by Elena dal Friuli

Created on: May 21, 2010   Last Updated: June 10, 2011

When you open your cupboards and all you can see are mugs of different sizes and themes, it may be time to find a way to recycle them. 

One creative way to reuse them is to turn them into pincushions for your personal use or to share with your sewing friends. 

The following pincushion mug comes with a removable pincushion allowing you to store, inside the mug, small items, such as thread, buttons, and safety pins. 

Materials needed:
Cardboard
Fabric(s)
Stick on Velcro or elastic
Needle and thread
Small Foam or Styrofoam Ball
Scissors
Pencil
Fabric marker or chalk
Mug

Directions:

Make sure the mug is totally clean of any stains, especially if you are planning to present it as a gift to friends and acquaintances.

When choosing the fabric, make sure it complements the colors on the mug or it has the same theme, should the mug display a sport or holiday theme.

Turn the mug face down on the cardboard and trace a circle.

Cut out the circle and use it to draw two larger circles, about 2 inches larger, out of the fabric.

Cover both sides of the circle with the fabric and sew the two pieces together along the edge of the circle. Set aside.

Take the small foam ball and cut it in half, along the width. If the diameter is larger than the cardboard circle, cut the ball above the half mark, so to match its diameter with the diameter of the circle.

Cut a piece of fabric, same pattern or another one to complement the first. This latter piece needs to cover the half foam ball leaving a bit of border to fold under the foam.

Place the covered foam on top of the covered cardboard circle and, with small stitches around the base, secure it to the fabric of the circle.

If you choose to use the elastic, cut a piece a bit smaller than the circumference of the mug and sew it on the border of the fabric covering the circle.

If you choose to use Velcro, stick one side around the mug, just a little bit below its opening, then attach the other side to the fabric, aligning it to the Velcro on the cup and making sure to secure it with a few stitches.

Once finished, place it on top of the mug; it should cover the opening of the mug and the fabric should snuggly hug the mug.

You now have a pincushion mug with a removable lid. 

Fill it with small sewing items and keep it close by for those quick repairs or wrap it with clear paper; close the wrapping with a ribbon, and give it as a gift to a friend or acquaintance.

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