Pincushion Question
 

I took a class and the instructor was talking about making pincushions and said to never use batting scraps in them. At the time I didn't ask why but now I am wondering about it. Does it dull the pins? Seems strange to me and I know I have used batting scraps in some of mine....

I use batting in pincushions that will be for a decorative collection. Yes, poly batt will eventually dull the points, but I would imagine it would take a while. Products from the Warm Company are cotton, don't think they will dull points. If you are a purist, use ground walnut shells. I get mine at the pet store, they are sold as bedding material.

My friend used crushed walnuts that you can get at the pet store.

Maybe because batting can attract moisture?

This is one of those things where there is the "gold standard" and then plenty of other methods that are still perfectly decent. Walnut shells will give you the best results. They sharpen & moisturize your pins to keep them lasting extra long.

Cotton batting will add a tiny bit of moisture, but also has the possibility of developing mildew inside if in an area of extra high humidity and not periodically washed/dried ... and it will dull rather than sharpen your pins. Poly batting/fiber fill adds no moisture and will dull pins very slightly more than cotton. But honestly, the difference is small & I've bought, made & used fiber fill pin cushions plenty of times. Honestly, my pins bend well before they ever rust or dull so it's not a factor for me. I use silk pins & they are not very strong so I end up replacing probably them every 2 years anyways.

I've used wool that i've gotten from a local sheep farm. The lanolin in the wool keeps the pins from rusting. I also have a pincushion w/ walnut shells in it and it is also a fav of mine.

Pin Cushion fillings
 

I just made another one last night. I lined it with fusible interfacing and filled it with walnut shells & steel wool. The interfacing prevents the shells from escaping the small holes or loose stitches and the steel wool sharpens the pins.

Pin Cushion fillings
 

I just made another one last night. I lined it with fusible interfacing and filled it with walnut shells & steel wool. The interfacing prevent the shells from escaping and small holes and the steel wool sharpens the pins.

Have you ever cut open old velvet tomatoe pin cushion? It's filled with sawdust. And many many old needles! Not a one is rusted.

One hone, I would never cut my old tomato open! I love her! She was my mother's. I have pin cushions all over the place and love all of them but the Tomato is my fav!