A Design Just For YOU!!!

As promised, I've designed a sunflower pin cushion just for my dear Blog visitors!! Let's make one, shall we?
For the pincushion in the photo above, I used worsted weight wool and a 4.25 mm hook. As gauge isn't important in this project, just use whatever yarn or thread you like and the hook which is recommended for that size. I've made a couple more in fingering yarn and crochet thread which will be great for broaches, I think.
As an overview, here's what you will be doing. There will be three parts to the pincushion. All the petals are made on one piece. The top and bottom are made separately and then joined with the petal piece in the middle. Here we go!!

Start with a magic circle (directions on you tube for lots of methods).
Round 1 - chain 2 and made 19 double crochets into the circle. Tighten the circle and join to the beginning chain 2 with a slip stitch. You should have 20 stitches in this round. (20)

 Round two - chain 2, *make two double crochets in the next double crochet of the first round, and one double crochet in the next stitch from the first round.* Repeat what is between * and * all around. You have added 10 stitches so you should have 30 stitches in the whole round. (30)

Now it's time to make the petals!! It may seem a little crowded, but you'll make a petal in each stitch of the second round.
Round 3 -*chain 2, 2 double crochets, triple crochet, chain 3, slip stitch in the 3rd chain from the hook, triple crochet, 2 double crochets, chain 2, slip stitch into next stitch.* Repeat * to * for each stitch of round 2 making 30 petals.

The really neat thing about making this round is that you can push the petals forward and backward making a really thick, full, flower.

You might take a moment to pinch the chain 3 part in the middle of the petal to form the pointy part of each petal. When you've finished all the petals, finish off with the last slip stitch.

Now for the center! You will be working in a spiral so you might want to use stitch markers to mark the rounds. Essentially, you will start with a circle of 6 stitches and then be adding 6 stitches to each round until the circle is as big as you wish to go in the middle of the flower. When it's big enough you will make a cushion to sit inside the flower by single crocheting into the back loops and then decreasing to close up the little cushion.
Again, start with a magic circle.
Round 1 - 6 single crochet into the circle (6 stitches)
Round 2 - 2 single crochets into each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 3 - *2 single crochets, single crochet* around the center (18 stitches)
Round 4 - *2 single crochets, single crochet, single crochet* repeat between * and * around (24 stitches)
Now you'll be starting to form the cushion. When you stop adding stitches, the sides will turn up.
Round 5 - single crochet into the back loops of each single crochet of round 4. (24 stitches)
Round 6 - single crochet into each single crochet of round 5 (24 stitches)
Round 7 - repeat round 6 (24 stitches)
With this last round the thickness of the sides of the cushion is made. If you want a ticker cushion, make more rounds here.
Now you will be closing up the back of the cushion.
Round 8 - *single crochet two stitches together* repeat around
Round 9 - repeat round 8
Round 10 - repeat round 9
Add stuffing as required for the puffiness you like!

As this little cushion will be open side down, there's no need to completely close it up. But if you wish to do so, just use a tapestry needle and piece of matching yarn and gather up the small hole and finish it off with a knot.

Now, you'll need a center back piece to make the cushion look really finished.
For this, just repeat the center front you've just made:
Crochet  again rounds 1 through 4.
You should have three pieces!

Layer the petals between the front and back centers and sew through the layers using a tapestry needle and the color yarn or threat you used for the centers. An earlier blog post shows this step if you'd like to look.

Please write if you have questions! I hope you will enjoy this pin cushion. I'm working on some smaller versions to use for decorations on hats, purses, or jackets, or just about anything!!

Please feel free to use this pattern in any way you wish.