Animal-themed crafts have given me a lot of inspiration, and I’ve always had so much joy designing sock plush toys and Amigurumi for the little ones. However, not forgetting all my fellow sewers out there, this project is for you! This turtle pincushion pattern is a useful all-in-one kit that you could use to store your sewing-related materials in one place 😊.
It is said that when you keep your things organized, you become a more productive person. By doing so, you are able to save time, stop procrastination, be more focused, and possibly even save money!
Turtle Pincushion Pattern
scroll ⬇️ to get the free sewing pattern & tutorial
In this tutorial, you will find two versions of the pincushion pattern;
- The first part of the tutorial and sewing instruction is for the Pincushion with Sewing Kit Combo (as shown in the pictures above). There are step-by-step photos along with the sewing instructions and explanation.
- If you wish to make a smaller, felted-material version of Greeny & Pinky that stacks on top of the combo pincushion, the sewing instructions are right after that.
The materials required to make this sewing kit are relatively straightforward. All you’ll need are some fabrics, black beads, magnets, buttons, elastic band, felt, and poly-fil. As with my other crafts, you will first need to download and print the pattern before starting the project. Then, you must sew the parts separately, fill them with poly-fill, and then sew and stitch the pieces together. Once you’ve combined the shell, scissors pocket, needle pocket, and spool holder, you’re done
What Is The Pincushion’s Size?
This pincushion pattern comes in two sizes, a small 4″ turtle as the basic pincushion and an 8″ turtle with a sewing kit compartment. We have included the sewing pattern with both 4″ and 8″ turtle pincushion patterns so you can download and print them straight away.
However, you may still choose to adjust the size according to your preference by scaling your printing; such as resizing it based on the size of your on-the-go sewing bag! Its compact size makes it extremely useful to bring it around. Just pop it into your bag when you’re off to the café to chill, to visit your in-laws, or even when you’re on vacation! If you have a Xeroes machine, you can even enlarge the pattern to the maximum to sew a larger turtle stuffed animal.
What Can I Keep In The Compartments?
Apart from holding your pins in place, this stuffed turtle has compartments to keep scissors, thread, and sewing needles as shown in the picture above. You can secure your sewing essentials in the turtle’s body without worrying it will fall out from the sections.
Quilters and sewers will find this turtle pincushion sewing pattern handy to keep all the sewing essentials together. Not to mention it even has a pair of magnetic flippers for an easier find in case you dropped your needles where it’s not supposed to be.
Amongst my stuffed-toy collection, like the sock ninja turtle toy pattern, ocean animals have made the least appearance in my projects. Hence, if you’re looking to sew a stuffed turtle for your kids, you may adapt it from this turtle pattern. Just replace the beaded eyes with embroidery eyes for safety purposes! Similarly, you may create a smaller version with the magnetic component and turn it into a fridge magnet to decorate your dining area. If you’re an avid sewer, you can even sew it as a brooch pin, keychain, bag charm, and more! It’ll act as an excellent gift for your turtle-lover friends or family.
If you’re not a fan of turtles or wish to sew a pincushion with other patterns, worry not! Check out this list of pincushion patterns I’ve compiled as an inspiration for you!
Happy Sewing 😊
Turtle Pincushion Sewing Pattern (2 Sizes)
This pincushion pattern comes in two sizes: a small 4-inch turtle as the basic pincushion and an 8-inch turtle with a sewing kit compartment. We have included the sewing pattern with both 4-inch and 8-inch turtle pincushion patterns so you can download and print them straight away.
In this tutorial, you will find two versions of the pincushion pattern;
- The first part of the tutorial and sewing instruction is for the Pincushion with Sewing Kit Combo (as shown in the pictures above). There are step-by-step photos along with the sewing instructions and explanation.
- If you wish to make a smaller, felted-material version of Greeny & Pinky that stacks on top of the combo pincushion, the sewing instructions are right after that.
Enjoy sewing them!
Download and print separately:
SEWING PATTERN for 4-inch Mini Turtle Pincushion
SEWING PATTERN for 8-inch Turtle Pincushion Sewing Kit
Materials
Turtle Pincushion With Sewing Kit (8" Turtle)
- Fabric (Shell) - Cotton 16" x 12"
- Fabric (Body) - Cotton 16" x 14"
- Fabric (Hexagons A, 8 pcs) - 6" x 12"
- Fabric (Hexagons B, 2 pcs) - 3" x 6"
- 5mm dia. black beads, 2 pcs. (for eyes)
- 1/2″ diameter magnet, 3 pcs. 2 for flippers and 1 for body
- Short length of elastic band, 1′.
- Buttons, 3/8″ diameter, 4 pcs.
- Felt for scissor and needle compartment
- Poly-fill Stuffing Materials
- Bean for stuffing (optional)
- Template Pattern
Mini Turtle Pincushion (4″ Turtle)
- Fabric (Shells) – Cotton 8″ x 6″
- Fabric (Body) – Felt 4″ x 7″
- Fabric (Hexagon A, 8 pcs) – Cotton 4″ x 8″
- Fabric (Hexagon B, 2 pcs) – Cotton 2″ x 4″
- Batting (5mm loft) or poly-sponge – 4.5″ x 3.5″
- 3mm black color beads x 2
- Poly-fill Stuffing Materials
- Cardboard 3.5″ x 3.5″
- Template Pattern
Tools
- Sewing Machine, or you may hand sewn it
- Sewing needles & pins
- Water Erasable Fabric Marker
- Printer
Instructions
HOW TO SEW TURTLE PINCUSHION
Turtle Pincushion With Sewing Kit (8″)
- Download the 8" turtle pincushion pattern and print it out on cardstock. Cut out the template for tracing.
- Trace and cut out all fabrics according to patterns and seam allowances.
Body: With the right side together, sew around the head, flippers, and tail (don't sew on the edges that mark with '✱'. Clip the curved seam allowance then turns them right side out.
Pin the tail to the body with the tip pointing towards the head. Sew the body without attaching any flippers or head, but just the tail.
Insert a magnet into each front flipper and stuff with poly-fill stuffing material.
- The magnet should be opposite in polarity so that they can attract each other.
- To make the turtle heavier on the back flippers, put in some beans (or stuffing pallets) to the back flippers. Cover it with poly-fill at the opening.
Otherwise, just fill the back flippers with the poly-fill.
- Stuff the head with poly-fill. Sew the beads to make eyes. Pull the thread tight to set the eyes into the head.
Embroidery stem stitch for the mouth.
- Snip a small vertical line of about 1.5″ at the center of the body, turn the fabric right side out from this opening. Stuff in poly-fill and mend the opening. If you have fray checks, put a few drops. The opening will be covered by the top shell, no one will see the “scar”.
- Slip Stitch the head to attach it to the body. Try to tilt the head up and sew a few stitches on the top of the neck to make it stay in position.
- Place the body on top of the shell paper pattern as a reference. Pin the flippers at the correct positions. Sew them in place after you are absolutely satisfied with where they are.
- Shell: Baste the batting on the wrong side of the top and bottom shells. Place another piece of the respective shell fabric at the bottom with the right side together. Sew around the line and clip the seam allowance of the curved edges.
Prepare the hexagon quilt block. Iron to set the shape, remove the basting stitches and cardboard. Please refer to the tutorial of basic hexagon quilting for this English paper piecing technique.
- Snip a vertical line on the shell to turn the fabric right side out. Smooth out the curve, mend the opening. Press.
Baste the hexagon quilt block on top of the shell and slip stitch along the edges of the hexagon block.
- Topstitch as per pattern. Removed the basting stitches.
- Stitch the top shell to the body.
- Repeat the same step on the bottom shell for turning the fabric right side out, try to minimize the opening to about 1 1/4″. Patch a big hexagon block any slip stitching it on the bottom shell to cover the “mending scar”. Tise big green hexagon is 400% of the original pattern (Not included in the template). Topstitch as per pattern.
Slip stitch a hexagon while placing a magnet in it. (optional, to be a fridge magnet)
- Add a scissor pocket: Position a small scissor on the inner side of the bottom shell. Cut a short length (about 4″) of an elastic band, tie a knot and sew it at the middle of the shell.
Sew a button in the finger hole to tie your scissor in place.
Prepare a felt to make a pocket for the scissor. Fold the top and bottom edges and sew. Allowing more overlapping for the bottom, we are going to use it to cushion the sharp shear tip.
- Open up the bottom fold of the pocket and stitch the edge to the inner side of the bottom shell as shown.
- Sew the side with the blanket stitch. The pocket to hold a scissor is done.
- Add a needle pocket: Cut another piece of felt, fold it in half and sew it on the bottom body.
Add a spool holder: Make another elastic band and button set to hold the thread spool at the tail area.
Sew 2 loops of an elastic band at each side of the body.
- Place the bottom shell to the body and mark the position of the buttons for the elastic loops. Sew button and fasten off the bottom shell to the body.
- The rear view of the turtle with a spool of thread at the tail.
4" Mini Turtle Pincushion
Download the mini turtle pincushion pattern and print it out on cardstock. Cut out the template for tracing.
Trace and cut out all fabric and felt pieces according to patterns and seam allowances.
Body: With the felt pieces align together, sew around the head, flippers, and tail (don't sew on the edges that mark with '✱' with blanket stitches.
Stuff all parts except the tail with poly-fill stuffing materials.
Sew the beads onto the face to form eyes.
Sew around the body (same pattern as the bottom shell) with blanket stitches and add in the head, tail, and limbs at the respective markings. Stuff the body with poly-fill stuffing before complete the sewing.
Shells: Baste the batting on the wrong side of the top and bottom shells. Place another piece of the respective shell fabric at the bottom with the right side together. Sew around the line and clip the seam allowance of the curved edges.
Snip a vertical line on the shell to turn the fabric right side out. Smooth out the curve, mend the opening. Press.
Prepare the hexagon quilt block. Iron to set the shape, remove the basting stitches and cardboard. Please refer to the tutorial of basic hexagon quilting for this English paper piecing technique.
Baste the hexagon quilt block on top of the top shell and slip stitch along the edges of the hexagon block.
Topstitch the decoration lines for both top and bottom shell respectively.
Joining Up: Sandwich the top and bottom shells to the body, hand-sew the shell perimeter to the body.
~Done~
Notes
Seam allowance:
- 3/8″ on all cotton fabrics.
- No seam allowance needed for felt material except the side mark with ✱, leave a 1/4″ seam allowance on ✱ side
- No seam allowance needed for batting
Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/sew-turtle-pincushion-pattern/
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Dubliners099
Thursday 15th of July 2021
I love this pattern, but it's so small that it's impossible to sew, turn pieces inside out, and stuff. I increased the size of the larger turtle by 110% so that it was 10% bigger than the original; still, I've spent hours trying to sew it... I think I will get it done, but it's a huge time suck. Definitely a labor of love for my sister, that's for sure. I'm an experienced hand and machine sewer for 45 years plus. If others have sewed this (not just viewed the pattern), I'd be interested in their experience. Like I said, beautiful pattern, just not very sew-friendly.
Jdexdesign
Saturday 12th of June 2021
Made it for a friend she loved it!
Brinda Coble
Tuesday 7th of January 2020
Is there a print version of the instructions?
Pam MacKenzie
Sunday 5th of January 2020
My suggestion for a name for your sweet Turtle is "Shellie". Thank you for this so cute pattern
Quick Machine Sew Hexagon Flower Quilt Block • Craft Passion
Tuesday 9th of July 2019
[…] can also sew the hexies on the shell of the Turtle Pincushion shown below with this quick method too. (My previous tutorial for this turtle pincushion was using […]