I have been admiring the pincushions board members have been making, and have a few questions:

What is your favorite material for filling them? I've seen suggestions of nut shells and poly-fil. Anything else work?

Do you do anything to the bottoms to weight them down or prevent pins and needles from going all the way through?

Would it work to somehow put a magnet in a pincushion to use for picking up pins? (I say this as I look at a magnetized paperclip holder and wondering if it could somehow be incorporated into a pincushion.)

What is your favorite type or pattern to make?

Could you post some pictures here to share what you've made?

Do you have any hints or warnings or things you have tried and just didn't work?

Thanks for any response you post.
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Speaking of pin cushions I saw an English Teapot pin cushion a while back online and thought I had saved the link but now can't find it. Anyone happen to know where I can find it.

I use crushed walnut shells for most of them. If I am making a canning or tuna can top I just use fiberfill. Crushe walnut shells can be found at any pet store.

I've used crushed walnut shells, too.

If you try the magnet inside, let us know how it works. It's an interesting idea.

I use play sand,keeps the pins sharp.Connie in CO

I googled teapot pincushion.I'm looking around somemore.

I love pincusshions and use all kinds of stuffings. Favorite is sand because it sharpens needles and is also heavier so it supports itself. I am watching for the teapot pincushion too.

was wondering about sand, what about rusting needles? I read somewhere about wool???

Do you have to worry about the sand leaking out? Do you double-cover it or anything?

I knit one using wool that helps keep the pins/needles from rusting and helps keep them sharp. I use my wool yarn scraps as filler for pincushions I sew for the same reasons. Plus, no waste.