Monday, May 12, 2014

Tutorial - a simple button and pincushion jar!


It all started with this Kilner jar Mr E bought me on sale at the kitchen shop last year...


...but it's been sitting idly by, gathering dust ever since. 
And then there was the fabric I discovered upon looking through my small pile of Japanese linen prints which had also been gathering dust since I purchased them in (gulp) 2009 at a craft fair with young Blossom. She bought a few and I bought a few, and my, we had plans! But then the dust settled, you know?


Anyhow, in 30 minutes yesterday afternoon, after a wonderful lunch down on Palmer Street at Michel's restaurant as my Mother's Day treat from Mr E, I brought my little piggy linen and the Kilner Jar to a sweet arrangement.

It all begins with a piece of template plastic and a Sharpie pen. Just trace the little metal disc that comes inside the Kilner Jar lid onto the plastic...

 
Cut out the plastic disc and trace the circle shape onto the reverse of your chosen fabric. I fussy traced mine so I could have the little piggy in the centre...mmm, like the children's game piggy-in-the-middle...remember that?


Draw another line 1/4" outside the first line...


(the afternoon sun was rather bright in my sewing room, which is why the photos are shadow and light)

Using a thick strand of embroidery thread, such as a Perle #12 as I have used, sew a row of running stitch inside the two circular lines, but keep your thread ends on the right side of the fabric.
Trim the tails of the thread to about 3" each....



Being careful not to cut through the tails of the thread, cut out your circle along the larger circle line...


Place a good dab of glue in the centre of your plastic disc...


...and place a largish golf ball size piece of polyester toy stuffing on top.


Place this stuffing side down onto the centre of your fabric.


Press the 'sandwich' together and pulling the thread tails tightly, gather the fabric around the stuffing and plastic disc...


Don't pull it too tight, just so long as it sits snug and the plastic disc is not popping out from under the gather.
Place a dab of glue onto the metal Kilner lid disc and press it down onto the pincushion...



Push the 'pincushion' into the hole of the Kilner lid, and replace the lid on the jar. Leave for a couple of hours to let the glue set...(alternatively use a hot glue gun which is what I'll do next time)...


I made my jar to house some of my collection of genuine vintage buttons...


...and also to show off some gifted pins.


I made a little label too...


...and altogether the finished result made me smile. 
I have one more Kilner Jar to play with...just deciding what I'll store inside before I dust it off.



I shall leave you today with these photos of the flowers my beloved bought me for Mother's Day...




Glorious aren't they?
Made radiant with coloured dyes into water, turning these white chrysanthemums into an Elefantz's dream.

hugs

 

20 comments:

Julie said...

What a beautiful post to brighten this dull dreary Monday morning Jenny :-)
Thanks for sharing a great tutorial - I am in love with your piggy fabric SO much!!! I am now very keen to have a go at one of those pincushion jars, And I just cant help staring at the amazing colours in those flowers. Wishing you a wonderful week x0x0

KimM said...

Creative idea - and looks so easy to do. Makes a wonderful gift…..wonder if my husband will notice some of his canning jars and lids when they go missing - HA!
hugs
xxx

tink's mom said...

Love the Piggy and the colors of your flowers are wonderful. Happy Mother's Day.

Lynn said...

I have recently started reading your blog and I'm really enjoying it. I love what you have done to this jar and will now be hunting for one to do my own. It is a little odd to be reading a post dated 12th May, with Julie's comment about Monday morning. You see I am reading this at 10:30pm on Sunday 11th May here in Liverpool, UK. Does this mean I am reading it before it has been written? :) Looking forward to your next post already. xx

Jenny of Elefantz said...

....mmmmm.....or maybe I'm really Doctor Who and you're reading from my Tardis and not really a blog. ;-)

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Thanks Tink's Mum! Happy Mothers Day to you too! x

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Pretty them up, Kim, and he'll never know they had a previous life in his shed.... ;-)

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Well, what a bright and cheery comment to start my working week, Julie! Bless you, hon. xx

Acres of Crafts said...

I made one of these a few weeks ago, with some strawberry fabric. I had bought a kilner jar when it was in a sale, and it had sat on the shelf for a while. Not sure what I am going to store in it yet, but just enjoy looking at it.
We had Mother's day in March in the UK, but am currently in Florida, and it has been Mother's day here today. Hope you had a good day.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the tutorial Jenny, another great idea for special birthday gifts this year, currently a 70 so many ideas you have given me, and the inspiration, great help. Have even dabbled in a little basic crochet. Your flowers look gorgeous, sounds like Mr E made your Mother's Day very special, Happy Mother's Day to you Jenny, guess you had many fond thoughts, it was a very happy one here too, Great start to the week, Judithann :-)

Christina said...

Thank you for the tutorial. Another blog I read made there jar into a sewing kit and I wanted to give it a try, now I have a visual on how to assemble the top. Happy Mother's Day! Your flowers are so fun and cheery.

Melody said...

Great tutorial and that little piggy has stolen my heart.

Tammy said...

Super cute idea. Thank you fro the tutorial .

Annie Beez said...

OMG! That piggy linen is to die for!!! I LOVE Japanese fabrics!

Elvira said...

Gracias por el tutorial , se ve sencillo, lo intentare. Besos

Lin said...

Pretty jar Jenny and gorgeous flowers. xx

Di said...

Just a simple, beautiful idea, Jenny. I love your pictures which make it so clear. Will definitely have to try this :-)

Helena Oops said...

Realy lovely idea!
Thank you for sharing!

Atelielykke said...

Very Nice

A Bear Mountain Pattern said...

THANK YOU SO MUCH...what a great idea and wonderful instructions. My guild is having their quilt show in about a week, and I am the chair person. I am thinking of making those for my committee
Again, thank you