Don't throw away an old "tomato" pincushion. Set it on a paper towel- slit and you will find many good sewing needles- never rusted because they were encased in the sawdust!

I once found 63 needles in one pincushion!
Evelyn in NJ

Wow, I am going to check mine and my mom's and everyone else who has an old tomato. This was too funny. Thanks for sharing

I cut one of those apart years ago and found a huge stash of needles!!!
I don't use one any more but if anyone does, check it before you chuck it!!!

Who would have known that you would find so many inside these?

It will be a bargain to buy all you find at thrift stores. Did you know needles made in Japan are made better then the needles made in England or Germany.

I was unaware of needles made in Japan- thought they all came from England!
Thanks for that tidbit of information

I never would have thought to do that. Great idea.

never would have occurred to me, either

Interesting.

I use needles from Jeana Kimballs Foxglove Cottage.. I'm not sure where they were manufactured but I have always found them to be of superior quality and in my opinion fairly priced. I LOVE the #12 Betweens especially.

great idea

What a fun piece of information! Here is what I've done with my tomato pincushion; with a fine point sharpie pen I've labeled each "section" of my tomato with what type of sewing machine needle it holds. I have a section for quilting, denim, universal, sharp, ballpoint..... Sure makes it easier to find the right, slightly used sewing machine needle.

My favorite hand sewing needles are Piecemakers and Roxanne. I use Organ titanium plated machine needles. They stay sharp much longer then other needles so save me more money then they cost.

Very good tip. Thanks

I remember sitting with my mom's tomato pincushion and squeezing the heck out of it to retrieve needles. I thought it was a lot of fun........

See I do learn something new here everyday ! Would never have thought to cut it open :oops: Thanks for the tip :thumbup:

Oh my gosh. I have a pincushion that belonged to my grandmother and my mother! It must have a LOT of stuff inside. I don't know if I could bear to cut it open though. Maybe if I make myself a new cuter one I would be able to part with it.

I have the wool cushions and I find needles poking thru and then I squeeze to get them out. I also use the titanium needles on my machine. They are great! Oh, one word of caution...don't leave needles and pins on the bed, I have remnants of a pin in my foot for 42 years!!!

thank you for sharing that information. don't have any but you never know what you may find. God bless. Penny

Ouch! Ouch!

Me, too!! Works great!!

Oh dear. I've never particularly liked those tomato pincushions but am afraid I may now have to own a used one. Just think of all those great needles inside. The very idea is thrilling!

My Janome dealer sells me the Organ needles for my machine and tells me they have fewer problems with them. Being a believer, I buy, and have no problems.

I got one at a garage sale for 50 cents. It had several nice pins stuck in it but when I got home I began to find needles and since I didn't really need another pincushion, I cut into it and I found about 50 needles inside . all in good condition. Since I usually loose needles down inside, I most generally put them in sideways with both ends out. that way they don't get pushed down inside.

Interesting! Yesterday I found my mom's - or maybe grandma's - stashed in with some fabrics I looked through. I just went and got it ... pressed down (not much give) but one needle did come through. Does yours have the little berry attached for sharpening the needles? At least that's what I think it's for.
DI

Yes, that little berry is to sharpen needles- Most of them contain emery.

Evelyn

I have never thought about it. Learned something new today. Where do you find Japanese needles? I only find ones made in England. Thanks.

I used to do that with my mom's and gramma's pincushion's. I thought it was great fun. I did not cut them open though. I just squeezed and rolled and manipulated all the needles out. Hers had the little sharpener berry on it, so I also ran them through it a few times for mom.