These super-easy pincushions are the perfect introduction to patchwork

What you need...

• Fabric: gingham, red, green; floral; spotty red
  Felt: white, brown, green, red
  Toy stuffing
  Fusible web
  Spray adhesive

instructions

1. Apples & Pears - 1. Cut out five pieces for the apple or pear, using the templates. Mark the centre top of each piece and the notch near to the base. Lay two pieces one on top of the other, right sides together, then stitch from the centre mark to the base notch. Continue to join all five pieces, then stitch the last piece to the first.
   
   2. Turn right sides out through the bottom of the fruit and fill very firmly with stuffing. When happy with the shape, trim a disc of white felt, the size of a 2p piece, and stick it over the base to close the gap.
   
   3. Snip brown felt, 1.5cm x 4cm. Roll the rectangle, then slip stitch to create a stem shape. Iron fusible web onto the wrong side of floral or spotty fabric. Peel off the paper backing and iron the piece, web side down, onto red or green felt. Cut out the leaf shapes, using the templates, then embroider veins either with a machine or by hand.
   
   4. Stitch the assembled leaves to the base of the felt stem; two for the apple and one for the pear. Using sharp scissors, cut a few stitches in the top of the fruit, push the leafy stem into the gap and sew in place by hand.

2. Fabric Tray - Cut white felt, 22cm square, and iron fusible web onto it. Peel off the paper backing and adhere to green gingham, 22cm square. Draw the two adjacent edges at each corner together and stitch at right angles to the edges, a seam 4cm long. Repeat on the three remaining corners.

3. Scissor Pouch - 1. Trim green gingham, 8cm x 22cm, and floral fabric, 8cm x 11cm. Fold and press the two rectangles in half, then place the floral piece between the layers of the gingham with all the raw edges matching.
   
   2. Stitch down the two long sides with 5mm seam allowances, then turn right side out. Tease out the corners. Stitch across the base and turn the floral pocket to the other side of the gingham piece, concealing the raw edges inside. Press the scissor pouch flat.