Here's something nostalgic for all of our fiber arts enthusiasts - a tomato pin cushion! In my childhood home, we kept ours in the sewing box (which was, of course, an empty blue Danish cookie tin). Turn this pin cushion into a cuddle-sized cushion with the pattern mods below.

 

MATERIALS

• Giant Tomato - 10 in. x 9 in. [~25 cm x 23 cm]
  • #7 jumbo yarn - Sweet Snuggles
    • 1 skein of Red - 8.5 oz [~241 g]
• Note: (prepare 2 skeins to be safe)
  • #6 super bulky yarn - Premier Basix Chenille
    • 1 skein of Emerald (green color) - 2 oz [~57 g]
  • #4 medium worsted yarn - Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/8
    • small amount of Black (124) to embroider the mouth
  • Note: Please note that some #7 jumbo yarns are much thicker than the brand I used. A helpful tool to use if using different yarns from what I prescribed is yarnsub.com. Be sure to adjust your materials as needed if you decide to substitute products.
  • 9 mm hook
  • 6 mm hook 
  • Two 20 mm safety eyes
  • 8 oz [~227 g] of Poly-Fil stuffing
  • Optional: 1 cm x 1 cm yellow pom pom + hot glue for the nose
    
    
• Tomato Pin Cushion - 2.5 in. x 2 in. [~6 cm x ~5 cm]
  • #3 light worsted yarn - Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/8
    • Tomato (40) (red color) - 0.71 oz [20 g]
    • Emerald (105) (green color) - .35 oz [10 g]
  • Note: For my creation, I used felt facial features - “Smirk” in 4 mm by CroChic Designs. An alternative is to use embroidery thread and safety eyes of your choice!
  • 1 oz [~32 g] of Poly-fil stuffing
  • Optional: UHU glue for the leaves
    
    
• Materials needed for both sizes:
  • • Scissors
    • Stitch Markers
    • Yarn Needle
    • UHU glue
      

       

NOTES

• Please do not copy/redistribute any part of this pattern as your own. This includes reposting/translating without permission. Feel free to sell your finished products in small quantities as long as you give credit to help support my work. Tag your creations with #curiouspapaya so I can feature you!
• This pattern is worked in continuous rounds (spiral).
• Difficulty: Intermediate-beginner
• This pattern is written in US terminology.
• Difficulty: Intermediate-beginner + 

 

ABBREVIATIONS

• blo: back loops only
• ch: chain
• dc: double crochet
• dec: (invisible) decrease
• flo: front loops only
• hdc: half double crochet
• sc: single crochet
• slst: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd(s): round(s)
• [#]: stitch count
• (...) x #: repeat instructions the number of times

• Time: 2-3 hrs

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TOMATO

If you prefer the premium, printable PDF instead, you can find it HERE. Thank you for supporting my designs.

*Note: When making the Giant Tomato, use the 9 mm hook for the tomato and the 7 mm hook for the leaves. For the Tomato Pin Cushion, use the 2.25 mm hook for both parts.

• Rnd 1: Make a magic circle and (sc) x8 [8]
• Rnd 2: (inc) x8 [16]
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x8 [24]
• Rnd 4: (sc, inc, sc) x8 [32]
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x8 [40]
• Rnd 6: sc all around [40]
• Rnd 7: (2 sc, inc, 2 sc) x8 [48]
• Rnd 8: sc all around [48]
• Rnd 9: (5 sc, inc) x8 [56]
• Rnds 10-15 (6 rnds total): sc all around [56]
• Rnd 16: (5 sc, dec) x8 [48]
• Rnd 17: (2 sc, dec, 2 sc) x8 [40]
• Rnd 18: (3 sc, dec) x8 [32]
• Rnd 19: (sc, dec, sc) x8 [24]
• Rnd 20: (sc, dec) x8 [16]

For the Giant Tomato, add the safety eyes between rnds 9-10, 7 sts apart. [img 1]

Center the yellow pom pom between the eyes and secure it on with hot glue.

Cut a long strand of black yarn and embroider a curved smile 2 sts wide, 1 rnd below the nose.

*Tip: Keeping the facial features close together creates a more “chibi” look. You can also use UHU fabric glue to secure the subtle curved mouth down

For the Tomato Pin Cushion, secure the felt facial features on spanning Rnds 9-10 using UHU glue. [img 2]

Stuff the piece well.

• Rnd 21: (dec) x8 [8]

Fasten off and leave a tail for closing the piece. Go through the flo and pull the hole closed.

LEAVES

Using the respective hook and Green yarn. 

*Note: The stem will be constructed first, followed by the leaves all in one piece.

• Rnd 1: Make a magic circle and (sc) x5, slst into the center of the circle (not into the first st) [6]
  

*Tip: The slst will alleviate the “jog” from working in a spiral for the tomato stem. The same technique is used in Rnd 3 below.

• Rnd 2: (blo) - sc all around [6]
• Rnd 3: 5 sc, slst into the last st [6]

Continue onto the leaves:

• Step 1: *(flo) - slst, ch 8, working into the second ch from the hook, slst into the next 2 ch, hdc into the next 2 sts, dc into the next 3 sts*
• Step 2: Repeat the steps from * to * 5 times for a total of 6 leaves.
• Step 3: Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. (For the Tomato Pin Cushion, if you are securing it down with glue, cut a short yarn tail instead). [img 3-4]

ASSEMBLY

Giant Tomato:

• Step 1: Center one of the leaves with the face. Use sewing pins to position the leaves onto the top of the tomato, spreading out the leaves symmetrically. [img 5-6]
• Step 2: Using your yarn needle, sew along the center of each leaf, avoiding the tips (to allow them to flare).

*Note: Be careful and don’t pull your tension too tightly or the leaves will cinch!

Tomato Pin Cushion:

If sewing, follow the steps above.

If securing with UHU glue, follow step 1 above and then the rest of the steps below.

• Step 2: Apply the glue in thin zig-zags onto the leaves, avoiding the tips. [img 7]
• Step 3: Use sewing pins to allow the leaves to dry flat against the tomato.
• Step 4: Add sewing pins as desired for a cute and functional pin cushion.

You’re finished! Be sure to tag your creations with @curiouspapaya so I can share your beautiful makes. Cheers!