What to make pincushions for quilting friends for Christmas. Here's the link to the directions: http://www.fatquartershop.com/Free-Q...ore_id=499&T=1 Cute, huh?

Their suggestin for filler is plastic pellets which sounds ok. Not sure if I can find these. Want it to be "weighted". Any other suggestions for filler other than kitty litter? I worry about rice or bean...bugs.

What making a little muslin like pillow (lack of a better description) about 2" and put some kids sand in it for weight. You could then tack it down inside and then fill the rest with the pellets or fabric and batting scraps.

Crushed walnut shells are popular for pincushion fillers. You can get a huge bag at the pet store for under $10.

http://tts-tutorials.blogspot.com/20...incushion.html

Just to let you know that the plastic pellets are avaialble at Jo-Anns (where I bought them)...but have since found them less expensive at a WalMart in NY.

OH, when I work with sand, I usually purchase the aquarium sand at a pet store...it is dust free and works so well for things that needed to be weighted!!!!

Forgot to mention, if you go for the Aquarium sand, you'll need a wheel barrow..a large bag of that weights a ton!!!!!!

I saw the plastic pellets at Walmart for $4.99 for a pretty big bag.

My favorite is the crushed walnut shell that is used to polish brass gun shell casings that are going to be reloaded. My brother-in-law gave me some to try and it really weights the pincushion very well. Try some!!!!!!

years ago very very fine sawdust was used ,weighty and the pins did not rust-----the best place to get it was the local carpenter/undertaker!

White sand for birds or aquarium sand. You can also stiff it with hair( someone told me that horsehair is the best but why shouldn't you use your own hair)

I find this to be very funny. I've never have paid for sand. I just head to the nearest beach and scoop some up for free. I have sand from just about every beach I've ever been to. Just my take.

I've seen what uses the sandboxes around here. (YUK) I didn't think to look at the pet store. I just bought a bag of cleaned playground sand from Home Depot. It is heavy but I bought a bucket with a lid to store it in so I have a LOT for projects. I could have used some of the sand that I keep for filtration columns but I found it is so fine that it works its way through the fabric.

The crushed walnut shells are my favorite.
A friend made a pincushion for me and filled it with rice which works great.....but my kitty likes to lick it...I mean, I have to hide it from him. So try the crushed walnuts.

I have a sawdust filled pincushion from a friend whose husband did lots of woodwork. My mother had a small box with a hole in the lid in which she put the combings from her hair every time she combed it. This hair filled the pincushions we used. My favorite is small snippings of yarn from all the knitting and crochet projects that I enjoy.

Crushed walnut hulls are my favorite. They sharpen your pins also. Pet shops carry it. It is also "less dusty" than most sands too. :)