Handmade Christmas Challenge - July

This month, I have been making pin cushions for some of my sewing friends for Christmas gifts. They are my July entry for Sew Cal Gal's  "A Handmade Christmas Challenge".

I took a pledge in January on Sew Cal Gal's web site to make handmade gifts and decorations for Christmas. Those of us who took the pledge post them then link them up and get a chance to win a prize via a random drawing at the end of the year. I didn't enter for the prizes, but because I really like the idea of making some nice things for Christmas, either as decorations or for giving. I usually don't think of doing something like this until Thanksgiving, and then it's too late and I'm too busy. So I decided to take the challenge! (The prizes are really pretty cool, though, so you might want to take the pledge as well. Never to late to get started on those Christmas gifts!)

The pin cushions I made this month are these adorable birds. The pattern is a free download from Sharon Holland Designs. Check out her blog - she has some really cute designs that could make great gifts.

Little Birdie Pincushion by Sharon Holland Designs

As you can see, I made eight of these using small scraps of fabric. The pattern calls for stuffing them with fiberfill with a base weighted by rice or pellets, but instead, I filled the head areas (and the wings and tails) with fiberfill, then filled the main body with finely ground walnut shells (bought at the pet shop.) That gave them weight and a pleasant bean bag feel. I did try to fill one so that the head and body was completely filled with the walnut shells, but that meant the head sort of lost its shape and the bird looked too fat to me.

Seven of these are destined for gifting, but I like them so much, I'm keeping the red birdie as a Christmas ornament for my sewing room. I like to have something festive in every room in the house at Christmas - it's my favorite time of year.

Do check out the other July entries for Sew Cal Gal's Handmade Christmas Challenge. There are some cute gifts and several lovely Christmas quilts this month. Take a look; you may be inspired to make your own Handmade Christmas!