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You can get crafters you know to give you their leftover ends and pieces of pretty fabric, ribbons, etc., and make up little pincushions for small gifts. You don't need a sewing machine, you can make these by hand.
Take a piece of Styrofoam or packing foam and attach this to your sewing table, sewing machine, or wall behind your sewing area with a piece of double sided tape. The packing foam works great as a pin cushon and you'll always have a convenient place to store your pins when you sew!
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.
An easy project to customize for a gift. People of all ages need a needle and thread for mending or to replace a button. This is a page about mason jar pin cushion and sewing kit.
Pincushions are a necessity for many crafters. Making your own is a craft in itself. One lovely way to design a pincushion is to use a pretty tea cup and saucer.
If you have limited space in your sewing or crafting area this project is for you. Choose one of the double duty pin cushion projects in this page and enjoy the craft and the outcome. They also make nice gifts
This is a page about making a three tiered crochet pin cushion. This cute pin cushion is really easy to make using minimal supplies and basic crochet skills.
This is a page about no sew tin can pincushion. An easy project that recycles a can and creates a pin cushion to have handy for all your sewing and craft needs.
This is a page about making a recycled cuff pin cushion. Store your pins right on your wrist with this easy cuff.
Transform a plain plastic bottle cap into a pretty, useful pincushion. You will need fabric scraps, Polyfil or other stuffing material, and glue as the basic supplies.
If you can crochet this might just be your next project, destined to be used by you or given as a gift. Learn how to make a delightful crocheted donut pincushion. It is such a practical and decorative item for any crafter.
Here is a minor twist on the typical pin cushion. This one was made to store safety pins and no machine sewing is required. This is a page about pink polka dot safety pin cushion.
This is a page about making a pincushion for a sewing machine. If you are into sewing, you always are looking for a pin or pincushion.
This is a page about making a recycled tin can pin cushion. A decorated tin can is a good start to making a unique pin cushion.
This is a page about making jar lid pincushion. A simple, useful craft you can make is a pin storage container with a pincushion on top.
This is a page about making a paint can pincushion. If space is at a premium in your craft area, try adding a pincushion to the lid of a can of spray paint.
This is a page about making a clay pot pincushion. You can easily create a unique pincushion starting with a small clay flower pot.
Shop yard sales, antique shops, and thrift stores for pretty vintage china cups, creamers, etcetera to make one of a kind pincushions. This is a page about making vintage china pin cushions.
