Wheelbarrow Pincushion

This Victorian Gift – Wheelbarrow Pincushion – is the last in this series of gifts made by Victorian ladies to give to those they loved. Items like this were cherished not only for their usefulness but for the time and effort put into it by the giver.

Wheelbarrow Pincushion

The Wheelbarrow

For more gift making ideas, see the list at the bottom of the page.

Victorian Gift – Turkish Slipper Pincushion

Click on picture to see more detail.

Materials:

Card,
Coloured ribbon,
Gold paper,
Water-colours,
A little bit of wire,
Wadding,
Scent,
Gum,
Thick white muslin; or card,
White ribbon,
Coloured satin,
Wadding,
Scent,
Gum,
A bit of wire, and
thick white muslin.

The first way is to cut the sides, handles, and the legs of the barrow from Fig. 11 in one. Cut two of these.

Cut out the wheel by Fig. 12.

Cover each side with satin; the legs and the handles must be lined with white ribbon, and the sewing very neat.

Cut two pieces of card the size of the side of the barrow. Cover each on one side with white muslin. Stitch to one of these, all round, the white ribbon, which should be half an inch wide. Stitch the other piece to the other side of the ribbon.

Gum the ribbon very neatly in the part of the pincushion between the legs.

Before completely sewing the ribbon to the last muslin-covered side, stuff with wadding, scented. Very strongly gum the two sides of the barrow, covered with coloured satin; place them each side of the pincushion, and under gentle and equal pressure for twenty-four hours.

Then fix the wheel in its place, with a bit of thin wire, crooked at both edges.

The second way is to cut the sides, legs, and the handles, each as one piece as before, from London board. Edge the sides with gold paper, and cover both sides of the handles, legs, and shafts with it.

Draw roses or other flowers on the sides of the barrow, and colour them.

Make the pincushion as before, but of coloured ribbon, and gum on the ornamental sides of the barrow in the same way, and press it.

Draw a wreath of flowers round the wheel on both sides, and gild the spokes of the wheel. Fix it on with a wire.

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