Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Is it possible to use an apple as a pincushion?
By Miranda M.G.
Your needles and pins will rust. I would not recommend this.
Tips and ideas for making your own pin cushion. Post your ideas.
Use cut hair to make a pin cushion.
By Cindy Yasuda
Never use 100% cotton batting. The pins will not go through the cotton batting. Instead, use polyester fiber fill. Mixing the polyester fiber fill with saw dust or hair (as mentioned below) is a good idea.
If you use this idea, pins and needles will stay rust-free and you will be recycling X's two: Fill the toe of a clean sock to desired pin-cushion size with used coffee grounds that have been spread out to dry (on a cookie sheet in the oven is fastest). After putting a cup or so of the grounds in the sock, twist the sock to form a tight 'ball' and knot the sock. Cut off the remainder of the sock (or not). The sock is quick and easy, but you can also sew a fabric pillow-like pin cushion to fill with the rust-preventing dried grounds before hand-sewing the opening.
Because coffee is a good deoderizer, the same basic idea works well in the closet, basement, car, etc. Socks for this purpose can be more loosely filled and knotted.
Another sock and coffee idea is to partially fill and then knot a sock with dried coffee grounds. etc. (see below) to create an 'eye-pillow' that keeps all light out while also forming itself into the hollows of the eyes to provide the feel of a gentle mini-massage. This is especially nice to sooth tired eyes, for afternoon napping, or for getting to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings. I don't leave home (overnight) without it.
In addition to dried coffee, the sock can be filled with a variety of things other than dried coffee grounds depending on preference or availability. Examples to use individually or to blend for pleasant aromas include uncooked rice, popcorn, legumes, flax seeds, etc., plain or mixed with choice of herbs, dried lavender. tiny pine cones, etc. Fancy fabrics and elastic, (to keep the eye-pillow in place if trying to sleep an airplane, for example), can also be used. Still, as with the pin-cushion, the simplicity of a clean knotted sock is hard to beat...and the weight of the eye-pillow seems to keep it in place in most situations.
I took a flat, square, metal magnet, not quite the size of a deck of cards, put batting over it, sewed fabric around it both, sewed on elastic and I now have a magnetic pincushion that fits on my wrist. The magnet stops the pins from going all the way through and into my arm.
Would any of you crafty people have a pattern for different pin cushions. I think my dear daughter is now a collector. Thanks.
There is a big list of pincushions to make at Tipnut:
Try a finger pincushion. Easy and fun. Here is a pattern ths.gardenweb.com/
www.thriftyfun.com/
This one is fun and can be made with any scrap yarn, some pins, and hot/cool glue.
N-JOY!!
How to make your own magnetic pin cushions? I am always sewing and using straight pins for patterns etc. While I have plenty of fabric pin cushions, I find I am always dropping the pins and finding them later when I get stuck with them painfully. I have seen the magnetic pin cushions in stores that cost $10-$15 each.
I would like to know of a way to make my own even in different sizes, so I do not have to keep up with the pins so much. If anyone has any ideas for making these magnetic ones I'd love to hear about them! :) Thanks!in a small jar or other container like margarine bowl or baby food jar, tape or glue a magnet inside the lid & presto ! There you have it !
to make a magnetic pin cushion just slip a magnet inside the cushion and the pins will stick
Do not put a magnetic pin dish near a computerized sewing machine it will ruin the program and the machine.
Can pecan shells be used for pin cushions?
Yes, crushed pecan shells can be used for pincushions. However, be careful not to gift to anyone with a severe nut allergy. Even the dust could cause a reaction.
I am looking for a granny pin cushion that came out in Crafts n' Things magazine in 1989 or the 1990s. I made it and it is great, but I can't find the magazine. Can you help?
By Minnie from Mcquady, KY
Try here: allfreecrochet.com I am sure that there will be something to fit the bill.
