The pincushions from over a hundred years ago were weird and the ladies, trapped in their homes over the long winter months, were definitely stir crazy.
The following instructions for making cattail pincushions were originally published in 1896 and include instructions on how to also make other odd pincushions.
Novel Pincushions
A pincushion is by no means a new gift, but it always seems to fill a want no matter where it goes. One novel design has a top made of cotton and covered with brown velvet to represent a cattail.
The leaves are of crinoline, covered with satin, and the step is of coarse wire, also covered with ribbon. The leaves can be bought for a penny or two at any store and will cost less than ribbon for covering pasteboard or other stiffening.
Once put together, the cattail cushion is an ornament to any bedroom.
Peapod
Another odd little trifle is the pea pod pincushion. It is 4-1/2 inches long by 1-1/2 in the widest place and is covered with bright green satin drawn smoothly over pea pod shaped pieces of cardboard. The cushion proper, which stuffs out the bursting pod, is also covered with green satin and has peas painted down the center. Loops of green baby ribbon are fastened at the stem end.
Hanging Pincushion
For a hanging pincushion the Welsh hat is quaint. It is made of cardboard and covered with black satin. Inside the crown the round pincushion of yellow velvet is fixed, but it raised in the center much higher than the brim. The hat is suspended by the yellow satin strings, which are tied into a bow.
Coal Scuttle Pincushion
A coal scuttle pincushion is made of copper colored velvet. Inside it is a black satin cushion for the pins.
Cigar
Then comes a cigar pincushion of giant size. This should be covered with brown satin of the right shade and must be tied round and suspended by yellow china ribbon of narrow width.
Group of Cushions
A group of cushions with scent bottle in the center makes a pretty ornament for the toilet table, and now that so many different kinds of pins are used it is useful as well as ornamental.
Cut out a good sized star in the cardboard and pencil a circle in the center for the scent bottle to stand on; let the points of the star be rather short. This cardboard star is the frame or foundation for the pincushion, which, when made, will be firmly attached to it.
For each point make a cushion to fit; it must quite cover the point and reach inward as far as the circle. The height is to be about two inches. The effect is charming if each cushion is covered with a different brocade – blue, pink, yellow, white, and cream – of small pattern.
Line the face of the cardboard foundations with pink sateen, sew the cushions firmly on to the points with strong thread, then line the back of the star with sateen.
Cut some bright gold satin on the cross, full it up by running three tiny tucks in it and drawing the threads until it is gathered enough. A double heading is requisite on both sides. Edge the star cushions outside with this satin, leaving only the tops visible. Put a handsome glass scent bottle in the center space and tie the neck with a large bow of bright gold satin ribbon.
Source: The times. (Owosso, Mich.), 18 Dec. 1896.
