How to Make a Cactus Pincushion
Liven up your sewing station with this DIY cactus-shaped pincushion. It’s an easy project to bring a dash of cuteness to any craft room.
![A Place for Your Pins Two green felt cactus pin cushions](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_11-2_final.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391925085.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2017/3/15/0/HGTV-Handmade-2017_Karen-Kavett-horizontal.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.91.91.85.suffix/1612368738514.jpeg)
Sick of losing your needles while working on your latest sewing project? We've got a fun, cute and crafty solution for you. With the help of HGTV Handmade's Karen Kavett, learn how to make an easy-to-sew, cactus-shaped DIY pincushion.
![DIY Cactus Pincushion](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/video/9/96/962/9629/9629644.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.1280.720.85.suffix/1660746340645.jpeg)
Materials + Tools
- green, tan and pink felt
- card stock
- scissors
- pencil
- sewing machine
- fiberfill
- green, white and pink embroidery thread
- embroidery needle
- pink bead
- flowerpot
- styrofoam
- craft knife
- low-temp hot glue gun
- sewing pins
Cut Out Your Template
Cut a template out of card stock in the shape of a rectangle with a rounded top. You can fold the card stock in half before cutting to ensure the curve is symmetrical. Be sure that when unfolded, the template fits inside your flowerpot.
![Cut Template template for cactus-shaped DIY pincushion](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_1-1_cardstock.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923109.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Trace and Cut
Trace the template onto the green felt and cut it out six times (Image 1 + 2).
![Trace the template onto green felt and cut it out six times.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_2-1_trace-pattern.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923168.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Trace the template onto green felt and cut it out six times.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_2-2_green-pieces.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923041.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Sew and Trim the Edges
Pair up the felt pieces and sew around the edges, leaving the bottom open. You should end up with three sewn pieces (Image 1 - 3). Trim the edges, being careful not to cut through the thread (Image 4).
![Pair up the felt pieces and sew around the edges, leaving the bottom open. You should end up with three sewn pieces. Trim the edges, being sure not to cut through the thread.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_3-1_stack-pieces.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923526.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Pair up the felt pieces and sew around the edges, leaving the bottom open. You should end up with three sewn pieces. Trim the edges, being sure not to cut through the thread.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_3-2_sewing-pieces.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923086.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Pair up the felt pieces and sew around the edges, leaving the bottom open. You should end up with three sewn pieces. Trim the edges, being sure not to cut through the thread.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_3-3_sewn.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923153.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Pair up the felt pieces and sew around the edges, leaving the bottom open. You should end up with three sewn pieces. Trim the edges, being sure not to cut through the thread.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_3-4_trim-edges.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923220.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Stack and Sew
Stack all of the pieces on top of each other and sew a line up the center (Image 1 - 5).
![Stack all of the pieces on top of each other and sew a line up the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_4-1_stack-all.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923221.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Stack all of the pieces on top of each other and sew a line up the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_4-2_sew-line.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923298.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Stack all of the pieces on top of each other and sew a line up the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_4-3_sewing.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923319.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Stack all of the pieces on top of each other and sew a line up the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_4-4_sewn-line.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923930.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Stack all of the pieces on top of each other and sew a line up the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_4-5_open-sections.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923720.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Stuff Your Cactus Pincushion
Stuff each section with fiberfill, using a pencil to push it in (Image 1 - 3).
![Stuff each section with fiberfill, using a pencil to push it in.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_5-1_stuffing.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923443.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Stuff each section with fiberfill, using a pencil to push it in.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_5-2_stuffed.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923499.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Stuff each section with fiberfill, using a pencil to push it in.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_5-3_stuffed-bottom.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923526.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Add a Felt Flower
Cut a small flower from pink felt (Image 1). Use pink embroidery thread to sew it onto the top of the cactus, optionally adding a pink bead into the center (Image 2 + 3).
![Cut a small flower from pink felt. Use pink embroidery thread to sew it onto the top of the cactus, optionally adding a pink bead into the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_6-1_felt-flower.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923608.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Cut a small flower from pink felt. Use pink embroidery thread to sew it onto the top of the cactus, optionally adding a pink bead into the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_6-2_felt-flower-sewing.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923622.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Cut a small flower from pink felt. Use pink embroidery thread to sew it onto the top of the cactus, optionally adding a pink bead into the center.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_6-3_felt-flower-sewn.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391925320.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Create Cactus Spikes
Cut small pieces of white embroidery thread and use an embroidery needle to thread them through the cactus (Image 1 + 2). Tie a double knot and trim the ends to create a cactus spike (Image 3 + 4). Add these randomly all over the cactus (Image 5).
![Cut small pieces of white embroidery thread and use an embroidery needle to thread them through the cactus. Tie a double knot and trim the ends to get a cactus “spike.” Add these randomly all over the cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_7-1_white-thread.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924261.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Cut small pieces of white embroidery thread and use an embroidery needle to thread them through the cactus. Tie a double knot and trim the ends to get a cactus “spike.” Add these randomly all over the cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_7-2_sewing-spike.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923826.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Cut small pieces of white embroidery thread and use an embroidery needle to thread them through the cactus. Tie a double knot and trim the ends to get a cactus “spike.” Add these randomly all over the cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_7-3_knotting-spike.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924131.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Cut small pieces of white embroidery thread and use an embroidery needle to thread them through the cactus. Tie a double knot and trim the ends to get a cactus “spike.” Add these randomly all over the cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_7-4_trimming-spike.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391923929.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Cut small pieces of white embroidery thread and use an embroidery needle to thread them through the cactus. Tie a double knot and trim the ends to get a cactus “spike.” Add these randomly all over the cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_7-5_spikes.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924039.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Make the Pieces for Your Flowerpot
Trace the top of your flowerpot onto tan felt and cut it out (Image 1 + 2). Trace this circle onto Styrofoam (Image 3) and use a craft knife to carve a piece that fits snugly into your flowerpot (Image 4 + 5).
![Trace the top of your flowerpot onto tan felt and cut it out. Trace this circle onto Styrofoam and use a craft knife to carve a piece that fits snugly into your flowerpot.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_8-1_trace-circle.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924955.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Trace the top of your flowerpot onto tan felt and cut it out. Trace this circle onto Styrofoam and use a craft knife to carve a piece that fits snugly into your flowerpot.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_8-2_cut-circle.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924360.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Trace the top of your flowerpot onto tan felt and cut it out. Trace this circle onto Styrofoam and use a craft knife to carve a piece that fits snugly into your flowerpot.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_8-3_trace-circle.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924352.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Trace the top of your flowerpot onto tan felt and cut it out. Trace this circle onto Styrofoam and use a craft knife to carve a piece that fits snugly into your flowerpot.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_8-4_carve-circle.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924640.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Trace the top of your flowerpot onto tan felt and cut it out. Trace this circle onto Styrofoam and use a craft knife to carve a piece that fits snugly into your flowerpot.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_8-5_in-flowerpot.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391925347.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Sew on Your "Sand"
Sew the tan circle to the bottom of your cactus (Image 1 - 3).
![Sew the tan circle to the bottom of your cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_9-1_sewing-base.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924946.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Sew the tan circle to the bottom of your cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_9-2_base.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924585.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Sew the tan circle to the bottom of your cactus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_9-3_base-bottom.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924607.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Put it all Together
Use a low-temp hot glue gun to glue the bottom of the tan circle onto the top of the Styrofoam (Image 1 + 2).
![Use hot glue to glue the bottom of the tan circle onto the top of the Styrofoam.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_10-1_gluing.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924828.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Use hot glue to glue the bottom of the tan circle onto the top of the Styrofoam.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_10-2_glued.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391924870.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
Your DIY Cactus Pincushion Is Complete!
Add pins to your cactus pincushion (Image 1). Feel free to make these in any size or color you like (Image 2).
![Add pins to your cactus pincushion. Feel free to make these in any size or color you like!](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_11-1_final.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391925273.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
![Add pins to your cactus pincushion. Feel free to make these in any size or color you like!](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2021/7/15/2/Original_Karen-Kavett_Cactus-Pincushion_11-2_final.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1626391925085.jpeg)
Karen Kavett
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