Well, do we have the perfect pincushion pair for you! Patrick & Esme, stars of The Great British Sewing Bee, can now be created for your craft desk!
Designed by: Maria Diaz
Stitch count: 68 high x 31 wide Patrick; 50 high x 25 wide Esme
Design size: 12.5x5.5cm (5x2¼in); 9.5x4.5cm (3¾x1¾in)
Stitch time: 7 hours; 5 hours
These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric.
Make a…pincushion
Step 1
STITCH Patrick and Esme on your aida fabric, using two strands for the cross stitch, one for the backstitch and one for the French knots.
Step 2
CUT around each piece of stitching, leaving 2cm (¾in) of blank aida around the edge of the design. Place Patrick on the felt and cut to the same size as the aida. Place the aida and the felt right-sides together, and pin. Stitch around edge of the design, making the sides straight and leaving two blank aida squares at the widest point of the design at the sides, and also at the top, and rounding off the top corners. Leave the bottom open. Repeat with Esme. Reduce the seam allowance, and turn to the right side.
Step 3
CUT two circles from card, 32mm and 38mm diameter. Repeat with the felt.
Step 4
STUFF the top of both Patrick and Esme with toy stuffing, then add a bag of dried rice, before filling the shape with more toy stuffing, but only to just below the feet – the rice will weigh the pincushion down so that it can stand on your desk. Push a cardboard circle inside each figure, and then fold the blank aida over at the bottom onto the cardboard. Add glue to hold the aida and press it well down onto the cardboard. Once the glue is dry, cover with the felt circle and either glue or stitch to hold it in place.
