Take a Tomato and Make it Yours!

My favorite go-to pattern is my tomato. I found a template on line and I did a few muslin versions, tweeking it here and there until I had a shape I liked. It has become my most popular pattern. Its fun to make, and very addicting. With a few design changes, it can become just about anything you need to to be.

Here is the first one I made. I used 1930's fabrics and topped it off with a fun, frayed leaf. Add a few buttons on the top and bottom and .....


I've made it in silk, in Civil War prints, Modern fabrics, and then added a bunch of new design elements.
Check out my Gallery Page to see more.

Here are some of my latest versions.
I fussy cut a cute bird print fabric and matched a mix of prints with it.



Here it is again in a modern print mix. A big bold ceramic button tops it off and becomes a focal point.


You can find these and more in my Etsy Shop- Fiberluscious.

I've done the same thing with my Classic Pattern. You can find the tutorial here.
Here it is with just a button-

Here it is with tied sections-


I took that design a step further and added an applique top, without tied sections.
A few bits of lace trim and it turns into a real charmer!


I went even further and added another layer!
This time I tied both layers. I had a frilly crocheted vintage doily and this is what I got!


I hope you decide to take some time to play. Grand ideas often begin with simple elements and great fabrics.
Give the Classic a try. Its fun, easy and only takes a bit of fabric, some fun buttons, perhaps some perle cotton and your imagination!

If you are as busy as I am, don't forget to check out my Etsy Shop. Let me make one for you!
I am very open to your ideas.
My Fabric Choices Page may give you a jumping off point in designing your own pincushion. I've put some coordination fabrics in bunches for you to make it a bit easier to decide. I have lots of buttons, new and vintage and some fun trims and vintage pieces to add.
Let me know what you like and lets go!

I also have a Gift Certificate for my Tomato Pincushion. Its a great gift for someone you know who has a lot of ideas and little time. I promise, I'll treat them like a design diva when we work together. Its a gift they will not soon forget, and use every day!

I have some great posts coming soon!
I am currently working on a pattern for my Summer Garden Pincushion.
Yes, the one with all the beautiful embroidered flowers on linen.


I get more orders during the holidays than I can keep up with, so I'm giving you the pattern and an ongoing tutorial series so you can create your own.
I will give you a new flower each month. I have a lot of flower patterns but I've changed the pattern to include only 6 flowers. You can pick and choose from a number of flower designs for your pincushion. Make one, make many!
If you don't want to follow along, the pattern and instruction will be available in a kit and available in my Etsy Shop- I'm guessing sometime in August.

My next post will feature a few pointers to help you prepare. I'll walk you through some floss shopping. With hundreds of DMC colors to choose from, its so easy to get lost. Then when you sit down to stitch, you find you simply don't have the colors you need to complete a project. I'll give you some pointers. You can choose my list of colors or just follow my pointers for choosing colors that work. Its going to be fun. I promise.

If you want to get started, I have a few Stitch Tutorials. There are just a few basic stitches that will take you far. I also recommend NeedlenThread. Mary Corbet has so many great picture and video tutorials for you to try. Just click here.
I have learned most everything I know on this site. I also belong to the Hand Embroidery Network. A free site for embroiderers.

I'll walk you through the tools you'll need to embroider. Its a very affordable craft. Your time is the most valuable ingredient. You may be surprised at how fast things go from beginning to end once you start. You will also find that it is a very "Zen-like" experience. It sure keeps me sane.
As soon as I get my pattern drafted, I'll post it along with the first set of stitches you'll need to learn and how to turn them into beautiful flowers and leaves. We will take it step by step. You may find that 3 basic stitches create multiple flowers. I'll show you how.
Stay tuned!