Sand that they use for sandblasting, walnut shells & some have used kitty litter.

Silica sand (glass sand) was my choice. (Available at Michaels'). Heavy enough that you won't move it when taking out pins and needles.

I call them steel scrubbies, they also come in copper. I get them at the dollar Tree and they work swell, in a pin cushion and on a cast iron pot....too much soap in a SOS pad.

It's called lizard litter and you can buy it in five pound bags and share with your buddies. I hadn't thought about buying it at the feed store, but the next time I buy bunny food, I'm going to ask. froggyintexas

I have had great success with the clean fine sand sold for Budgerigar cages

It is my understanding that some gals who have used the crushed walnut shells are finding that their pins are rusting...something about the walnut shells retaining moisture??? I'm not sure what to use...
Busy Hands...Happy Heart
Patricia

I use ground walnut shells that I purchase at the Pet Supply store. It's used in reptile cages. I make large pincushions and had enough for 19 pincusions out of the small bag. I just bought my second bag.

Great idea. Thanks!

I just use dry, uncooked rice. It may not 'sharpen' the pins, but it keeps them nice. And it's cheap!

Sand is what I use.

My friend has sheep and gives me some of their wool for my pincushions. Works great.

I use emery. You can order on etsy.

I read that walnut shells actually dull needles. It's like pushing it through wood.

However, my daughter is deathly allergic to walnuts (all nuts) and if she touched an item that had been pinned with pins that had been in walnut shells, she would most likely end up in the ER or at least at the walk in clinic with full body hives or worse. That's why I never do swaps or buy from shops that sell pincushions w/ walnut shells.

Had no idea until now. Thanks for asking the question.

Fabric Lover, that's a regular scrubby pad. What you need is steel wool -- much finer.

If you want something easy that will sharpen pins and needles, go to the hardware store and buy fine steel wool, then cover it with a layer of muslin and stuff your beautiful pin cushion (made from orphan blocks :-) and you are "good to go" :-)

I use sand to keep them sharp,when my daughters were small, I made each of them a pin cushion stuffed with locks of hair from their haircuts. keeps the pins from rusting and coats them with that natural oil from the hair

Never thought of the risk of nut allergy through quilting. I will make sure never the contaminate any of my work. I would hate to think that it set someone's allergy off! Thanks for the tip.

I must be tired because when i read lizard litter it made me laugh, Still sounds funny, ha ha ha ho ho ha

The other day I bought a bag of 18 steel wool pads at the .99 store... they are in a cylindrical shape that reminds me of baled hay.

Pretty good price and more than I need. Thinking of making some pincushions for friends. Probably will squish 4 of them together and wrap with batt, then use scrap fabric to make a cute cover.

I found my supply of this at a quilt expo.

ali

sandblasting sand works great. If you know of a place that does sandblasting to remove paint would work.

I use crushed walnuts which are sold in pet stores as litter/bedding. Here are a few of the pin cushions we made recently at a quilting retreat. My friends keep trying to get me to do projects out of my comfort zone. I think it might be working :-)

I did the same thing with my diaper pins.Also,was told to run the sharp point of the pin thru your hair.I don't remember if that worked, but the bar of Ivory sure did.

jnagy, your pincushions are adorable! Love the chickie.

I think I've seen it on the Clotilde web site.

I stick my pins and safety pins in a bar of soap. Keeps them sharp. My grandma told me that when I was just a kid. :)

I use the parakeet grit n gravel from Walmart...it's cheap and it works!

I use wool in my pin cushions and usually only buy a pincushion if it has wool for stuffing.

Silly me! I hadn't thought of that. LOL :lol:

sand but undertaker's fine sawdust best.

Bird Brain Designs carries emery http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/search.aspx

sorry try this link http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/products/418-emery.aspx