Another use for the pincushion pattern: A soft ABC block
As I was cutting out squares for my pincushion, I realizes that I would be making a cute stuffed cube. And so I thought it would be really cool to make a “soft ABC baby block”. I wanted to make it slightly smaller and without the raw edges showing. So It was a bit of a different process. Here are the steps I took…
Cut 6 3″x3″ squares. I recommend wool.
Next you’ll want to embroider letters on the pieces. There are a few choices for embroidery. An embroidery machine (which I used), embroidering by hand, and some sort of iron on transfer.
Since I had already cut out my squares, they were too small to fit in the embroidery hoop. So I stretched some thin cotton and pinned them in the center of the hoop
square pinned to cotton in embroidery hoop
Then I just set the embroidery to do one letter, in the middle of the field as big as I could — which was 40 mm. I would have loved to do them bigger, but I only have the stock designs that came with the machine.
embroidering the "A"
After the “A” was all embroidered, I trimmed the cotton backing that it was attached to. I just trimmed fairly close to the letter, It doesnt have to look perfect because it will be hidden.
backside of the now-embroidered square
I went through the same steps as my first project. Sewing 4 squares side-by side, then to each other, followed by attaching the top and bottom:
4 sewn side-by side. This would be extra cute if it spelled baby.
sewn into an "open cube"
Now you’ll notice that I have the wrong side facing out. On this cube, different from the pincushion, I want to hide all the raw edges. So I’m sewing the whole square inside out and then reversing for the final soft block. You could do it with the edges showing like yesterday — it saves a bit of hand stitching in the end.
sewing on the top square
the bottom square is sewn on 3 sides waiting to be turned inside out & stuffed
Once you have sewn the bottom square on three sides, you will need to turn your cube inside out. As you turn it inside out, you will have to push the corners out as much as you can so it does not look sloppy. Then go ahead and stuff it really really full! You’ll need some thread and a needle to finish the cube up nice and clean.
Once you have your needle threaded. You’ll need to fold the raw edges into the cube and start stitching. You can pin them along the way, but this was such a small edge that I just held it in place as I stitched. I used a “baseball” stitch to get a smooth corner. That basically means that I sewed from the outside of one square to the inside of the stitch and then sewed from the outside of the opposite square again to the inside of the stitch. This makes a pattern similar to a baseball stitch.
the completed stitched side
And there you have it! My completed Soft ABC baby block next to my cute pin cushion! I think the baby block would be so cute as a set – you could do one with numbers and one with pictures and give them at a baby shower. Such a sweet handmade gift!
Category: Crafts, Project | Tags: baby, Crafts, embroidery, hand made, pin cushion, pincushion, Project, sewing 107 comments »
107 Responses to “Another use for the pincushion pattern: A soft ABC block”
January 16th, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Your blog looks really great and so do your projects! I’ve got you bookmarked now!
January 16th, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Thanks! That is so sweet of you
I’m hoping to get more stuff up. I’ll be sure to check out your blog too!
January 18th, 2009 at 11:46 AM
I love that little ABC cube! It is adorable! So jealous of your embroidery capabilities, though…that is way out of my league. Way to go!
Carrie
January 19th, 2009 at 3:59 PM
I just found your blog through 2Peas and I’m so impressed. That little block is just too cute too.
June 28th, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Beautiful job! I’d love something like this for my daughter.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:28 AM
cute idea!!!
with or with out the letters this would be a fun thing to make
June 29th, 2009 at 12:48 AM
what a great idea!! i’m so going to make these!
June 29th, 2009 at 1:06 AM
My goodness! That takes some serious talent
So impressed with the quality and inventiveness of your work. Enjoy the fun and madness of your SITS day.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Wow-how sweet! I could totally make some of these for my little ones!
June 29th, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Wow, that looks great! If only I knew how to use a sewing machine!
June 29th, 2009 at 3:43 AM
How cute is that block! Unfortunately, I couldn’t sew my way out of a paper bag. Enjoy your SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:08 AM
those are so cute!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:09 AM
I love these little blocks. But I don’t think I have the ability to make these.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:16 AM
so cute…..
June 29th, 2009 at 4:25 AM
This is adorable and looks pretty easy! Thanks for sharing:0)
June 29th, 2009 at 4:35 AM
Okay, I’m insanely jealous of your talent to both create such beautiful projects and to explain how to do them with such finesse and ease! You make it look so easy! Perhaps this could be a mother-daughter craft project for my 11 yo and I.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:37 AM
This is adorable! I don’t have all the tools needed to make one (a sewing machine) but still adorable! Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:57 AM
Great tutorial! I’m a beginner sewer. I’m still working up the nerve to try more sewing (I tried making a child’s dress from a super easy pattern which resulted in my daughter crying once it was finished- she didn’t like it).
Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:58 AM
how cute is that, seriously!! LOVE IT!!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:21 AM
super cute idea! thanks for sharing!!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:23 AM
What a beautiful pincushion!
Congrats on your SITS feature!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:27 AM
That’s so cool. I love the way the letters look.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:30 AM
This is ADORABLE! I’m off to the craft store to buy some fat quarters to make some toys for my son! Thanks for the idea!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:34 AM
I wish my machine had the embroidery on it. Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:34 AM
This is such a cute project! You are very creative….
June 29th, 2009 at 5:38 AM
Wow! This is so cute. You are very talented!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:39 AM
Oh how fun!! What a clever idea
Happy SITS Day!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:40 AM
Just stopping by to say hello from SITS. Congrats on being the FB. Your blog is adorable and full of great ideas.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:48 AM
How fun!!
i love the colors you chose!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:51 AM
This is soooooooo CUTE! I wish I could sew!
Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:57 AM
That’s really cool! It would be a great gift to make a set of those for a baby/toddler!
Happy SITS Day! =)
June 29th, 2009 at 5:58 AM
Love the crafty projects, I could add that to my stepson’s room!! Thanks for the great idea, thought it would even be cute to spell his name out!!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:00 AM
That is probably, no it IS the coolest pincushion I have ever seen!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:01 AM
Hi from SITS! This is so cute! I would love to try this once I get better with the sewing machine!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:04 AM
Thats too cute,
happy SITS Day by the way!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:06 AM
The blog is cute!! You could also do a big die like that
June 29th, 2009 at 6:11 AM
Absolutely love your soft baby blocks! Now I must run out and buy an embroidery machine. Thanks for posting this fun little project!
Have a fun day,
Cathy
Your fellow SITS member
June 29th, 2009 at 6:11 AM
How cute! I wish I could sew!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:17 AM
That is a great idea! Thank you so for posting it! Happy SITS day
June 29th, 2009 at 6:19 AM
Adorable! Now if only I could sew…that might be helpful in making one of these myself.
BlogBaby
June 29th, 2009 at 6:29 AM
Love. It. Love the colors. Love the block! Good job SITSta.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:33 AM
Visiting from SITS today.
These blocks are VERY cute. You could make them so individualized!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:34 AM
I love this. I can’t wait to give it a try! Happy sits day!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:38 AM
That is such a great idea!!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:39 AM
How cute! And WOW someone who stills knows how to sew.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:49 AM
I love this idea. Just to take it a step further you could hide a bell in the middle of the baby block. Cute blog.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:49 AM
Very cute! Can you mail it to me? Not so crafty over here. JK Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:54 AM
Cute blocks…if I only knew how to sew.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Wow I so wish i had an ounce of talent that you have. Those are beautiful and I would love to make a whole set for my toddler! Saddly I don’t own a sewing machine or have any sewing talent. One day though. Thanks for the tutorial.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:37 AM
How cute.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:43 AM
What a cute idea! I love all your birdies on your layout!! Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:43 AM
That is absolutely adorable! I don’t sew at all but I wouldn’t mind having that embroidery machine, just to play!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:45 AM
oh now I NEED a sewing machine like that one!!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Look how creative you are!!! Now you only need five or six more to complete the alphabet…how long would THAT take you!?!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:46 AM
That is so cute!
Happy SITs day!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:53 AM
These are super cute! TFS!
June 29th, 2009 at 8:16 AM
What a talent you are.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Okay, you are making me feel really lazy! You are so creative..
June 29th, 2009 at 8:23 AM
How great is that?! Thanks!
~Mary
June 29th, 2009 at 8:25 AM
If I wasn’t worried about stitching right over my fingers I’d SO do this. This is a great idea. I’m going to send this link to my mom who’s super crafty with a sewing machine.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:31 AM
These are so cute! I wish I could sew better!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Hi from SITS!
This is sooo cute!
My kids are too big for this, but my girls would love to make it for cousins. And my sis has little ones.
I’ll pass your site on!
Sarah
June 29th, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Wow, I am ridiculously impressed. I so wish I were the crafty kind of person who could do these kinds of things. I once tried to knit a square coaster – it turned out round. This is how un-crafty I am. Beautiful blog, love the layout!! Happy SITS FB Day!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:30 AM
SO very found another sewer thru SITS! I’ll be back!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:31 AM
What an adorable idea. This makes me wish I was much more crafty than I am!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Too cute. I wish I knew how to sew. Cute, cute, cute. Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:44 AM
That is so precious!
Happy SITS Day!!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Great project for a baby gift. Stopping by from SITS.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Stopping by from SITS and love your blog! I am definitely going to bookmark it for great project ideas!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:31 AM
How cute is that?! Stopping in from SITS!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Looks cool. Happy SITS Day!
June 29th, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Cute project and cute site!
June 29th, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Stopping from SITS – too cute! I love patterns that are multipurpse – AND this gives me a chance to work on my machine embroidery skills.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Love.Love.Love these!!! Thanks for sharing!!
June 29th, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Hi from SITS!! Love the blocks:)
June 29th, 2009 at 11:21 AM
That’s such a cute idea! I have lots of pregnant friends right now, and this would make a great gift.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I thought about doing something like this when my nephews were born, but never got around to it. Now I wish I had, that is so cute! Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
That is such a great idea – that little block is so cute!
June 29th, 2009 at 12:31 PM
What a cute project! I love it.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:34 PM
So cute!! I love this idea!
June 29th, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Happy SITS day! Very cool!
June 29th, 2009 at 1:49 PM
These are adorable! Happy SITS day to you!
June 29th, 2009 at 2:07 PM
You’re so talented. When I lose a button on my shirt I just throw the shirt away. You think I’m kidding don’t you?
June 29th, 2009 at 2:25 PM
That is absolutely adorable! I can only imagine the trouble I’d get up to if I owned an embroidery machine!
June 29th, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Beautiful!
June 29th, 2009 at 3:25 PM
I really like this. On lazy days, I like to just sit and hand sew things. This would be something I know I could do – thanks for the detailed instructions too!
Happy SITS day…
My best, Lynn
June 29th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Visiting from SITs and wishing I had your sewing machine. Cute blocks.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Super cute ABC block. I love it. Congrats on your SITS day.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Now that I have grandchildren I’m going to be back crafting quite a bit!
Bookmarking your site!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Forgot to mention I’m new and stopping by from SITS!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:47 PM
How super cute!! I’ll bet if I tried to make it, it wouldn’t come out as a square…
June 29th, 2009 at 5:55 PM
That is fab!!!!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:29 PM
How cute is that! I love it! Have a great day being the FB!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Beautiful ABC block.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Stop it!!! that is wayyy too cute!
June 29th, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Happy SITS day!
That block is so cute! I wish I could sew.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:00 PM
So cute! If I could find my sewing machine cord, I’d be all set. Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Cute! And you make it look so easy!
Happy SITS day!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Wow, what a sweet project. Love your blog!
Happy SITS day!
June 30th, 2009 at 6:00 AM
What a fabulous gift that would make! I think my bambino would have lots o’ fun with those too.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:18 AM
I’m a day late from SITS. I love this blog! Put it in my Google Reader yesterday.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:41 AM
How cute! Stopping by (a day late) from SITS!
July 1st, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Happy Belated SITS Day! I tried to pop in yesterday and my browser went postal. Beautiful blog and great projects!
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 AM
I love these! So cute!
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Oh, by the way, stopping by SITS – still getting caught up this week!
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:03 PM
So creative! I wish I had one of those machines!
Happy Belated SITS Day!
July 4th, 2009 at 10:23 AM
I have always considered my self crafty but I am terrified of sewing machines!
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