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Hassock Pin Cushion

Hand knit pincushion in the shape of an Edwardian hassock with handles

This knitting pattern was first published in The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times on June 11th, 1911

Materials

  • A small amount of fingering weight yarn. This would be particularly fun to knit with a variegated yarn.
  • A pair of 2.75mm knitting needles
  • Optional: A 2 1/8″ or 53mm diameter circle of felt and pva glue

Size

1″ or 2.5mm tall, 2 1/8″ or 53mm across

Pattern

Cast on 9 stitches and knit every row for 28 inches/71.5cm

Place a marker 6 inches/15cm from one of the short ends. Fold the end of the knitting to this mark to form a loop, and sew in place.

A loop of knitting formed by sewing the cast off edge 6 inches from the end.

Beginning at the other end, roll up the strip of knitting tightly, but without stretching it.

Roll up the strip of knitting from the other end

When you reach the sewn loop, fold the loop over the rolled up knitting. (I made a handy little video because I couldn’t wrap my head around how it works until I tried it).

For the handles on each side, thread a needle with wool, pass it through two thicknesses of the knitting,

How to begin the handles for the hassock pincushion

make a loop over your fore finger from left to right, pass the thread back through the knitting then from right to left, and into the knitting again to form a loop of two threads.

The doubled loop ready for working buttonhole stitch.

Work buttonhole stitch over both threads of the loop, and fasten off neatly.

Working buttonhole stitch over the handle
The finished handles on the hassock pincushion

If desired, glue the circle of felt to the bottom of the pincushion using the pva glue and set aside to dry.

Stick in your pins!

You can make this pincushion fancier by gluing a strip of ribbon or braid around the edge if you would like.