Pincushions

I have found that I detest pin cushions. I now use those magnet bowls that you find in the automotive section LOL. I prefer them to a pin cushion as all you have to do is drop the pins instead of poking them in separately.

I did see in my latest purchase of a magazine that a company is now making those type of magnet bowl thingy's for pins! Amazing. I and my Mom have been using the ones from the automotive store for years already simply for the convenience of them! Oh and an added bonus, if you ever do drop or spill any pins, take the bowl and run it over the floor and it picks up all the strays!

Not, however, something you want to keep too close to anything like a computer or computerized machine or even your monitor. They tend to make them unhappy and make monitors do funky colour things. ;;-)

~KK in BC~

If you make your own - batting (not poly, but cotton or wool), and I like segmented rather than multiple pin cushions so I can sort as I sew. Sometimes I make the segments in different coloured fabrics, and sometimes I just stitch or mark the segments. Fons&Porter now sell a colourful flower pin cushion with the petals different colours (like a dresden plate) but I like a BIG pincuchion so I generally make my own.

I keep needles in a separate cushion with emery in it. The emery keeps the needles sharp and clean. I did add some emery to the last pincuchion I made too but I didn't have enough on hand to fill it completely.

This is probably the best pincushion I have ever had. It has been poked to shreds and is waiting for a new cover.

I make my pincushions at least 3" X 5"---same size as index card, or bigger, and stuff with poly batting. With this size I can use half for sewing needles and the other half for pins. It's also big enough to find when it gets lost. I prefer a solid---makes the pins easier to see. Guess it would make more sense to make each half a different color----but I usually take the easiest way to make things! HTH Barbara in Central FL Land of the Killer Tornadoes

That hint was just in the new Fons and Porter magazine I received yesterday. Did you send it in? KJ

When I used to giving spinning demos I used to sell bags of sheep fleece for pin cushion. The small amount of oil in the wool used to stop pins from going rusty. Lace makers used to buy lots of it. Shirley

In message , René writes

Nope but I should have!!!

~KK in BC~

: > I did see in my latest purchase of a magazine that a company is now making : > those type of magnet bowl thingy's for pins! Amazing. I and my Mom have : > been : > using the ones from the automotive store for years already simply for the : > convenience of them! Oh and an added bonus, if you ever do drop or spill : > any : > pins, take the bowl and run it over the floor and it picks up all the : > strays! : >

: > Not, however, something you want to keep too close to anything like a : > computer or computerized machine or even your monitor. They tend to make : > them unhappy and make monitors do funky colour things. ;;-) : >

: > ~KK in BC~ : >

: >

: >

: >

: :

I've used those magnetic pin dishes for years as well. I have several, different colors for the different types of pins, werks gud! I found that when first using pin cushions I had an empty cushion and a pile of pins next to it, that wrist type pin cushion didn't work for me either, drove me nutz, don't know how Martha P. stands it. I do however have one large red "strawberry" type old fashioned pin cushion that is emery filled. I used yellow embroidery cording to wind around to mark extra sections. I then take a fine tipped Sharpie and code each section for needle size/type. If I need to use a specialty needle for only a few hours I stab it into it's marked section after removing it from the machine. When I take a needle out of the cushion I put one of those large headed fleece pins in as a place holder. This way I don't have to guess which empty section it came from. This is a safety net for my feeble mind since I always *think* I can remember what I'm using but actually seldom can. This way I'm not digging around through my many little Schmitz needle things trying to think I remember which needle I used last, used or never used or trying to tell the difference between a #80 or #60 with my squinty old lady eyes, thinking that I'd actually remember what the hell sized needle that is in my pin dish that I actually *thought* I would remember the size when I put it there for safe keeping. *sigh*

I also use a plastic film canister to safely store my used needles and bent, barbed, nicked pins. I just drilled a little hole in the lid and when a needle/pin is no longer good I drop it in the hole and they aren't loose in the garbage. When the canister gets full I dump them out on the back (sticky) side of a piece of duct tape, roll it up and toss it in the bin.

Val

Bad girl, Val. Go rub your Minkee. You are Not supposed to leave a pin or needle in emery. I don't know if your face will freeze like that or you'll poke your eye out - but I am certain that Mama said. Polly

"Val" "strawberry" type old fashioned pin cushion that is emery filled. I used

ohhhhhhhhhhh maaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnn, I've been using this pin cushion system on the same pin cushion (purchased from K-Mart about 35 years ago by my son for a Mother's Day gift) for the past 6 years and I assumed all those rock hard strawberry cushion things were filled with emery. How come, why not leave pins and needles in them? Honest, this is a new one on me! I was told not to fill pin cushions with sawdust 'cause things can rust.

Val

I would guess that if your face hasn't frozen in 6 years that you're getting away with it. I have no clue why we were strongly warned not to do it although I have found that the emery can and will blacken a needle. When I use the emery, I always wipe the needle down before stitching. Maybe it has something to do with the salt air here. I dunno. Polly

"Val" wrote > > ohhhhhhhhhhh maaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnn, I've been using this pin cushion system

Val, those tomato/strawberry pin cushions do cause needles to rust if left there long enough, I have some to prove it.

Jacquel>

I have several pin cushions I have made, and they're really great! I usually find an old pin cushion at an antique shop with an interesting base or holder, remove the old innards, and replace the innards with an appropriately-shaped "bag" made of double-thick cotton fabric scraps stuffed with batting scraps and sewn shut. The "bag" is stuffed inside the antique base. I also have made "bags" for antique crystal toothpick holders. To sharpen needles, etc., I keep an emery strawberry in my little sewing-tool box by my chair.

I just bought a pattern with a whole bunch of really cute pin cushions. The directions say to fill with clean sand or sawdust - don't know if either of those are good or bad.... maybe someone else will know. I love pin cushions - I have them everywhere!

Patti in Seattle

I've used poly fill for several I've made. Debra in VA See my quilts at

I know. I've even done it. Leaving your needles and pins in emery will make them rust. Keep them in your tomato, not your strawberry. Debra in VA See my quilts at

I've made similar 'bags' except I've used little baskets for the base. Since the baskets don't weigh much I add a couple of new nuts from the hardware department for weights. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Love the kitties on it! Debra in VA See my quilts at

My real pincushions are rarely used. I have a seriously organized system. At the craft store I found a stackable set of round containers that screw/lid one into the next. The top container holds the daisyhead pins usually used. Next comes the round head glass pins that the Yorkie likes and I try to avoid unless I just have to pin something that must be pressed with the pins in. Beneath those are long fine ones and then the wee skinny silk pins. When I'm pinning, I just pour out what I'll need. When I'm stitching, I just toss them to a big enough magnetic sort of saucer. Putting pins in a pin cushion and/or removing them one by one just isn't fast enough for me. They're okay for a bit of hand sewing and are mighty cute. I especially love the chicken one. For the most part, it keeps special needles and a corsage pin or two. They're great for poking an incorrigible point. Polly

I've tried various magnet thingys for pins but the result is the same--I always stick my finger whenever I try to remove a pin from the magnet because the pins are pointed in all sorts of directions, plus all my pins turn magnetic and attach themselves to my scissors so I also stick my finger when snipping threads. Since bleeding on my project is undesirable I avoid the pin magnet in favor of the pin cushion. Debra in VA See my quilts at