Pin cushion jar toppers

I first came across the nifty idea of pin cushions on top of jars at this lovely Danish site and decided to adapt the same idea for pin cushions on baby food jars… something we have plenty of in our house, being that I’m a jar hoarder and I especially love the tiny perfectness of baby food jars! They are the perfect size for storing your little sewing treasures, so this weekend I made up three for myself and Ive included a tutorial so you can give it a go too…

Pin cushion on top of a jar tutorial.

I used 4 ply cotton and a 2.5mm crochet hook, you could make these with a larger yarn and hook, just adjust the size of your circle as necessary. The lids of the jars I used were 5.3cm and 6.0cm across.

Make a magic circle and 6 single crochet (sc) into the ring.  Pull your ring tight and join with a slip stitch into the first sc. Mark your first stitch on each round with a stitch marker. After the first round you do not join each row, just continue on the round (this is why you need to mark the start of each round with a marker).

Round 2. 2 sc in each stitch around (12 sc)

Round 3. 1 sc in the first stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch, repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4. 1 sc in the next two stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch, repeat around (24)

Round 5. 1 sc in the next three stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch, repeat around (30)

Round 6. 1 sc in the next four stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch, repeat around, (36).  Check the size of your circle at this point, it should be approximately the same size as your lid- a little bit smaller is ok, it will stretch out a bit. If you need to add another round of increases- 1 sc in the next five stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch, repeat around (42). The yellow pin cushion has this extra round of increases. If you are using  larger hook and yarn, or jar,  just increase until your circle is approximately the same size as you lid.

Rounds 7 – 15 sc in each stitch around.

Round 16. Loosely slip stitch in each stitch around. Weave in end.

Sew any embellishments you may like to add to your pincushion at this point (before you stuff it).

To make a flower like the one on the light purple pin cushion; Make a magic circle and sc 10 times into the circle.  Pull circle tight and join with a ss. Change colour for petals. 3 Double crochet into the next sc, ss into the next sc around. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

In case you are wondering the lady bug on the yellow pin cushion is a button.

Stuff pincushion, allowing enough room for the lid to fit into the hole.  Using glue (I used super glue) carefully attach the pin cushion to your lid (I glued the lid and pulled the pin cushion over it adjusting it quickly before the glue dried). At this point you can also attach some lace/ric rac/pretty ribbon around the lid (overlapping the edge of the crochet) as well.

Yay, all done!

Have a happy Sunday! Janette x x x