A pincushion is a very useful thing. A jar to store your crafting pretties is another very useful thing. A pincushion and jar combo? Surely a match made in craft-room heaven!
Created entirely in double crochet, this simple little project uses continuous rounds to form a sphere, and you’ll use the increases and decreases you already know to shape the pincushion.
10 x 7cm (4 x 23⁄4in)
Round 1: ch 2, 6dc in 2nd st from hook or 6dc in magic ring
Round 2: 2dc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 3: 2dc in each st around (24 sts)
Rounds 4–5: dc 24
Round 6: *dc 1, 2dc in next stitch*. Repeat around (36 sts)
Round 7: *dc 5, 2dc in next stitch*. Repeat around (42 sts)
Rounds 8–13: dc 42
Round 14: *dc 5, dc2tog*. Repeat around (36 sts)
Use the invisible decrease method here (see The invisible decrease) if you like.
Round 15: *dc 4, dc2tog*. Repeat around (30 sts)
Round 16: dc 30
Round 17: dc2tog around (15 sts)
Fasten off (see Fastening off) and weave in ends (see Weaving in ends).
This is a good place to talk about the right and wrong side of your work, because when you work in one direction, your crochet has a very different front and back.
The right side is the one with continuous ‘V’ stitches.
The wrong side has a row of ‘V’s and a row of dashes.
When I crochet, the right side usually ends up on the inside. If you find the same then simply turn your work out the right way.
Stuff firmly. Then stick the pincushion to the lid of the jam jar and the ribbon around the edge of the lid with glue. Allow to dry and then use to store all your wonderful goodies!
You could make the pincushion taller. All you need to do is repeat rows 8–13 as many times as desired. Or why not make a whole set of these using different sized jam jars. You’ll never lose anything again!