Quilty-Louise

I use emery sand that I purchased on ebay at a reasonable price.

w1613s

I have and constantly use a pincushion that is just about 100 years old. According to what I have been told, it is filled with hair, metal shavings, and some sort of grit particles. I cannot get over how tightly it is stuffed - like a rock. The fabric is, I think, upholstery fabric. I would think that by this time fabric or thread would have let go and created leaks somewhere, but it hasn't. It must be well lined. I have used it and used it so someone did a good job.

Using it makes me feel at one with the other women in my family. I knew a few of my great grandmother's sisters, my grandmother, my aunt, and my mother. The cushion is a link to them as well as the ones I missed knowing. My dad died at 90 and remembered seeing it going to sewing get togethers. And the pincushion is a link to him too. He used it after mother died.

I hope someone in the next generation sews and the pincushion continues to serve as a link for all of us. I have fun thinking of all the quilts and garments, and household items and children's toys and curtains and, and, and that my pincusion participated in making. Something as humble as a pincusion.

Pat

ctobusy

I use lizard litter

debbiemarie

Bags of sand can be bought at local nurseries very inexpensively. Sand is the best because it sharpens the pins and needles as you poke them into the cushion.

gcorn

My aunt made me a pin cushion over 30 years ago using my hair for the filling. It is still good today and the oil in the hair helps keep the pins sharp.

mengler

I used to use sand. Kind of messy. Now I use 4-0 steel wool in the TOP third and batt for the rest. Keeps pins and needles sharp without the mess.

GagaSmith

I read that flax seed can be used. Haven't tried it but bought some to use in Dr. Oz smoothies and can't stand the taste so maybe I'll try it in a pin cushion.

Tiggersmom

This is what I do and the way I make them. I really like the results as it gives weight too to the pincushion and it doesn't flop around.

Granchris

The thought is Poly will eventually dull your pins, walnut shells are bad because of allergy problems and aren't all that good for your pins. Sand is OK but those little holes will cause sand to leak out at some point. Fine Steel Wool you buy at a Hardware store seems to work the best. I've had no complaints and your pins will get very sharp.

MargeD

I know there are a variety of "fillers" for pin cushions, my Mom swore by using hair because of the lanolin in the hair it would keep the needles sharp. I don't know if that is feasible today, but I've asked my hairdresser to save my hair when I get it cut. Now if I can only get the pincushions made. LOL.