This week’s tut is fairly simplistic, I have the headache to end all headaches so I haven’t been able to put as much time into it as I would normally, as far as I’m aware I haven’t missed any massive steps, but let me know if there’s something that I’ve let slip

As mentioned previously I’ve been working on my craft room in my spare time, I’ve been meaning to make an inspiration board for ages, but I’ve been waiting on finding the perfect fabric, I picked up this superb print at fabricdepot on sale for $4 a yard (as well as some matching ones but you’ll have to wait until next week to see them!) and decided that it would be perfect for a pin board with the added bonus of pockets for storage. It works great as an inspiration board but it would also be excellent for a kids or teenager’s room, I know my niece would think this was awesome! The tutorial is behind the jump —>

You will need…

• One pinboard in a size of your chosing
• A gluegun or superglue, it has to be strong!
• PVA glue (not pictured)
• Fabic (I used just under half a yard)
• Drawing pins
• Buttons
• Novelty Yarn (not pictured)

As always, click on the pictures to embiggen.

Pins
Super easy here, just grab your buttons and superglue or glue gun them onto your pins. I used novelty buttons that I picked up cheap from eBay. If you want a more grown up look then vintage buttons would be beautiful, or maybe stacking a couple on top of each other to create little button flowers. I used white drawing pins from the local Office store, they had loads of colours so you could easily find one to blend into your fabric in case they poke out the side of your button.

Board
Cut your fabric using your board (including frame) as a template. Criss cross some lines of PVA onto your board, not too much otherwise your fabric will bubble, or you’ll get lumps from excess glue, run a thin line around the outside near your frame taking care to not get it onto the wood. Press your fabric on and take the time to smooth it out and make sure it’s completely bubble and wrinkle free, I found an old greeting card worked really well as it slid over the glue that was seeping through without getting stuck. Take care to press into the corners near the frame. Leave to dry overnight!!

When you’re certain your glue is completely dry run a craft knife or your rotary cutter around the edge completely trimming of the excess, try and keep it as neat as possible DON’T cut towards yourself! I did this and slipped and ended up with a fairly impressive war wound on my thumb and a large red splodge of blood on my fabric (fortunately it was on the corner so I could cut most of it off and then cover up what was there!) be safe kids! I also don’t recommend using your best rotary cutter for this, even hitting the wood just a little isn’t going to be any good for the blade.

Take your glue gun and run a bead of glue around the inside of the frame, attach your novelty yarn bit by bit before the glue hardens. This would also look awesome with ric-rac or a really pretty craft ribbon. I just have a disturbing obsession with collecting yarn that I can’t actually crochet with, so I figured it was time to use some of that up, I’m also really digging that whole boudoir look.

Cut your pockets to 1/2 an inch wider than board (not including the frame), the depth of them is up to you, I knew that I wanted to store my scissors in there so I just measured against them. Don’t make them too shallow or they will pouch out when you put things in there. Once it’s at the size you want take your fabric to the sewing machine and top stitch each long side.

Time to attach your trim. If you’re using novelty yarn I really recommend doing some testing on a scrap to work out what stitch length is and type is going to look best. This is me trying two different lengths of zigzag and then straight stitch, I ended up doubling the yarn and doing a very long zigzag to attach it. If you’re using ric-rac or ribbon then this isn’t needed. Sew your trim onto the half which is going to be the front, double your fabric right sides together and sew each side to create a large pocket, make sure there’s some overhang with the yarn so you can trap it in the seam.

Turn the right way out and sew into sections, I decided four pockets was the way to go for what I wanted to keep in there. Just remember that the wider the pockets the more they will gape as you put things in them. Pin to the wooden frame, on the inside of each pocket I used a plain pin and then a decorative one placed at each seam. Just make sure it’s solidly attached and not likely to fall down with the weight of whatever you’re keeping in there.

And taadaa, cover with whatever you wish and celebrate that your pinboard is so much cooler than all the other ones out there. You could also paint the frame (before adding the fabric and yarn, obv!) but as I have untreated wood frames in the sewing room this fitted in fairly nicely. If you’re particularly interested in what’s on my one then if you click on the picture there’s some notes on the flickr page

If you made this or like it please let me know, feedback is always appreciated!

This tutorial is for personal use only, please do not sell the finished items.