Chicken Pin Cushion Tutorial & Giveaway

The last couple of years we've gotten spring chickens.  It's a wonderful time of year to do that.  But I added chicks in the fall and I have downsized my flock to just the perfect size ~ 23 including the rooster.  All of them are young except Dear Lizzy (my lap chicken) and I could never get rid of her.

Since there will be no spring chicks on the farm
I needed to make some.


Recently, I saw a picture of a chicken pin cushion on the internet.  When I went back to find it, I couldn't.  Don't you just hate it when that happens?  So after some googling and not finding good instructions, I took what I could find and decided to create a tutorial.

If you sew, you can follow along and make a chick. 

And if not,
I'll be giving away a spring chick!
(please note: the giveaway was in spring 2012)
The ones that can enter are the sad ladies that won't be getting real spring chickens this year, like me.
Just leave me a comment and in two weeks, I'll draw a name.

Ok, ready to sew?
First you need fabric (I buy the quilting squares for $2 each):
2- 4 inches square for the body
1- 3 inches square for the large tail feather
1- 2 inches square for the small tail feather
1- 1 1/2 inches square for the beak
and 1- 1x3 inches for the comb
You also need some black embroidery floss.


Fold the 3 inch square in half, then in half again. Pin in place.
Fold the 2 inch square the same way.
With the 1 1/2 inch square you are going to fold and extra time diagonally to create the beak.


 To create the comb, fold the 1x3 piece in half long ways.  Sew a gathering thread down one side.  Gather.


Next pin the beak & comb on one corner of a 4x4 piece.
Each one should be spaced about 3/8 of an inch from the corner.


Now lay the other 4x4 piece face down (right sides together) on top of the other one.  Pin through comb and beak.


Sew with a tight stitch length (I set my machine on 2.5) around these three sides.


Turn right side out and see how cute it already looks.


French knots!  Don't worry ~ they aren't hard.
With the full thickness (six strands) of embroidery floss, thread needle and tie a knot at the end.
From the inside, insert the needle by the beak to make an eye.


  Wrap thread around the needle tightly.


With thread wrapped around, insert needle right next to the hole where the thread came out.  Pull thread through to make the knot. 


Do another french knot on the other side.


Fold unfinished edges of the last side to the inside and press.
If you are impatient like me, you can finger press it down so you don't have to wait for the iron to warm up.


Place side seams together.


Slip tail feathers in and pin.


Sew closed leaving enough room for a funnel tip to be inserted to fill pin cushion.


Grind up some rice with your coffee grinder and fill with the funnel.
{ Don't tell my husband I used the coffee grinder for this ;) }


Using a zipper foot on the sewing machine, sew the hole closed.


Such cute spring chicks.


Leave a comment if you aren't getting spring chicks
and would like a chick pin cushion.
(giveaway was over in 2012)




Comments

  1. No, Kim, spring chicks will not be coming to our house. Maybe the fabric kind, however.
    When I want to sharpen my coffee grinder (it's about 10 years old), I grind up some rice. I think that means you were just sharpening his grinder for him.

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  2. Hi Kim, I can't remember how I found you, but I've so enjoyed your sharing of farm life. We've recently moved to a small-ish farm and just got seven black grown chickens last Friday, so no new chicks here, either. I have plans for some next year though! What a cute pincushion!

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  3. How cute! I WOULD LOVE TO WIN ONE! kevinkaylaarrowood123 at yahoo dot com

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  4. Sadly, no chickens and no sew! Adorable.

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  5. It is funny I was just talking to my husband yesterday about getting some chickens but he turned the idea down. I guess that qualifies me for one of your cute chicks. Please enter me and stop by I am have my 1 year Anniversary giveaway until April 12th.

    Have a lovely day,
    Sue

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  6. How adorable! I love your chicks. Please include me in your drawing.

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  7. yes, i do believe we need one of these :)

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  8. I amnot getting any spring chicks unless they are the Easter peeps, would love a chance at your giveaway. I may have to get the rusty old sewing machine out.

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  9. That is just too cute! Looks pretty simple. Crazy I have the same material as you used on the first bird. I'm impressed with how you figured out how to make her on your own.

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  10. I'm not eligible as we are not only getting laying hen chicks, we'll be raising more broilers and turkeys again as well! BUT I had to tell you how much I adore your pincushion hen! I also wondered if by chance you'd be up for a barter for some goat milk soap?

    Whomever wins this sure is lucky, she's cute!!!

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  11. Adorable...I would enjoy a spring chick pin cushion. Please include me in the drawing.

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  12. I love your little chicks! I have fond memories of chicks in the spring. We kept them in the porch in a small water tank until they got bigger. I loved them. I wish I could have chickens again, but DH doesn't care for poultry. He does like chicken and eggs, but I still haven't convinced him. lol Thanks for the memories.

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  13. Hi,
    No spring chickens for us. We do have 3 laying hens though...love those girlies.
    I have just recently found your blog and have gone through and read every post from years back.
    Love your story.
    Blessings to you,
    Cathy

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  14. How adorable! Thanks for the tutorial on how to make these. No chickens here. Would Love to be entered in your giveaway!!

    sandraallen260@centurytel.net

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  15. You are so talented! They're adorable! I'm getting a few started pullets, does that count? It's up to you, but either way thanks for the tutorial!

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  16. Sew...Cute! I wish my sewing skills were that good. Please enter me for one of your lovlies, as my coop dreams for this year were flooded by early rain. Have a Blessed day

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  17. Precious chicks! We do not have any. I would enjoy a chick pin cushion.

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  18. Our coop has yet to be built, so definitely no chicks for us yet. I'd love to win one of your chick pin cushions! And thank you so much for the tutorial - you make it look so easy to do.

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  19. I think that your "spring chicks" are super cute! I don't even have chickens so definitely not getting spring chicks, although looking into where to buy eggs. I like the first one you showed, you know, just in case I get picked!!

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  20. That is such a charming pin cushion... And a great tutorial

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  21. Trying to leave a comment last night, and it just wouldn't come up. Why does that happen? I'd love to win one, but I'll find someone to grind up the stuffing if not, and try one myself!! love these!!

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  22. KIM!! These little chicks are darling--good job figuring out how to make them! I wish so much that we could have REAL chicks at our house...but maybe a stuffed one will have to suffice :)

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  23. The chicken pin cushions are so cute, since it will be a year before I get my chicks I would love to win one.

    Thanks for the chance! Marsha

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  24. Love the little chicks (much cuter than my tomato!) and your blog!

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  25. Oh I LOVE this!! Too bad I missed the giveaway, lol, but I'll be sure to give it a try and make one:)

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  26. I have been searching for this tutorial! Your tutorial is fabulous and your chicks are adorable. Thank you times a million.
    Chris

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  27. These are just adorable! Can't wait to try a few!

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  28. These are so cute... I hand sew as have no sewing machine to poor to buy one... Kids come first but hands work... I will try one with my 11 year old daughter here soon... Take care be safe... XXX... Karmen

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  29. I hand sew... I don't own a sewing machine so going to try the chicken... Here soon... Take care be safe... XXX... Karmen

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  30. I LOVE your chicken!!! I have no chickens sadly. I have two dogs that sure would love chasing them though!!!

    Thank you SEW much for the tutorial!
    Karen Pollard
    KarenP3720@aol.com

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  31. I just made one. it's fab, it's the first thing I made with my new machine! Thanks Ellen :]

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  32. I don't have any chickens! Have always wanted to make one of these pincushions!

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  33. Such a cute gift for the wives of my husband's high school friends. We meet up every summer and the men fish and the women quilt!

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  34. What a cute gift to give to the wives of my husband's high school buddies. We meet every summer so the guys can fish and the women can quilt. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  35. I love chickens.. decorated my house with them but I do not have a chicken pin cushion. I would love to win, thanks for a chance. And thanks for the tut.. I hope to make some for my quilting buddies... and winning a sample would make that easier. LOL


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    Replies
    1. Jacqueline,
      This give away was last year. Bet you can make one though. They really are easy and fun. I gave all of mine away and still haven't sewn one up for myself. ;)

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  36. There is a similar pattern for these cute little stuffed chickens here:

    http://www.qheartland.com/pd_chicken_pin.cfm

    This one uses log cabin blocks, and isn't quite as easy to construct, but also cute.

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  37. I received a chicken pin cushion from a dear friend who has now gone to be with the Lord. It has always been my favorite pin cushion and is even more special as one of many reminders of her. I want to make these for friends and am very pleased to find out how on your tutorial. Thanks!

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  38. A dear friend gave me a chicken pin cushion several years ago; it has always been my favorite! Now it is a daily reminder of my precious friend who is now with the Lord! I want to make these for friends and thank you for creating this tutorial!

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  39. thanks so much for the cute tutorial. I just sat down and made four in a little over 2 hours. I has some crushed walnut shells that I used instead of the rice but I do love my birds!

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  40. I don't even remember how I found this, but am glad I did. These pincushions are ADORABLE! Thanks for the tut!

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  41. Great tut I am going to have to make a few of these!

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  42. Hello, Kim! I stumbled across your blog when searching for pin cushion ideas; and I LOVE it!
    The pin cushion AND the blog.
    I have to tell you that I about fell over when I saw that you also live in Oklahoma, and on land with your family. In 2010 we moved back into the city after sharing five years on 7.5 acres with my husband's parents. It almost looks like your land is laid out similarly to the way ours was laid out. We would drive up a long drive and each house was off to one side. We so enjoyed the country, and while we had horses, we always dreamed of having all the other precious animals a farm should have. I loved reading about your farmhouse and seeing that you are raising your boys for God. We graduated our oldest two sons from homeschooling, and the younger son and daughter are currently finishing up their last few years in a local public school.
    God bless you and yours. :)

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  43. This is such a cute little bird, has more feathers than our real girls do just at present, but it is the middle of winter here! Tomorrow I will make a copy of the pattern and endeavor to make one. Thank you so very much it most generous of you to share such an ingenious idea, you are very clever,
    Happy sewing and good wishes Beth.

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  44. thanks for the chick pattern, soooo cute!
    beautiful life, family, animals, farm!

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  45. love this tutorial - so easy and quick and SO cute. I was going to try to post a photo of my chicken but can't figure out how to do that!! Our guild is having a pin cushion swap this month - this little chickadee is just perfect for the swap!

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  46. this is so adorable. thanks for the easy tutorial. my mom always had chickens, young and old. her oldest was 21 yrs old. they are so wonderful.

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  47. There's a good tutorial for this chicken pin cushion on Missouri Star Quilt's app and it's on you tube as well...

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  48. Cute Chickens. This year my husband is buying chicks that lay colored eggs. I raise them here at our home until they are big enough for the ranch then they join the flock at our ranch in Covelo located in Northern California.

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