I have this spool:

(antique textile mill spool is what an etsy contributed called it, I got it at some farm auction I went to years ago)
It helps decorate my new sewing room. I have a pincushion I made a while ago that I use for my hand needles, so I guess you'd call it a 'needlecushion' and I would love it if some how a 'needle cushion' was added to the top of this, as it stands.
It's 8 1/2 inches tall, the wider ends are 4 inches in diameter, and it has a 3/4 inch hole all the way through it (meaning it's hollow)
I want it to be able to sit it on my work table, meaning the ends are flat and I want to keep one of them that way. It's heavy enough that no weight would need to be added to it.

With all that info, any ideas, especially how I can add the needle cushion to it without ruining the spool? (meaning I'd like to stay away from gluing it to the wood) I don't ever intend to remove the needle cushion once made, but I'd like whoever gets this when I'm dead to be able to use the wooden spool however they want, and it still being just an old 'antique textile mill spool'

that is cool

With it being hollow, could you make a pin cushion for the top and attached by running heavy thread down through the center, and attaching to a flat button or maybe a washer?

http://mousechirpy-polkadotpineapple...incushion.html

Of course u would need something bigger than a golf tee.. Maybe a dowl stick ( maybe 7 inches long)and maybe a wood wheel ( maybe 3-4 inches) or wooden disk in place of the golf tee and size everything up accordingly.

You could make a simple wool felt bird pincushion...Lots of patterns should be available. Hot glue bottom to a small craft bird nest. Glue bottom of nest to a dowel rod you can cut to right length and insert in spool. You could, off course, do the same with another shape other than the bird, just substitute an appropriate shape--maybe a round or square coaster if it's not too big---for the nest

ok, hmmmm
A dowel
I'm going to work with that idea

So now my OCD goes into action, and I'm thinkng of changing the needlecushion with the seasons (plus, I found a pic of a Xmas tree pincushioin with a thinmble at the top where you'd normally see a star)

I'm sure I'll only make one needlecushion - just because my OCD goes into action, that does not mean I do anything about it

Thank you so much for the ideas!

I have the same spool. Here's what I did.

Trying again.

That mouse is so cute. Connecting Threads has a free christmas tree pincushion.

Why coundn't you cover the hole with something like template plastic and then run the fabric over the top of the spool and gather it or elastic it around just below the top. Hope this make sense. Glad you mentioned the spool--I have a box of the. BTW--they make great candleholders.