What do you stuff your pin cushions with? I am thinking about making some and would like to know what to stuff them with.

I love the ideas of these fillings and I am so pleased that you have asked this question. Thank you all for your answers and I hope I can get to do one soon.*****

I made a thread catcher and stuffed the top part with glass marbles - now I use the top as a pin cushion. It works for me!!

I use crushed walnut shells or emery sand(from Harbor Freight)There is also another "sand" but I forgot the name (also @ Harbor Freight)Costs less than from the quilt shops.Have used it for years.

I've usually used a steel-wool pot-scour-pad wrapped in closely-woven cotton fabric lining, before covering with a nice embroidered cover. The pins and needles don't rust and remain sharper in pushing through the steel-wool filling. Works for me!

I use dried coffee grounds. smells delicious! I also use beach or sand box sand a lot. It is heavy enough to keep the pincushion from sliding around and keeps the pins sharp. You can buy some emery filling sand on line to fill them with and this sharpens the pins every time you pull them out. Suzanne

I use hobby fill and I also add some dried lavender. Hugs Joyce

My pin cushion is an ordinary round new bath sponge covered with cotton fabric. I did add a cotton lace edge. It is nice and big for lots of pins. The sewing needles are pushed into the sides. A few saftey pins are underneath.
It has worked for lots of dress making too.
I just never got round to making a new "fancy" one cos this old one works so great.
Hugs Bev

I don't remember where I read this but I have used tea leaves, used then dried leaves, they have weight and don't dull the pins. I now make mine oblong and put a thick piece of cardboard on the bottom before filling, this keeps the pins from going through. Also I have a side pocket to hold the threader, seam picker and thimbal!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I have always wanted to know what to use! I always figured sand was good but I didn't know about using crushed walnuts! :-)

Thanks everyone for your info. Now to find the pin cushion pattern on Cute. I know that I saw a really pretty one on here but now I cannot find it.
Thought I had downloaded it but I cannot find it in my designs. Don't you hate it when you know you got the design and cannot Yikes I just hate myself when this happens. Thanks again and I gave everyone a flower for your help.

I had a friend give me one that she stuffed with a soap-less scrubbing pad, similar to a Brillo Pad. It is made of stainless steel. You can buy these in a hardware store, they are used in furniture refinishing. It was the best pincushion I ever had!! My pins were always clean!

If you are making a large pincushion, ie one where the pins want go right through, then make an inner casing with a plain fine weave cotton fabric, stuff it hard with fine damp sawdust [DO NOT use sawdust contaminated with 'treated timber' I get mine from a cabinent maker or from the schools woodwork centre.] Let the sawdust filled inner casing dry completely, may take several days, then add the outer layer. You will have a pincushion that will last for years & keep the pins sharp. I have pincushions that are now reaching 50+yrs. The outer has been replaced & the inner topped up. I like to use wool felt for the outer layer, the oil helps to keep the pins lubricated. Hopes this helps. Margaret

I have used both sand and walnut shells - a few just poly fill if they don't need the weight.

I buy Poly Pellets at Walmart for my pincushions. I like them because they add weight.

Gosh., I hadn't heard of using crushed walnut shells susan., that's interesting.

I haven't made one myself, but it's on my list, so I'm interested to know what cuties use as well.

I have used crushed walnut shells. They give it some weight. I have also used fiberfil but sometimes it's real hard to push a pin into that.
Good luck, susan