How to Make Cupcake Pincushions

In this instructable I will show you how to make cute soft cupcakes out of felt that can be usedas decorations, play food for kids, or just as decoration in your room. I hope you have fun experimenting with lots of different felts and toppings like I did!

To make your cupcake pincushions, you will need:
1. A paper cupcake case
2. Scissors
3. A needle
4. Embroidery thread in several colours
5. Felt to make the cake and felt to make the topping ( I used beige for the bun and pink for the icing)
6. A felt tip pen or fabric chalk
7. Soft toy stuffing

First of all, you will need to cut up your cupcake case, in order to make a template. Cut down the side and then cut the circle out from the bottom and you will end up with an arc shape and a circle, as seen in the picture.

Next you will need to trace the template onto the felt that you want to use for the base of your cupcake. Add a small extra section to the arc when drawing to account for the stitching up the side. Try to avoid flattening the creases in the cupcake case when you are drawing as this will make the felt arc too long.

Now you will need to sew the bottom circle to the arc shape to make your cupcake 3D. Thread your needle with some embroidery floss that matches the colour of your felt. Overstitch all the way around in a circle. Then, when you have finished, overlap the longer end inside and sew a straight line using running stitch up the side. Finish off at the top, with the excess floss on the interior of the base.

To make the top of the cake, place the finished base open side down on the felt. Trace an even circle around it to ensure that the top will fit on top of the base. Cut out the circle.

To make the icing or topping, trace your top circle onto your second colour of felt (mine is pink). Then, draw a wavy line around the circle to make it look like icing. You can leave it circular if you would rather a perfect layer of icing. Cut this out and lay it on top of your cupcake top.

In order to sew down the icing, sketch out a motif such as a heart, or a topping like sprinkles, a cherry or a strawberry onto the icing. Then, stictch over the design using embroidery floss in the colours you want, ensuring that you are stitching both layers together. Tie a knot at the back and cut when done.

Sew the top to the base using the same methos as before, but this time leave a gap at the end. Stuff the cushion as full as you like and then continue stitching to the end and finish off. If the icing is not sitting flat after stuffing, add a few stitches in a matching colour to the edges to make sure that it stays down. Your cupcake is baked and ready to be eaten. Or stuffed with pins... Enjoy!

No one can ever have too many cute pincushions. Have fun making lots of different flavours and varieties of cupcake to enjoy!