I like crushed walnut shells. You can buy a 10 lb. bag of them at pet stores---And that will make a lot of pincushions. You can also buy a small bag at most quilt shops, but you pay almost as much for the little bag that will only make a couple of pincushions as you do for the big bag at the pet store. It is what they use to put in reptile cages, if you are into reptiles. lol I'm not a reptile fan, but I like the crushed walnut shells for pincusions.