Sacred Flower by Margaret Lee

Pincushions come in all shapes and sizes, but the piece Sacred Flower by Margaret Lee is something particularly special. This delicate and beautiful project, shaped like a flowerpot, sits nestled on a brass lotus flower base and is stitched with a vibrant design of multicoloured lotus blooms.

With a taupe silk taffeta base fabric, Sacred Flower is both eye catching and practical, resulting in a pincushion like no other.

Margaret is well known for her beautiful silk shading designs worked in Chinese filament silk and often depicting delicate flowers or glorious foliage. This particular piece represents the lotus flower, a subject that is highly symbolic in Chinese culture.

In nature, the lotus is usually found in shades of pink, white or yellow, however Margaret has selected a range of other colours to reflect their own specific symbolic meaning.

As you turn this beautiful little pincushion, you’ll see lotus flowers in red, blue, purple and yellow. Margaret explains that the red lotus represents passion and sentiments of the heart; the yellow is associated with spiritual ascension, encompassing knowledge, creativity and original thought.

Purple represents spirituality with the blue symbolising knowledge and learning. This latter flower is always shown only partly open to represent the fact that learning and expanding the mind are ongoing processes without any definable end.

These symbols are perfect for this project as you will definitely learn and grow as you work the design and master the stitches. Similarly, the spirituality inherent in the yellow and purple flowers can be regarded as that meditative zone that most embroiderers achieve when they really get into the flow of their work.

The selection of the double brass base makes this project particularly special. It is designed so that the two layers move independently of one another, so that while the outer layer stays still, the inner will turn allowing you to reach whichever pin or needle you wish with the minimum of fuss.

It also allows you to progressively admire the whole design with a simple turn of the base.

Margaret encourages you to take your time with your stitching in order to achieve the exact effect you want. Nothing will be gained from rushing this project. It is definitely one that encourages meditation and will benefit from time and space in order to complete it.

Although some may be hesitant to use Sacred Flower for inserting and storing pins, it has been designed so that all the embroidery is on the side of the pot, leaving a clear, unadorned stretch of fabric at the top covering the stuffing. This ensures that you can gain practical use out of the project as well as enjoying it for its aesthetic effect.

If you’re looking for a project to challenge you, delight you, and bring you a wonderful sense of calm, then look no further than Sacred Flower. By combining a beautiful design with meaningful symbolism and offering a practical and usable application, it really is an outstanding project.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Sacred Flower by Margaret Lee from the book The Design Collective | Pincushions is a conical pincushion with lotus flower and leaf design worked with gleaming filament silks using Chinese embroidery techniques.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Sacred Flower includes everything* you need to re-create this gorgeous pincushion: Fabric (pre-printed), brass lotus flower base, waddings, taupe sewing thread, metal washers, magnet, plastic craft pellets, metal and plastic sauce cups, adhesive vinyl, fibre-fill, embroidery threads, bead and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the book.