Actually the magnet should not affect it if it is a couple of feet away. I know that is a long distance for your arm. But at least you can own one.

What a good idea - keeps everyone safe. I was told by my grandmother that if you put steel wool in a pin cushion it will keep the pins sharp - so I make my own with the steel wool, a scrap of batting over it, then one of my test quilt blocks. I rarely have a dull pin, just the occasional bent one.

I toss them out when my pins are bent or dull. I use an empty prescription bottle with a child proof cap to store the disposed ones until the bottle is full. Then I acan safely throw them away.

I do the same thing, course I have enough pill bottles for many. I also put my batteries in the pill bottles, here in our area there are laws about throwing pins and needles away loose. So I have always been careful.

I make my own pin cushions but I use sand in mine. I think it keeps them sharper than the sawdust and I don't seem to have to toss as many pins. But with the sand it's not so often and it pulls any moisture from my hands off the pins.

Hugs,
Sharon

I like my magnetic one too but I never thought of it being a problem for my sewing machine. I wonder how far away you should keep it from the machine....

I have magnetic pin trays with all my machines. The machines also have lexan extension tables. I have kept my trays at the end of the ex. table, (18" to 24") away and I've never had any trouble.