We are all familiar with the ubiquitous tomato pincushion. However, if you are looking for something more unique consider making your own. Whether you sew, knit, crochet, or dabble in other craft areas, there are endless ways to make your own cushion. This is a guide about homemade pincushion ideas.
My friend loves canned frosting, so I keep the cans for all kinds of things. If you have a big sewing project, but don't have a pincushion, or just want a larger and better one, try this. You simply grab a ball of yarn that you no longer need, and stuff it into a container like this frosting one, an old mug, a coffee can, or Crystal Light tube. Voila! Instant pin cushion.
Yarn is great for pins, as they slide through the fibers so easily. You can even keep smaller knitting needles in there, as there is plenty of room for the tips and won't make the cup fall.
N-JOY!
Source:
By Poor But Proud from Yorktown, VA
This neat little ring is ideal for sewers who want those pins and/or needles close by at all times. Approximate Time: 30 minutes
Make two small holes in the top of the cap about 1/2 inch apart.
Put stretchy cord through and adjust for your finger size by doing this on a magic marker or something that is the size of your finger.
Tie a few knots in the cord.
A 3 inch circle is cut from your fabric, then sewn along the edges, slip in some fiberfill, sew closed, and it is ready to be glued inside the cap.
By NoRulesArt from sunny FL
This pretty pin cushion will keep mother's pins sharp and handy while at the same time giving off a subtle scent. When she wants she can change the bar to another scent and use the last one for bathing. Great for teachers gifts or any woman who sews. Approximate Time: 10 minutes
Here are a a couple of poems you might want to attach.
Once when I was but your little girl
You took the time to teach me to sew.
Now that I am a Mother with a girl to teach
Where you got your patience I do not know.
Many, many years ago when I was but a girl
You took the time to teach me to sew.
Knowing what kind of child I was back then
Where you found the patience I do not know.
By Ann from Loup City, NE
Approximate Time: 1 hour
Makes a good pin cushion or play food for little ones.
By Coville123 from Brockville, Ontario 
Approximate Time: 2 hours
By Ann Winberg from Loup City, NE
Approximate Time: 6 hours
This fun project makes a large pin cushion that would also be pretty just sitting in your sewing room. Any sewing enthusiast would be thrilled to receive a handmade gift such as this.
Trace the patterns onto light weight cardboard, then trace onto your felt. Notice I have written on the pattern pieces how many of each you need.
Center a light pink center over the center of your blossom then make a small stitch through the center around the edge down through each petal. These will be hidden by your beads.
Now using 2 strands of pink floss stitch your beads in place, there is no pattern to this just what-ever pleases your eye. I made several French knots randomly to finish my centers. You may choose to use a button instead, but please consider the beads: they really add some pizazz and charm to the finished product.
Repeat for all three blossoms. Arrange your three blossoms and the five leaves on one of the two bases you have cut out. Pin, baste in place, then with matching embroidery floss stitch them in place around the centers and under the fold on each petal or glue in place if you choose.
Stitch beads in a zigzag pattern 3/4 inch apart around your two 2 1/2 inch x 7 3/4 inch side pieces leaving at least 3/4 inch free of beads around all sides.
Stitch the narrow ends of your side pieces together with a 3/4 inch seam and finger press the seams open. I put a line of glue along the seam to hold it flat.
Match the ends of your oval with your flowers stitched on, with the seams of your sides pieces you just sewed together. Using 2 strands of floss, your choice of color, do a blanket stitch to sew the two together catching 3/4 inch on each edge. See diagram 2.
Repeat the blanket stitch on the other edge, but leave one side open for stuffing, stuff with polyfill, then finish stitching the opening shut. You should be able to print out the diagram page on regular copy paper for the correct size to match the side rectangles.
Enjoy!
By Ann from Loup City, NE
Approximate Time: 30 minutes
By Laurel from Port Orchard, WA
Source: Instructables
By Gem from VA
This project lets you turn a clean tuna or cat food can, or the plastic thing that holds the icing for refrigerator cinnamon rolls, some easy crochet, fabric scraps, and glue to make an attractive pin cushion for your sewing basket or for gifts. Approximate Time: 1 1/2-2 hours
By Pugi from Ingram, TX
With two strands and a larger hook, I simply chained 4, and made 13 more double crochets in the first chain from hook. Then I joined, secured tail, and hot glued it onto the top. 
Your work time is about 3 minutes. Now I don't have to get up and walk across the room to get a second pin cushion.
Voila!
Source: I need to not overuse my hip or knees, so this really helped.
By Sandi from Salem, OR 
Pin cushion holder that resembles an ol' fashioned Easter Hat. Approximate Time 45 minutes
It looks like a old time Easter hat and then I glued on a hook on back if I wanted to hang it on the wall someday.
By Sally from West Seneca, NY
This is a cute pincushion using a terra cotta pot for the vessel to hold the batting in. You could paint the pot. I chose to decorate it with sewing trimmings. Approximate Time: 1/2 hr.
Elmer's glue is good for this project. It cleans up okay and dries clear. Have fun. I did.
By Esther from Surfside Beach, SC
Don't throw away your old quilts; recycle them. Create pretty, heart-shaped pin cushions. You can add lace, buttons, etc. to decorate them. These would be great to sell at bazaars or craft shows. The one pictured has potpourri in the center covered with a lace medallion. Approximate Time Less than 30 minutes
By Angela from Wilkesboro, NC
Approximate Time 30 minutes
By Mom of 1 from Wilkesboro, NC
No more pins or needles laying around anywhere, waiting to prick you! 
By Rela Ann
There are free pincushion tutorials on the Internet. Some are precious and so easy to make. There are so many simple crafts that only takes minutes to make up. If you start now, you can have tons made up to give to those people. You just want to remember to use free stuff you already have on hand. People always love these.
By Eveh from Gulf Coast, MS
Tips and ideas for making your own pin cushion. Post your ideas.
By (Guest Post)05/29/2005If 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.
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!
Julie from TN
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
By popet11/16/2011Try here: allfreecrochet.com I am sure that there will be something to fit the bill.
Would any of you crafty people have a pattern for different pin cushions. I think my dear daughter is now a collector. Thanks.
By Poor But Proud12/11/2008http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58225333.tip.html
This one is fun and can be made with any scrap yarn, some pins, and hot/cool glue.
N-JOY!!
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Quick Pincushion