You'll need light and dark green felt - less than one sheet of each. Red and black embroidery thread. You'll also need a 1.5" terra cotta flower pot. *Optional is something to weight the bottom of your pincushion - marbles, kitty litter, etc. The instructions assume that you have some very basic sewing knowledge. If you're not familiar with the names of stitches or how they're done, a quick internet search should turn up all the info you need.
You Will Need
Happy Mustashioed Cactus Pincushion
Make yourself a cute little sewing buddy!
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Using the photo below as a guide, draw a template on your paper and cut it out. It should be roughly 5” x 1.5” (12.5cm x 4cm). The top should be rounded on each side and come to a point. (The shape is pretty forgiving so it doesn’t have to be exact, but you should try to make it symmetrical.)
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Cut out 4 pieces of felt using your template, 2 light green and 2 dark green.
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Draw your cactus’ face onto one of the light green pieces of felt with your tailors chalk. Remember that you’re going to need room on the edge for the stitching.
Separate the strands of your embroidery thread. Thread the needle with 2 strands held together. Embroider the face, following the outline you just sketched out. I use satin stitch for the eyes and mustache and backstitch for his mouth.
*If embroidery isn’t your thing, you can always paint his face or cut the features out of felt and glue them on. -
Take 2 pieces of felt – 1 light green, 1 dark green. Pin the edges together on one side only. Thread your needle with 2 strands of black embroidery thread again. Sew the entire length of that side, using either a whip stitch or blanket stitch.
*Hint: The smaller you make the stitches, the rounder your cactus will be. If you make the stitches large, he’ll have ridges at the seams.
Repeat with the rest of the fabric pieces, alternating a dark green piece with a light green piece. You’ll end up with a cylinder with a dome at the top.
*Don’t worry if the bottom looks uneven or untidy, it’s going to be hidden inside the flower pot. -
Stuff your finished cactus all the way to the bottom. Remember that he needs to fairly firm in order to poke pins into him easily. If you’re not sure if you’ve stuffed him enough, just give him a test poke.
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Cover the hole in the bottom of the flower pot with a sticker or a piece of tape that’s cut to size (from the inside). Put another sticker over the hole on the outside of the pot. Fill the pot about halfway with kitty litter. Remember to leave enough room to “plant” your cactus!
* Weighting the bottom will make it harder to tip him over. If you’d prefer not to, skip this step and put more stuffing in the bottom of your flower pot. -
Squeeze a generous amount of glue around the inside of your flower pot, near the top. “Plant” your cactus in the pot. Make sure he’s in there deep enough to be sturdy. Check from different sides to make sure he’s standing up straight. Once the glue dries, it’ll be too late to fix him.
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Finally, stick him full of pins! Don't worry, he loves it.
Versions (5)
By tara m.
By Claudia Freitas
By EVEnl
By RareDodo
By jenstu
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Posted By:Morbidly Cute »
December 30, 2007 09:12
Popular tags: Painting & Decorating, Revamping, Dressmaking / Tailoring, Clothing & Fabric, Gothic, Christmas, Decorating, and Halloween
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Lizz R.
30 Dec 11:11
Aww wow !!
northernstar
30 Dec 12:43
So cute and useful thank you :)
Cat Morley
30 Dec 16:35
Aww, this is really cute - I love that you used an a plant pot for it.
Not A.
30 Dec 21:03
oh, how cuuute!!
Brandi B.
30 Dec 22:19
So adorable!
Rockin'Reptile
30 Dec 22:21
cute :D
'Gemyz
30 Dec 22:25
omg that is so cute! :]
Lady Lolita
02 Jan 07:41
Neato Bandito!
yteshade
02 Jan 17:57
So cool and cute! :D
katie
03 Jan 05:12
I love it!!! green felt is ow on my to-buy list
Silver_Duckie
04 Jan 00:59
Oh what a great idea...very innovative :) good job
Shivi
06 Jan 04:32
I have to make this- even if it takes till xmas!
I'm slow at the whole sewing thing!
Emma Rose
12 Jan 23:05
I love (<3) this project. I am doing it right now.
PJ F.
15 Jan 19:08
I love the cactus! My sewing machine and sewing materials are in my office which I redid in a Southwest theme! I will be going to buy the felt this week- all I have around is leopard and tie dye felt!
Great Idea!!!!!
Nix Sidhe
17 Jan 03:03
Hahahahah he makes me laugh! How perfect!
Lorraine
28 Jan 16:42
How adorable. Great job!
Dolly
01 Feb 00:42
luuuv it!
Firefly
21 Mar 04:36
this is too funny. i really want to make one like this, but model it more after the cactaurs/sabotenders from final fantasy. too cute!
Lucía
09 Apr 14:34
I'm definitely making this one! So adorable... I'll add my version as soon as I finish it!
starfruit~
01 May 21:04
this is such an awesome great idea!!!
moonfae
18 May 04:02
what a cute idea for a pin cushion! so much more awesome than the traditional tomatoe that makes no sense having pins in it lol
Smileymaddy
23 Sep 12:42
I love it!
jani
20 Oct 12:35
That is so cute!
dollicious
18 Dec 19:46
omg xD awesome!
Lime Blue
13 Jan 15:47
Sooo Cute!
MacLovin♥x♥x♥
25 Jan 13:02
I love that! maybe instead of kitty litter, you could use lavender, and make it scented!
MacLovin♥x♥x♥
04 Feb 18:33
Wow! I just made it, and it looks.... Wow! So I'll upload my version soon. I used fleece and felt instead of felt and felt :P
Uniquely-YZ
25 Mar 00:51
That's too cute. Very creative.
bri*YELL-o-RAMA!
31 Mar 13:53
oh my! this is sooo adorable! i cant wait to make one for myself! :)