Tool Time Tuesday...Chicken Feeder For Sewing

What? A Chicken Feeder? You betcha! Hubby and I were shopping in a Tractor Supply store this past weekend, looking for special diet dog food for our yellow lab, Annie. They didn't carry the dog food, but you know I roamed around the tool and hardware section.

They carry a lot of galvanized metal items (my absolute favorite!)...buckets, pans, scoops, troughs and chicken feeders. The chicken feeder caught my eye.

Do we have chickens? No. Well, we have them in the freezer from the store, but to feed...no. So why buy a chicken feeder. To make one of these.

Here it is from the store...$4.00

I know there are probably more things to do with this, but I'm still thinking!

You can buy the plastic bottle the chicken feed is dispensed from, but a canning jar fits too. Maybe fill the jar with...

• bird seed for our other feathered friends, just not chickens
• maybe m&m's for a candy dispenser

I still like the thread idea though. Great to use by your chair for all your hand sewing, but it's missing something...the pincushion!

All you need is a scrap piece of fabric, some stuffing and a circle pattern. I used a plastic lid to trace.

It is about 6 inches across the middle.

There are 2 ways to gather up the edge of fabric with a circle.

First way is to use a heavy weight string and a needle with a bigger eye.

Use a running stitch or larger gathering stitch around the edge of the circle.

because the string is a heavier weight, you can just pull the strings to gather it up into a pouch.

Stuff with batting or filling.

Pull tight and knot off to secure.

The second way is better if you are using a thinner cotton weight fabric.

Set the stitch length on your machine to the longest stitch or gathering stitch. Mine is 5 on my machine.

Stitch all the way around about a 1/4 inch in from the edge.

HELPFUL TIP

One tip for a machine gathering stitch is to use 2 different color threads. You have to pull 2 threads, but from the same side.

I used white on the spool and black in the bobbin. Now I know to only pull just the white threads or just the black threads when gathering.

Once gathered and knotted to secure, you can just place the pincushion in the center hole or use a little glue or hot glue to hold it in place.

Add your pins and needles...

and your little snips too.

Maybe you can add a little bow to make it pretty.

Ribbon or not, this will work great for you when you are hand sewing in your comfy chair watching tv and having a cup of tea.

hmmm, where's my tea?

That's better!

Tool Time has been to the hardware store, the automotive store, office supply, grocery store, recycling bin, health and beauty isle and many others, but this is the first time in the farm equipment section. Definitely going to look into that more. Lol !!

You never know with me...what will inspire me next.

Remember when you're in any store...

• look at something twice before passing it up
• don't think..."do I need this?" Think..."what can I DO with this?"
• and always...think outside the box!!!

Have a happy Tuesday,
~Karen~