Friday, 15 August 2025

Sue Spargo pin cushion and needle rolls

On Sunday night I was cleaning up my sewing table and I stumbled across a cute little pattern.  I'd bought it back in May, at the Great New Zealand Quilt Show in Christchurch. I'd also bought a little bundle of wools that I planned to use on it.  So I decided to start it there and then.  



But my background piece wasn't a wide as in the pattern, so I had to consult another book and turn my pin cushion into a jumbo pin cushion.  Or maybe it's more of a "pillow" like cross stitchers make. 


I had fun making my version of the Canna Blossom pattern.  I even used some of my precious Kaffe Fassett buttons for the flowers.  

While I was hand sewing up the gap on the side, I realised that my new pin cushion matched the Sue Spargo needle roll that I made earlier in the year. 


I used Sue Spargo's Tranquil Garden needle roll pattern but I did my own embellishment on the cover based on a thistle image I saw in a book.  I can't remember if I got the pre-printed labels with the needle roll pattern or by purchasing a complete set of Sue's needles.  But it's very helpful to have all my needles labelled in this way.








The wool felt applique piece is one I made before I taught at Coastal Quilters back in 2022 and it matches too! You can read about it here.   I wouldn't even say these are my favourite colours, but somehow I've made three matching pieces.  

Funnily enough I have made another Sue Spargo sewing roll and it's in a similar colour way.  I don't use this one alot, but it's still in my cupboard.