Are you a cat lover, stitching enthusiast who adores a good DIY project?
Then this one’s for you!!
Even better if you like quick make-it-yourself crafts that are functional too.
Yes, especially ones that are cute and show off some feline features!
Those are just so dang cuuuuuute! 😊
That’s pretty much how this one came to be!
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
PURR-FECT PATCHWORK BOOK
Back in July, Pamela reached out to me because:
- I’m a sewer; and
- I love cats (well, most of them anyways!)
And so, she thought I’d be a perfect sewist to make a project from her new book *Purr-fect Patchwork.
With all that’s been going on in the studio, I’ve been seriously strapped for time. But I also love supporting fellow creatives when I can, especially when it’s such a fun project!
My response back was “my schedule is cray-cray, but if you have a small project that I can whip up quickly, then I’m in!”.
Pamela suggested two projects that fit the ‘make in a flash’ criteria and the Stabby Tabby Pincushion was the one that stole my heart.
I mean come on, how adorable is this DIY pincushion?
STABBY TABBY PINCUSHION
With the project selected, I set about selecting my cat head materials.
I started with my fabric and knew I was going to feature solids. Since I had Pips in mind, I decided to keep the colours on the neutral side but added a couple of pops of colour with the purple and pink felt ears and nose. Both of which were leftovers from making the Christmas Advent Calendar way back when.
The cat head took not time at all to stitch. It almost went too quickly!
From there, I dug out my button storage container and found a couple of matching ones for the eyes. Which I opted to stitch down with 12wt Aurifil Thread in this yummy grellow colour.
When it came time to stuff the pin cushion, I decided to use batting scraps. Which probably explains why the head is a little lumpy! But I have so many trimmings on hand, it’s nice to use them up in these smaller sewing projects.
I tied in the nose with the pink ribbon to finish it off.
Voila! Pips now has a new treat storage container 😊
HIGHLIGHTS OF MAKING THE STABBY TABBY PINCUSHION
There’s minimal sewing involved and, what’s fun, is that you can bust out materials and notions you might not use on the regular. I’m looking at you glue gun and buttons!
There is nothing complex in this project. If you know your way around a sewing machine, iron and a little hand stitching, then this will be easy peasy for you.
The trickiest bit for me was hot glueing the felt base to the metal lid, without having any of it pop up to the top.
Blergh.
This took me a minute and it’s not exaaaaactly as I would like it.
Pamela even included a note about adding a few beads of glue to the inner rim. I didn’t do that, but I definitely will try that next time. I suggest you start with adding glue to the inner rim, but make sure you add it after slipping the cat head through, otherwise you’ll have glue all over your pin cushion.
MATERIALS FEATURED IN THE STABBY TABBY PINCUSHION
It’s always so helpful to have a full overview of all the materials and notions you’ll need to tackle a project. So, here’s a roundup of everything I used to create my very own Stabby Tabby Pincushion:
- Stabby Tabby Pincushion pattern – featured in the *Purrfect Patchwork book
- *Teal
- *Ochre
- *Light Blue
- White, purple and pink felt – this rainbow kit is similar to what I initially stocked
- Buttons
- *Pink Ribbon
- *Hot glue gun
- Needle
- *Thimble
- *50wt thread – for piecing and basting
- 12wt thread – for buttons
- Batting scraps or *poly fill
- Glass jar with detachable metal lid
AFTERHOUGHTS
I realized a few things while I was making this pin cushion and thoughts I’d share some of those observations with you:
It was super helpful having these notions and tools I don’t use often properly stored and easy to access. I was thanking myself for keeping a well stocked ‘craft cabinet’ – ha! I don’t often tackle crafts per se, but it’s nice having these items on hand and not having to run to the store for the odd bits and bobs. I don’t know about you, but having to run errands to move a project forward often leads to the project stalling.
Forgive me, but since I don’t often craft, my crafting talents aren’t that stellar. When I was trying to get the cat head glued in place, I started feeling like I wasn’t doing Pamela’s pattern the most justice. The project turned out super cute; and next time she’ll be even better now that I have a better understanding of how to do the gluing bit 😉
Early on I knew I wasn’t going to use this as a pin cushion. Instead, my plan was to fill the container with Pips’ treats. I love the noise it makes when I shake the bottle and Pips comes running for his yummy snack (super helpful when enticing him inside)!
PURR-FECT PATCHWORK BOOK BLOG TOUR
To see more of the cat centric projects in the *Purr-fect Patchwork book, be sure to check out the other makers participating in the blog tour. We’re all stitching up something unique, so you’ll get lots of inspiration on how you can add your own spin 😊
Fri. August 20:
Pamela Jane Morgan
C&T Publishing
Sat. August 21:
Sherri Noel | Chasing Dreams Quilt
Shannon Fraser | Stabby Tabby Pincushion (you’re here!)
Sun. August 22:
Lorna McMahon |Get Your Paws Off the Tablerunner
Tracy Brittain Loyek | Purr-fect Pocket Tote
Mon. August 23:
Natalie Santini | Hiss and Make Up Bag
Kaitlyn Howell | Ziggy Kitty Quilt
Tue. August 24:
Audrey Mann | Just Kitten Around Pillow
Charisma Horton | Feline Floral Quilt
Wed. August 25:
Mollie Johanson | Tale of Two Kitties Needle Book
Corinne Sovey | Tuxedo Cat Wristlet
Thu. August 26:
Melissa Averinos | Blooming Curiosity Quilt
Jeni Gaston | Whisker Away Quilt
Fri. August 27:
Tonya Alexander | Cat Nap Pillow #1
Nichole Vogelsinger | Cat Nap Pillow #2
Sat. August 28:
Stacey Day | Laser Cat Quilt
Amanda Niederhauser | Self Pawtrait Softie
GIVEAWAY (closed)
What’s even more fun is that you now have a chance to win your very own eBook of Purr-fect Patchwork!
To enter:
- Leave a comment below sharing what you’d store in your Stabby Tabby Pincushion jar!
- Comment must be left by 11:59pm August 29, 2021.
That’s it, I’ll pick a winner at random from the comments and share who the winner is on August 30!
UPDATE: the giveaway is now closed. The winner of the eBook is Ellee! Congratulations!! 😊
xo,
Shannon
PS if you just can’t wait and need to add this cutie to your home, grab your copy of *Purr-fect Patchwork here.
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Really cute Shannon! If I were to make this, I think I would totally copy you and use it as treat storage for Puffs.
OMGeee, Izzy, I LOVE Puffs name – that’s just too cuuuuute!!
Love this!!! I would also store “kitty cookies” in mine
‘Kitty cookies’ I LOVE that, Judy!!
I showed my cat– he thinks this is a good idea (the treats, he could care less about a pincushion)
Hahaha!! Clearly your guy knows ‘the good stuff’ 😺😺😺 I’d want the treats too 😘
Moi je mettrais ce que j’ai besoin lorsque je fais une séance de couture dehors durant l’été: mes aiguilles, mon fuseau de fil, mon dé à coudre etc.
J’adore cette idée 🙌
My sewing room has pincushions of course but no treat jar, so I would make this to hold treats for my furry helpers, Eve and Lily.
Oh, I bet Eve and Lily would love a treat jar in your sewing room! No doubt they spend lots of time in there with you!
This is the cutest thing I’ve seen 😻 I’d store my pins, safety pins and bobbins that I actually have in jars but boring right now, it’d be amazing with the Stabby Tabby pincushion on top😍
Stabby Tabby really takes your storage to next level cuuuuuteness!!!
I think I would store exactly what you did! Kitty treats for my quilt inspectors!!
Ha! I’ve got a little quilt inspector too! Treats are a great reward – especially when stored in a cute container 😉
I think your pin cushion turned out very cute! I’ve made a couple pin cushion jars in the past and also struggled with the gluing part, I admire people who are comfortable with the hot glue gun and can manipulate it so smoothly. I would also be inclined to store cat treats in this pin cushion jar, it’s such a great idea!
Yes! I would like to be a smooth wielding hot glue gun operator and I’m so far from that – ha!! Love your treat storage idea!
You did a fantastic job Shannon. I have made lots of crafty things but I definitely prefer not to, esp when adhesives are involved! 😹I will definitely make an exception here though. This would be a perfect jar for Tigger’s treats. 😻
I see we twin on issues with the glue gun – ha!! No doubt yours would be cute as a button and Tigger would totally approve 🙂
You did such a great job Shannon! I’m not too jazzed about making crafty things either, especially when they involve adhesives. 😹 But I may have to make an exception for this one. This would be an adorable topper for Tigger’s treat jar. 😻
Thank you for your kind words, Ruth-Anne! Fingers crossed Tigger gets a new treat jar 😉
Tigger needs one of these for her treat jars! 😻
Definitely makes for a cute treat storage – Tigger would be pleased 😉
I think you did a great job! What would I store: Dark Chocolate m&m’s or mint m&m’s 😉
Chocolate storage is up there on my list too, Judi!
Very cute. I’m sure the cat will still knock it over at my house, but it will be cute when it happens.
LOL – Pips seldom knocks things off tables, but it’s super cute when he does!!
Shannon my Tigger needs this cute topper on her treat jar but I’m thinking my niece might need a kitty jar for her school supplies! 😻
I love both ideas, Ruth-Anne! School supplies would look extra extra cute 😉
My quilt inspectors agree this is a great way to store those treats to bribe them for their rave reviews of my quilting ❤😻
Hahaha – I’ve never thought of bribing Pips for a good review – genius!!
This is the book this crazy cat lady has been waiting for her whole life!! So many neat projects!! I have 3 kitties who run the show around here: Oni – goddess of love, Master Claude – he who they bow to, Miss Lillian – femme fatale to the nth degree!
Adorable cat names, Ann! I can only imagine how much fun they bring to your home!
I’d store my curved basting safety pins.
Cute place to store those essential basting pins!
This Stabby Tabby project is so cute! I would put kitty treats in it and give it to my granddaughter for her cat, Biscuit!
Oh, that’s such a great idea, Elizabeth! Also, ‘Biscuit’ is just too cuuuuuute!
Treats “fur” me …. Almond M & M’s. My cat’s treats are in the pantry.
hahaha “fur me” – love it!
I have a drawer near my sewing machine – with a cookie bin with treats for my cat. It’s the same drawer with the pincushions. She likes to pick all the pins one by one from my pincushon, so I can’t leave them on the table. Maybe I sould put the treats extra :–)
What a cute habit your cat has! I love hearing of these special moments 🙂
This is soooo cute!! I would also put cat treats in one – maybe my binding clips in another – because I’m not sure I could stop at one! Thanks for sharing
Totally agree it’s tough to stop at just making one, Pam!!
My cat always visits my sewing room, so I love the idea of having kitty treat there for him in this adorable pincushion.
A little treat for him when he comes for a visit – love that idea, Jory!
What a great AHA” moment! I will definitely be doing this to top the treat jar. I have a world of pincushions, but this will make for a one-of-a-kind treat jar. Thanks!
How fun to add a new style of pincushion to your collection, LisaRose!
Buttons! Totally satisfying rattle.
Totally satisfying rattle is right, Debby!!!
I would put Wonder Clips or Almond M&Ms.
I will be making some of these.
Gosh, it’s been so long since I last had almond M&Ms!
Thanks so much for being on the blog tour! I’m learning about so many designers I didn’t know existed! I am in love with this new book, as a cat lady it’s a MUST have! If I don’t win an ebook I will purrchase the book cause there are so many cool things to make! I adore the pincushion you made, it will make purrfect gifts for my cat lady friends. Hugs from NC, KittyAnn
From one fellow cat lady to another this book will be riiiiiiight up your alley, KittyAnn! Good luck 🙂
I was thinking buttons, but I like the idea of cat treats! I’d need to make two though, since my spoiled kitties get different treats.
I call that well taken care of kitties, Julia!! Plus that means double the fun for you to make two Stabby Tabby pincushions 😉
this is very cute! I would probably put cat treats in the jar because whenever I am working on something I have 1 or 2 “helpers”.
Aren’t our ‘helpers’ the best?! My little guy loves getting in on the sewing fun too!
I have lots of loose buttons that need a home like this. Thanks for your detailed instructions and tips.
Great place to store all those loose buttons, Kathie!
I love this kitty pin cushion. I would make more than one to store different things in. Wonder Clips, buttons, M&M’s, etc
A collection of Stabby Tabby pincushions for all your essential notions is a great idea, Cindy!! They’d look so cute all lined up!
Super cute! I love the idea of using this for treat storage, and it would also make a cute vintage button jar.
It would definitely make for an adorable vintage button storage jar too!!
Hmmm… I’d need a much bigger jar to store the cat treats in, LOL. I could store extra pins in the jar.
LOL! I see your kitties get extra-extra goodies 😉 Love it!
I have a dozen or more blue glass jars, saved after I’ve taken the Evening Primrose Oil, so probably smaller than your jar (sorry, Pips and friends – fewer treats!). I don’t know what I want to store in them, but a range of pincushion “cat-hats” would help identify what was in each, as well as brightening up the shelf.
Yes!! Love the idea of using the different cat heads as a way of identifying the contents! Not to mention, it really would add a nice bright pop to your shelf!
I have 3 cats, so I love a good cat related craft! I’d store all those bits of leftover notions & thread from the multitude of ‘sewing kits’ I’ve been gifted over the years. I use a few parts, lose a few parts, and end up with a handful of partial kits. But wouldn’t this jar be a purrr-fect place to consolidate them to one place?!
What a clever idea, Angela! It would make for the cutest catchall of all the odd bits and bobs!
Since my kitties have passed on in the last couple of years (and dear Hubby says “no more”), I’d make one with black and gray fabrics in their honor and fill it with treats for me!
Oh, Ellen, I’m sending you the biggest hug. Looking our kitties has got to be one of the hardest things to face. I love your silver lining — “treats for me!” 🙂
This jar would be best used by me for M&Ms for sure!
Can never go wrong storing sweet treats!!
this tab of your blog has been open on my laptop for ages.
I love the kitty pincushion.
I want to make this.
I missed the give away, so I hope there was a super happy winner.
I believe…. I will make this pincushion (soon) but attaching to a jar? not in my house. Miles and Princess are two very naughty cornish rex kitties. If I stored treats in a jar like this, either one of them would wack the jar to the floor, the jar would break and there would be ‘crunchies” everywhere. So, I would not put kitty crunchies in the jar.
I would probably store some ribbons.
Most of my pin cushions are deep because every now and then one of these mischief makers decided to pull a few pins.
Sometimes I just cover the cushions with a plastic cup or bowl and they do not give that a second glance.
I love this pin cushion and your idea is sweet
You totally made me laugh, Rosemary! Your naughty cornish rex kitties sound like a hoot with lots of personality! And you make an excellent point about ‘crunchies’ and glass not mixing. Pips doesn’t seem too bad about knocking things off tables/shelves/etc.
Have you tried magnetic pin cushions? I have one in my studio where I ‘store’ my pins at the end of each of my sewing sessions so I know they’re all securely in one place.
How much we worry about our lil’ furry friends!
Adorable! Such fun projects in this book!
Yes! There really are so many fun projects, Lee!!