This month in our Year of Pincushion Series, we are departing from the square pincushion format and making a super cute drum-shaped April Pincushion! This pincushion pattern is now available in the shop. 

This was seriously so much fun to make! The little Dresden plate on top of the pincushion is pieced in English Paper Piecing style which is super easy. If you like traditional hand piecing, you can also easily piece it with the “traditional” ¼-inch seam allowances. I have made small-scale Dresden plates both ways in the past but since I like to totally space out when I sew I think I am leaning towards the EPP version. Instead of using cardstock templates, I used the Wash-Away Applique Sheets that are left behind in the final project. Either method will work great.  

Another little cute detail in this Dresden Flower is that I used a covered Kurumi button in the center of the flower. That way, it stands up a little bit and adds a bit of dimension to the pincushion.  

Choosing Pincushion Fabrics

When I drafted the pincushion pattern, I was intending to make it in chipper spring colors.  However, when the time came to sew the sample I was drawn into my pile of civil reproduction fabrics. I still wanted to make a happy-spring version, so I ended up with two pincushion samples for this month. They are pretty quick to make and would make a perfect gift or a seasonal display in your sewing space. 

The shirting style fabric in the Civil War version is from Jo Morton and then I used random pieces from my stash for the petals and the Dresden plate. For the happy spring pincushion, I used a bright green gingham from Heather Ross and again pulled out some sweet small-scale and 30’s reproduction fabrics for the petals. 

As with most of the pincushion patterns in this series, this little cutie is perfect for using scraps. 

Pincushion Pattern Tutorial

The April pincushion pattern contains detailed directions as well as full-sized placement diagrams for both the tall and the short versions of the pincushion. 

This month, I also made an in-depth video tutorial that takes you through the entire process from start to finish! I thought it may be useful for all those of you who are newer to quilting and patchwork and who feel intimidated by the project. 

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