🌻 DIY Sunflower Pincushion (Easy Sewing Project + Scrap Fabric Friendly)

A cheerful handmade sunflower pincushion—an easy scrap fabric project that keeps your pins organized and brightens your sewing space.

Make a cheerful sunflower pincushion in under an hour using fabric scraps, felt, and basic hand sewing.

If you love quick sewing projects that actually get used every day, you’re going to adore this DIY. Today I’m sharing how to make an easy sunflower pincushion — a bright little sewing room accessory that keeps your pins tidy, adds charm to your workspace, and makes a perfect handmade gift for any sewist.

Even better? This project is perfect for using scrap fabric.

✅ Why You’ll Love This Sunflower Pincushion

This sunflower pincushion is:

Beginner-friendly (no sewing machine required!)

A quick project you can finish in one sitting

Made from scraps you already have

Cute enough to gift or sell at craft fairs

Great decor for your sewing room

✂️ Supplies Needed

Here’s what you’ll need:

Fabric + base

Yellow cotton fabric scraps (or felt)

Brown felt (or brown cotton fabric)

Green felt OR green fabric scraps (optional leaf)

Filling + notions

Fiberfill stuffing or crushed walnut shells (optional for weight)

Needle and thread

Pins and/or clips

Scissors

Optional: hot glue gun (for finishing touches)

Optional: button for center detail

Cutting Measurements (Simple + Adjustable)

You can adjust any size, but this is a great starting point:

Center circle (sunflower middle)

Cut 1 brown circle: 2 ½”–3” wide

Back circle (base)

Cut 1 backing circle: 3 ½”–4” wide (any fabric)

Petals

Choose one style:

Option A (easy petals)

Cut 12–16 yellow ovals

Each oval: about 2 ½” long x 1 ¼” wide

Option B (felt zigzag petals)

Cut 1 large felt sunflower ring and snip petal shapes all around

🧵 How to Sew a DIY Sunflower Pincushion (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Cut your sunflower pieces

Cut your brown center circle, yellow petals, and backing circle.

If you’re using cotton fabric instead of felt for the petals, use a thicker cotton (quilting cotton works well).

Step 2: Shape and prepare petals

If using oval fabric petals, fold each oval in half lengthwise and make a few stitches at the base to hold it.

This creates a slightly cupped petal shape, making the sunflower look fuller and more realistic.

Step 3: Attach petals around the center

Place the brown center circle in the middle and arrange your petals in a circle underneath it.

Sew petals in place around the edge of the brown center circle:

Stitch petal bases to the underside

Overlap slightly so the flower looks dense

Tip: Use clips while arranging so the petals don’t shift.

Step 4: Sew the flower top to the backing

Place the sunflower top right sides together with the backing circle.

Stitch around the edge, leaving a 2” opening for stuffing.

Step 5: Turn and stuff

Turn the pincushion right side out and begin stuffing.

For a professional pincushion feel:

✅ Add a tablespoon or two of crushed walnut shells first

✅ Then fill the rest with fiberfill

Stuff firmly — pincushions should be plump so pins stay secure.

Step 6: Close the opening

Hand stitch the opening closed using a ladder stitch (invisible stitch), or whip stitch.

🌻 Optional Finishing Touches

Here are a few ideas to make it extra cute:

Sew a small brown button to the center

Add a tiny felt leaf on the back edge

Hot glue a flat felt circle under the base to make it more stable

💡 Tips for a More “Realistic” Sunflower Look

If you want it to look like a real sunflower:

Use 2 layers of petals (1 slightly longer, 1 shorter)

Slightly overlap petals as you go

Add a textured center:

French knots

brown yarn loops

Seed-bead stitching

🎁 Great Uses for This Sunflower Pincushion

This sunflower pincushion is perfect for:

sewing room decor

beginner sewing gifts

stocking stuffers for sewists

craft fair inventory

sewing retreat swaps

🌻 I love sewing projects like this because they’re cute, practical, and easy to repeat using different fabrics. You could even make a whole “garden set” of pincushions — daisies, roses, and pumpkins for fall!

If you enjoyed this DIY sunflower pincushion, be sure to browse my sewing shop for patterns and printable project guides.

Want more easy scrap-friendly sewing projects?

Browse my sewing patterns and printable DIY tutorials in my Payhip shop and bookmark this page so you can make this sunflower pincushion anytime.