I haven't made a pin cushion in several years. At that time my mother taught us to use the sawdust Dad collected from using his table saw. I guess if you can crumble up wood shavings ( like the kind used in dog bedding) it would work also. I would put the wood shavings in first and stuff the pincushion about 2/3 full then fill the bottom with poly-fil beads. I would put the beads in a small bag so that they would stay where you want them. Additionally, I do not see why you cannot put in a magnet strip in the bottom to help pick up the pins. Jeanniebelle