I hope you enjoy this free pattern for Pokey’s Pincushion.
Click here to download a PDF of Pokey’s Pincushion.
What’s the Story Behind this Quilt?
According to my sources (Wikipedia) the beloved tomato pin cushion became very popular during the Victorian Era.
Why, you ask?
Wikipedia explains the Victorians:
According to folklore, placing a tomato on the mantel of a new house guaranteed prosperity and repelled evil spirits. If tomatoes were out of season, families improvised by using a round ball of red fabric filled with sand or sawdust. The good-luck symbol also served a practical purpose—a place to store pins.
What a great idea!
But alas, the tomato harvesting season is over here in Illinois and I can no long place a tomato on my mantel. So, like the Victorians, I too am using the tomato pin cushion to ward off those pesky evil spirits.