How to Make a Cute Patchwork Heart Pin Cushion

Update your sewing basket with a new DIY heart shaped pin cushion! Today I am sharing step by step instructions for making this cute patchwork pin cushion. This tutorial is particularly helpful if you are a beginner and don’t have any quilting experience.

With Valentines Day coming, this sweet little cushion would make a perfect small Valentines gift for a seamstress or quilter friend. It is also a happy substitute for that summertime tomato cushion. I am thoroughly enjoying mine!

Difficulty: Beginner

Finished Size: 3×3 inches

Here is the tutorial in video form if you are a more visual learner. For written instructions, keep reading.

Materials

You will need,

9 strips of coordinating scrap fabric measuring 1×9 inches long (increase length and quantity if you would like a larger cushion)
Fabric for backing
Thread
Crushed Walnut shells for filling (or other stuffing of choice)
Optional embellishments such as buttons, beads, flowers, felt cutouts, twine, etc.

Step 1: Gather and cut fabrics

This is a great project for using up small strip scraps! In the spirit of upcoming Valentines Day, I chose some festive fabrics from my Valentine scrap bag, but anything goes! It is helpful to have a wide variety of prints to achieve that scrappy patchwork look. That will also help you avoid matching patches that are right next to each other, as you’ll see later.

To make a finished pin cushion that measures a finished 3×3 inches like the one above, you will need 9 strips of fabric that are 1 inch wide and 9 inches long. If you’d like to make a bigger pin cushion, add several more strips and increase the length by a few inches (but still keep them 1 inch wide). Iron your fabric before cutting. It is important that your strips measure an accurate 1 inch wide. An accurate length is less important because that will be trimmed off later, but and accurate width will make your tiny squares line up well.

Step 2: Arrange and sew the strips

Arrange your strips in any order you’d like, then sew them together length-wise with a 1/4″ seam. right sides facing each other. Press flat, making sure all the seams are pressed to the side in the same direction. If you would like a striped pin cushion instead of a patch one, you can stop here and skip to step 6. For the patches, continue below.

Step 3: Trim and cut into 1 inch strips

This part takes a little bravery! Make sure your stripes are going horizontally, and line the top stripe with a line on your cutting mat the best you can, to keep your work as straight as possible. Trim off the edge, then cut into vertical 1 inch strips as shown above. You should end up with 8 new strips.

Step 4: Arrange your new strips

Turn around every other strip, so the seams lay in opposite directions as shown above. This is what will create a “nested seam”, where your seams will lock in and lay flat, giving your patches nice lined up corners. It also reduces bulk and makes sewing (and sticking your pins in) much easier!

If you’re not happy with how your fabric prints are matching up next to each other, take a look at the photo below for an example of how to adjust it. The way I aligned my stripes was giving me one solid stripe of red, which I personally didn’t want, so I shifted over other strip one square over, and that changed the layout.

Step 5: Pin and sew along the length

Start pinning your new 1 inch strips together along the length, right sides facing each other, and matching up the seams. Keep your ironed down seams flat, and you can feel with your fingers how they’ll “lock” into place against each other. I used Magic Grip fork pins above and LOVE them for nested seams, they are so easy to use. They aren’t necessary though, you can use regular straight pins, or even clips.

If any of the seams aren’t matching up right as you pin, you can pull your fabric to force them together, and then gently tug at that spot as you’re running it through your sewing machine. This stretches the fabric a little and is usually okay in small doses.

Step 6: Draw your heart pattern

Now you have an adorable piecing! I absolutely adore those tiny little patches- I want to make more of them! Wouldn’t it make a cute dollhouse quilt?

Be sure to iron your piecing flat with all the seams pressed to the side in one direction, and then it’s time to draw your own heart pattern.

To make the heart, you can hand draw it, print off free line art, use a stencil… anything! Here, I used a cookie cutter as a guide. After your heart it’s drawn, add a 1/4″ seam allowance and make sure it still fits on your piecing. I made made mine to use up the most fabric as possible. I also recommend making making the heart “plump”, it will give you more surface area for sticking cute pins in.

Step 7: Cut out your pattern, then stitch together

Here is another part that takes some bravery! Lay your pattern piece over your patchwork (or stripes), and place it where you’d like the patches to fall (I placed mine diagonally). Carefully cut out the top, and then cut out the backing.

Place right sides together and sew around the perimeter with a 1/4 inch seam allowance and a short stitch length. It is important to use a good tight stitch here so the stitches don’t get pulled apart when you stuff it. On my own machine, I used about a 1.5 length when I usually use a 2.25.

Don’t forget to leave an opening on the edge so you can turn it. See the photo below for a guide.

Stitching around the curved parts can get tricky with sewing something so small. Go slow, and if you need to, stop and lift your presser foot and readjust your work every few stitches. That really helps to get a smooth line around a tight curve.

In the photo above, you can see where I cut out little darts (the triangles). Be very careful not to cut into your stitches when you do this, but this helps everything stay smooth when you turn it right side out.

Step 8: Turn and stuff

Almost done! Turn your heart right side out and stuff it tightly! My absolute favorite filling for pin cushions is crushed walnut shells. Pins sink nicely right into it, and it adds some weight so the cushion doesn’t get knocked around as easily. I purchased mine from Amazon and it was sold as reptile bedding. It sounds strange but it was actually cheaper that way! You can also find it at some pet supply stores. Do not use it if you are allergic to walnuts.

Polyester fill or other fillers can also work too. The choice is yours! Stuff it tightly, and then hand stitch the opening with a really tight stitch.

I sure made a mess with those walnut shells, didn’t I?

Step 9: Decorate!

If desired, it is time to add the embellishments! It definitely looks cute plain, but decorating is my favorite part because I’m a little extra with pretty sewing supplies. Buttons, beads, fabric flowers, twine, felt cutouts… so adorable! Use whatever you’d like, wherever you’d like! Just leave room for your pins, which can be my own downfall sometimes. 😉

Extra tip: When using a flatter pin cushion like this one, stick your pins into the side like shown below. Then they don’t accidentally poke through the bottom and stick something (or someone) else.

I hope this tutorial has given you some inspiration! To me, there is something special about cute little sewing tools that make this hobby even more enjoyable. Little fancy touches like a festive pin cushion are just too fun!

If you decide to make one, or make one like it, please tag me in a photo on Instagram because I would be beyond thrilled to see it!

Are you having trouble finding time to complete your projects? Check out the post here for some tips!

Thank you for tagging along with me today, and Happy Valentines Day!