OT but still sewing

Having finished a top I already had half done, I am back to not quilting. I'm kinda creaky and would probably cut my fingers off if I tried using a rotary cutter. I am hoping this will pass soon, though the doctors have not had much to say about it.

I've been alternating between assorted thread tangling things to keep using different motions with my hands as that seems to keep them the most limber.

Thus I find myself in need of a new lace pillow. The old bolster type pillow was just that, quite old. I had my work set aside when a 20 pound cat thought it would make a splendid napping spot. Since he had to make a tremendous leap to get onto it he landed with some force and one of the buttons burst off the end. So when I discovered this small disaster I found a large black cat asleep atop a bedraggled heap of velveteen and scrim, sawdust, bits of horsehair, torn paper, formerly white lace after the Valenciennes style, and four dozen hopelessly tangled bobbins. How he managed to avoid getting stuck by the pins I will never know.

So I need to make a new pillow. I do not wish to sit around for a day sifting sawdust. What the stuff costs pre-sifted is just boggling. I don't want to use bran for that is edible to to many types of vermin. Horsehair costs the earth anymore. Sand is cheap but heavy. Straw is out of season. Does anybody have any suggestions for something that will pack solidly so the pins hold firm, but is not direly heavy?

Or should I just throw frugality to the wind and order one of those fancy dancy roller pillows? I don't know if I can justify it when a pillow is so easy to make and I am not earning at present, but it is a pretty thought.

NightMist

Reply to
NightMist
Loading thread data ...

A while back I did a workshop to make felt pincusions. The stuffing was leftover cotton batting, pulled apart to be "fluff" then pushed into our felt cushion pockets until we couldn't get any more in if we tried. The resulting pincusion is quite solid. This might work for you too. Allison

Reply to
AllisonH

If we're going to be perfect about this - it seems that I've read that the Very best stuffing for pin cushions is lamb's wool - just gathered from a real sheep. The natural oil + wool keeps the pins sharp and from rusting. Mostly, none of us have a lamb QI and I don't think Yorkie hair would work. Just FWIW. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Having looked about some and having called some of the garden shops in a desperate attempt to find straw, I think wool is going to win.

I can get it pretty reasonably from the place I buy most of my roving from

formatting link
even raw fleece if I want.

I do wish horsehair were not so dear. If the blasted cat had waited a few months I could have gotten all the barley and oat straw I could gather for free. Whereupon I could have had the joy of wailing on it with a mallet and so convincing the whole family I was entirely certifiable. Of course DH is willing to attest that anyone who buys perfectly good big pieces of fabric and then cuts them up and sews them back together to make perfectly good big pieces of fabric is certifiable. Pounding straw would just be gilding the lily. (G)

NightMist

Reply to
NightMist

Is there a barn or stables near by? My daughter used to do riding and I remember that in the spring the horses would shed like crazy when they were brushed. If you went over one morning I bet you could get a big bagful pretty easily as the riders groom their horses....

Allison (the master scavenger!)

Reply to
Allison

Master scavenger? Atta girl, Allison. NM doesn't need a bale of horsehair and that's such a fine solution. Five points and a gold star to you. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

We checked around the stables long since. Violin bows. They won't sell. They say selling it directly violates the health codes. A very dubious excuse IMO.

I think I solved it by going completely mad and grabbing a roll of paper towels. I wrapped it in layers of scrap woolen cloth, and then wrapped that in an old dark red corduroy maternity dress that had been languishing in the back of the closet for a couple of decades. Covered a couple of one inch discs of craft wood for the end buttons, and Voila! lace pillow.

I don't expect it will last. The paper will probably disintegrate fairly quickly. Maybe I should have used shop towels?

NightMist

Reply to
NightMist

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.