I like to use the crushed walnut shells...the tiny bit of oil in the shells keeps the pins from rusting, and the shells actually help by sharpening the pins. You can find crushed walnut shell at the pet supply...look for "Lizard Litter!"

I recently bought a kit for 2 pin cushions with attached scrap bag from Connecting Threads and. if I'm not mistaken, they suggested using ground walnut shells, which can be purchased at the bird section of the pet store. I'm also going to use some steel wool because it is supposed to keep needles and pins sharp.

I suggest you "wash" it first.

The easiest way is to fill your sink with very warm water and a strong liquid detergent like Dawn. Swirl to make suds.

Take some of the raw fleece locks and spread them out picking out debris. Fill a colander with the locks of wool and slowly submerge the colander into the water. Make sure all of the locks are submerged also.

Let the wool soak for at least 30 minutes. Do not agitate the wool or it will felt.

Let the water drain out of the sink. Remove the colander of wool. Clean out the sink and fill again with water the same temperature as the wool.

Slowly submerge the colander into the water again and soak the wool. Drain and rinse again as needed.

One you have completed the final rinse, let the colander sit in the sink to drain some more. Then carefully life out the locks and place them on mesh(window screen) to dry.

You should have removed most of the farm dirt and odors.

I use crushed walnut shells I purchase a bag at the Pet Store and it will fill a lot. Use a Kitchen funnel or make you one with a soda bottle.

I think after investigating the insides of my grandmothers old pincushions, that steel or anything with iron in it will rust the needles over time.
How about using a stray/cheap ball of wool yarn as a pincushion filler?
You could Put some washed stones in the bottoms if weight is needed.

I use bird seeds or plastic pellets.

I also use the ground up walnut shells from the pet store, and have not had any bad feedbacks or problems.

When my daughter was little she had long hair. I saved it and used it to make her a pin cushion. Have enough for one more for me. Usable, but also memorable.

You can get ground walnut shells from a pet store.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: That is creativity at it's best!

You can also use lizard litter that you buy at the pet store. I've seen this used and it turns out very nice.

I just heard the other evening at our Quilt Guild, from a guest speaker, that they make pin cushions using crushed walnut shells for the insides of the cushion. Never heard of this.

Does this process remove the lanolin?

My dead chicken is stuffed with crushed walnut shells and I have not had any problems. No rusty pins or needles.

It will not remove all of the lanolin as this is more of a "light washing". Note that some sheep breeds produce more lanolin than others. If the fleece is really "sticky" it has a high content of lanolin. You can tell if there is some lanolin by rubbing some pre-washed fleece between your thumb and forefinger.

Never knew that about the crushed walnut shells... cool!
I've always used fully dried and cured sawdust for my pincushion projects. It adds a nice weight to the pincushion and doesn't seem to cause any dulling or rusting of pins and needles.
I got a big box from a woodworker and it has lasted for years. If you do this, just be sure the sawdust is NOT from pressure treated lumber, as that contains trace levels of toxic substances.

Sand it keeps the points sharp on the pins. Very sharp!!!

i used play sand from my friend's shed in muslin, inside the cushion w/raw wool combed out & stuffed around the sand bag.. seems to have worked out well so far.

I have heard that you use crushed walnut shells. You can get this at pet stores. Used for cage bottoms.

fine undertakers sawdust, protects pins/needles.

Crushed walnut shells are great!

Why are we seeing posts from 11 years ago? Is it because members are not posting new posts, just looking up a topic. Seems to be happening alot. Some things are interesting, some topics are way beyond the curve with bad information for this day and time.

Actually, it was because a spammer brought this topic back up. Why he chose this thread - who knows.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

I’ve been advised to use the crushed walnut shells, too - plus they add some weight to the pincushion which I personally like, polyester fiberfill just seems too light for me as I want my pincushions to stay where I put them. A lot depends on where you live - I have read that things like rice or sand can have a problem with moisture. Not sure but it does sound possible - perhaps in a really hot area with lots of moisture in the air could be a problem - but I also think that many/most of us have a/c in our homes. But we own my I’m-law’s home (my husband inherited it years ago) in way upstate NY (Gloversville, Fulton County) it does not have a/c. Personally I have trouble with that if I happen to be up there in the rotten times the area gets miserable (for me) to be there. Maybe that’s what people using steel wool might have a problem with - not a clue as I grew up in Phoenix and we never had a moisture problem!!!!

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

I heard of crushed walnut shells also and sand and wool.

I was told to use flax seeds. They supposedly have a bit of oil on them to keep your pins nice. Well dont do it. Here in Florida bugs got into it and ate their way through the pincushion! It was so nasty, I threw out the whole thing pins and all.

How funny and timely that this thread should pop up…I just purchased a large bag of crushed walnut shells at our local pet shop for $6.49. I wanted to make a couple of thread catcher bags with attached pin cushions. Sheesh…this bag will last me a lifetime unless I decide to get a reptile. 🤪