Originally Posted by
lockesnest
I always use ground emery. You can purchase it online. Just google emery. It is sort of messy, but I fill mine over an old cookie sheet. Emery keeps your needles and pins clean and sharp. It is also heavy, so pin cushions can be used for little weights.
I hadn't heard of this before and since seeing it I wonder -- do you use a second cloth as a liner for your pincushions? It seems like this might seep out through the fibers over time. Maybe it's coarser than it appears from the picture I saw. Sure seems like a functional filler!