pins and needles all shiny and sharp in between sewing projects.

When a favourite tea cup gets a crack, it’s hard to throw it out without trying to think of a new way to give it a purpose. It may not hold liquids anymore, but that doesn’t stop it from being just as pretty as ever!

Here’s an idea — with how-to instructions contributed to EverythingSewing.net by Sew-What’s-New — make that old tea cup into a pincushion!

Quick and easy.

Just fill the old teacup with steel wool and fibrefill stuffing, inside a gathered circle of pretty fabric. (In the example given, the matching saucer was glued to the bottom of the cup for added stability.) And then it’s time for the real creative fun, with your choice of trimming and embellishment!

This is not only a great easy recycling craft, but a darned fine gift idea. A teacup pincushion might also be something a little new and different to catch the eye at a charity bazaar or craft sale?

I haven’t mentioned it for a while, but the hunt for the perfect pin cushion continues… to go to the birds…

Web-Goddess gives a nice clear set of free illustrated instructions for sewing up a set of funky chicken pincushions, and they do have a certain appeal.

A traditional take on the same basic idea has the chicken made up of log cabin quilt squares. You can find a free pattern for the log cabin chicken pincushion at Quilting Works, or get it ready-made by lanningslee on Etsy.

Either way… a great project to use up scraps of fabric… and, hey! a perfect “impulse item” to make for a fund-raiser bazaar or craft sale.

The dog ate my pincushion. True story.

He’s fine (and the vet is richer by the price of three x-rays to prove that no pins were swallowed), no worries there…

But my vintage (Korean War era) Tokyo-made pincushion is now reduced to a small heap of sawdust and shreds of damp silk!

On the search for an equally special pincushion to take the old one’s place in my sewing box, I just now came across some handmade lovelies at Running Hare Art & Design.  This sheep motif pincushion, handstitched in calico, caught my eye for its totally charming toile de jouey sheep motif and tiny French button detail. Toile is hot right now, of course, but this has an even more lasting appeal in its unpretentious vintage style. I also enjoy it as a tongue-in-cheek nod to sewing as one of the domestic tasks that traditionally fell (and still do, most often) to the woman of the house. Pink is strong and proud!