What do they put in pin cushions to keep the pins sharp?

I remember adding something to the ones I made when I was young - but can't remember it.
I do remember that it was something that was used for something else around the house.

I use sand in mine. It seems to work. good luck

Sand or I like wool (leaves needles smooth because of the lanolin) or walnut pieces (really bird bedding from the feed store).

They sometimes use ground up walnut shells.

Hint: Don't buy the bags of this in the quilt shops if you ever come across it there -- you can find it a lot cheaper at Pet Supply Stores - Yes - they are used in reptile cages (I think)

I just made one that is blast from the past - I used to have my Girl Scouts make these. A jar lid, some fabric, glue and a SOS pad. It is doing a nice job on my pins. I wish I'd put a layer of batting over the pad. Next time.

I use ground up walnut shells.....purchased from the pet store. It was called "lizard litter" LOL

Good idea. I will try it!

I use a cleaning pad (attached picture because I don't know what it's called in english, sorry :-(( ) and I put 1 or 2 layers of batting around it . Works great.

Great ideas! I was just thinking about this same topic myself. Thanks for asking! I'll have to add a stop at the pet supply store to my list. Thanks.

Will something like that work for safety pins to? I have some safety pins and they are not as sharp as I would prefer they be.

Emery powder is another option - though I don't know where to find it. That is often what is in the strawberries that can be found attached to some pin cushions.

Cheers, K

Wow! I learn something new everyday. Never new you could.

Is this the shavings that you put into the bottom of the bird cage? I have some of that on hand!! LOL

Only if you stick them in there opened :-D

(Sorry LOL)

I use crushed walnut shells. Buy it from the pet store, and it is called lizard litter, or something close.
Emery is also used, but is way too expensive!

My favorite is Walnut Shells

Now that is so simple and so clever! I'm definitely going to give that a try! :D

I've made myself a really big pin cushion in a plastic pencil box and filled with sand so that I don't have to use two hands to keep the cushion still when using it. I chose pet sand because I could buy just a small amount!

my mother always used wood shavings

Don't know how this would work with needles, but many years ago - before disposable diapers - I would stick my diaper pins into a bar of ivory soap. They always slid through the fabric smoothly.

I get hair from my hair stylist,remembered grandmother and quilting buddies used this for sharping their needles.

LOVE YOUR IDEA!

I dry all my coffee and tea grounds , they make wonderful pincushions, the weight of the pincushions are just right and there is only a slight smell , but it is great if you use flavored coffees or teas! I also use sawdust, and you can add a few drops of essential oil to all three, which is great for your pins and needles and you can smell the great scent everytime you use it

I use the ground walnut shells. Never thought of coffee or tea, great idea!

for weight, corn cob hush litter found at walmart or pet stores, for filler walnut shell litter also found at the same places and for the top to keep the pins clean and sharp a mini SOS pad!

do be careful using organic items like the coffee grounds they draw moisture which can lead to mold, and they eventually decompose so you have to keep filling it. The moisture is also not good for your pins and could cause rust. They are great in the flower bed!

I use steel wool, it's cheap and can be found in the harware dept at Walmart. I cover it with a layer of fiber fill and it works great.

LOL "Those things" have different names in different places.
I just call it wire wool, but I know others will disagree! I have seen them sold as "pot scrubs" as well, but then again, pot scrubs are sometimes made from other materials too...

Language can be quite imprecise sometimes.

I use crushed walnuts or "lizard litter" in mine, but I never thought of putting essential oils in it to make it smell nice. I like that!

Emery can be purchased online-but as Mariposa stated above-it is very expensive

I buy crushed walnut shells at Harbor Freight as it is cheaper. You get a 25 lb box for $24.

Hoppa

Ditto!!

I attended a class and they gave us kitty litter to use for the pincushion. This was over a year ago and it seems to work

I hosted a swap once and I made a little take-along sewing kit for each participant. One of the items was a kit for making an emery strawberry. I bought the emery here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/220767963162

Costs $11 for only a cup of it, but you only need a teaspoon or two for each strawberry. I made a bunch of them and put one in each sewing machine and sewing basket in the house. I really don't use them very much, but they're so dang cute. :)

The kit included a circle of red dotted cotton about 2½ across, about a 2" square of green cotton, 4" of washable ¼" ribbon and a baggie with a tablespoon of emery sand.

DH had a nice soft pair of old army socks that he has had for ages..never worn. He rolled them up together to form a nice soft ball, and put my pins stuck in them. He helps me sometimes

When I was young and lived overseas, Mom used to make pin cushoins filled with sand or human HAIR--I guess to keep the pins sharp and easy to push in. Just like now, if I have trouble with a needle, I run it through my hair, and it will go right through the materail afterwards. So.....

I use sheep's wool and walnut shells. Both keep the pins sharp.

Cookie

My personal preference is a pin box, with a magnetic bottom on the inside. However, some of the girls at guild made pin cushions using parakeet gravel. They don't suck up the Southern humidity the way some of the organics do, and they do help sharpen the pins.

Yep a very small emery filled pincushion is my favorite.

Funny. ;)

This ia a great question! I am inspired to try some out.