A Charming Heart Pincushion from The American Girl’s Book
If you have been looking for a Valentine’s Day project, let me suggest this heart-shaped pincushion from the Amusing Work section of The American Girl’s Book; or, Occupation for Play Hours by Miss Eliza Leslie, Boston: Munroe and Francis; New York: C.S. Francis, 1831.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the book, it became a childhood standard whose immense popularity resulted in 16 editions in its first 23 years alone. The final paragraph of the introduction to the book states, “The author of this little book has not aimed at compiling a juvenile encyclopedia. – It is simply an unpretending manual of light and exhilarating amusements; most of which will be found on trial to answer the purpose of unbending the mind or exercising the body, and at the same time interesting the attention.”
A Heart Pincushion
“Cut two pieces of linen into the shape of a half-handkerchief. Sew them together, leaving a small open space at the top, and stuff them very hard with bran, or wool. When sufficiently stuffed, sew up the opening and cover the pincushion with silk, sewed very neatly over the edge. Then make two upper corners of the pincushion meet, and fasten them well together. This will bring the pincushion into the shape of a heart. Put a string to the top. Emery bags are frequently made in this manner. Pincushions should always be stuffed with bran, wool, or flannel. Cotton will not do.”
1. I started this project by cutting out a 7 inch square of linen and of red polished cotton for the pincushion and a 2-1/4 inch square of canvas (I picked canvas over linen to keep the emery from seeping through the weave) and a 2-1/4 inch square of red polished cotton for the emery. I didn’t have any red or pink silk on hand, but I did have some lovely vintage scarlet polished cotton. You may certainly cut to triangles like the original instructions advise, or you may decide to simple fold a square, like I did and skip sewing one seam. You may also change the size of the triangles/squares until they meet your preference.
2. I folded my squares into a triangle and sewed along the edges of the linen, leaving an opening for stuffing, then turned them right side out. I repeated this step with the polished cotton, leaving quite a large opening in one side so that I could insert the linen triangles after they were stuffed.
3. Stuff your pincushion firmly with wool. I find bran very difficult to come by, and Miss Leslie was absolutely correct in stating that cotton will not do, because it is quite difficult to stick pins into something that is firmly stuffed with cotton. If you are making an emery, it is easiest to pour the emery into the opening using a small baby’s spoon. Sew the openings closed after stuffing.
4. Slip the stuffed triangles into the decorative outer covers and sew the opening in the seam closed with matching thread.
5. Stitch two points of your triangle firmly together and put a string or ribbon through the top. I chose to use silk ribbon that I dyed to match my scarlet fabric.
I hope you enjoy making these little pincushion for yourself or your dolls ❤ They also make lovely Valentine gifts.
These photos and directions are part of a long post that I wrote for my Paula Walton’s 18th Century Home Journal, If you would like to read the rest of the post click here ❤
Thank you Izannah Walker for inspiring me with your beautiful, intricate painted cloth dolls. For being an enterprising 19th century woman who was able to support herself in a male dominated world. For being the first woman to be granted a United States patent related to doll making. You have changed my life!
Izannah Walker Journal 
