How to Recycle/Upcycle a Soda Bottle Into a Pin Cushion

5 Materials
$5
2 Hours
Easy
Unfortunately, discarded plastic soda bottles usually end up as litter, in landfills and sadly in seas. And there are lots of companies trying to do their best to recycle plastics into additional useful products. I'm all for recycling plastics into fun craft ideas! Making a pin cushion from a soda bottle was shared with me by my sister-in-law several years - a craft she picked up while visiting her hometown in Brazil.
Let's begin by washing a 2 liter soda bottle (coke brand) with dish detergent and water to remove any stickiness and grime, then let dry. Next, cut the bottle in half following the lower edge of the label on the bottle. Draw a pattern outlining a chair on the bottle using a black marker.
Next, cut out the pattern and use a cotton ball dampen with nail polish remover to remove the marker lines.
The original chair pin cushion had bias tape glued on the edges. I didn't have any, but had some woven 5/8" trim from a previous project and used that to glue on using fabric tape.
I think this trim was much easier to apply than bias tape. And look how pretty the trim looks!
Next, trace the outline of the circle templates on the wrong side of the fabric and cut out.
Starting with the larger circle, make a running stitch around the folded inside edges of the fabric going around the entire circle . . .
and then pull the thread to gather the fabric into a circle. Sew a few extra stitches where the threads meet and knot to secure the gathers and cut off excess thread. Next, stuff filling into the fabric circle making sure to push it is as tight as possible until you can't get anymore filling in! Be sure that it's even and fluffy like a pouf, all around. Then sew a few more stitches and knot thread to secure the cushion gathers, cutting off the excess thread.
Next, cut a circle of fabric, folding edges under and glue in place over the cushion opening to complete the bottom cushion.
Repeat the same steps using the next size circle to make the smaller back cushion.
Then make three yo yo's by sewing a running stitch along the folded edge around the smaller circles.
Gently pull the thread to gather the fabric toward the center. Adjust and flatten the gathers to form a circle or yo yo. Once satisfied with the look, secure by stitching close to the gathers, knot and cutting off excess thread. Hand press the yo yo flat with gathers in the center. Repeat for the other two circles.
With needle and thread, attach top cushion to plastic back through center of yo yo, making a recess in front center of cushion - then sewing back and forth several times and knotting to secure.
Fold over side arm flaps sewing back and forth several times, securing through the center of the yo yo's, and knotting in place.
What an adorable recycle/upcycle project using a soda bottle!
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Gail@Purple Hues and Me
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  1 question
  • Gina Gina on Mar 29, 2020

    What did you stuff it with? I wondered what the stuffing is... something that sharpens needles/pins. Maybe sawdust?

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  • Dl.5660408 Dl.5660408 on Feb 12, 2022

    Love, love, love this!❤️❤️❤️

  • Lori Ward-Laatsch Lori Ward-Laatsch on Feb 09, 2023

    When I was a kid my Easter basket was made out of a big white bleach bottle. I have no clue who made it I doubt it was my mom. They cut a big opening in and stuff in the grass and the outside was done with paint, fabric and some materials I am not sure of but it was stuck on like we did tissue paper back then with a square and glue and a pencil to cover up cardboard or whatever. If you are not around my age you probably won't have a clue what I mean but if you went to school in the 70s you probably do 😅 Anyway this reminds me of that a little, that basket held up till I move out I think. My mom always hid the baskets and that was a nice shape for that.

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