A canning jar turned pincushion
Credit: Courtesy of Suzanne
It's easy enough for crafters to store pins—after all, pincushions have been getting the job done for generations. But to keep your sewing space even more organized, turn an old canning jar into a combination pincushion/storage spot with these instructions from Suzanne's Crazy for Collars that we found on Re-Nest.
Canning jars are designed to have their lids come apart, so it's easy to add some padding: just trace the top of the lid onto a piece of spare fabric and cut it out, adding about 1.5 inches to the diameter; then lay cotton balls or fiber fill onto the back of the fabric, place the jar lid on top, and glue the edges of the fabric to the underside of the lid. Now you can screw the ring of the lid back on, creating a soft, fluffy top that holds onto your pins with a keep-anything storage spot in the jar below.
Of course, if you're not in the market for a place to store pins, you could use the decorative jars for storing just about anything, adding your favorite patterns, color, and embellishments to the top. And since canning jars come in a variety of sizes (and are easy to upcycle), you can keep track of everything from spare buttons to cat treats without investing in expensive storage solutions.
