Fond memories of a tiny pin cushion that I had as a little girl first attracted me to the small knitted pin cushions made during the Victorian era. The first ones I discovered were tiny, like my strawberry, barely over and inch in size. Made by Quakers, who had the patience of saints, these tiny balls were worked in detailed colorwork motifs, often with words and inspirational phrases knitted into the fabric. A pinterest search led me to some larger pin cushions, made in rectangles and different shapes, also knit in multiple colors with pictures of birds and flowers.

My design is adapted from these larger pieces. with the colors reversed on the back side for added interest. The originals had commercial trim sewed around the edge to cover the seams. I used knitted-on i-cord instead. This pattern could also be stuffed with lavender blossoms as a sachet or used as a bridal pillow for a tiny ring bearer to carry down the aisle.