The Sewing Place
Tools of the Trade => The Haberdashery => Topic started by: Iminei on March 16, 2017, 07:28:18 AM
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I have at present a green stuffed mouse, (which is yonks old) which is cute and all...
But the needles (which is all I need it for really now I'm deep in the realms of the dark side) bury themselves inside it only showing their sharp bits when I least want it, usually into my fingers or palms of my hand!!!
Any recommendations for a really good needle cushion???
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I use a little tupperware and a slightly rolled letter from the council saying how much my council tax is going up by... the paper is to catch pins and needles when I'm using and the then tip them into the tupperware at the end... it's an expensive solution but one I'm willing to pay for ;) (I put the saving towards the council tax...)
I've heard of magnetic ones that sound like a great idea, they stick to the magnet rather than being stuck into it.
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I have several of those bright coloured chinese ones, which are filled with sawdust, a giant pig, and several others. But my very favourite, is a mouse. It was a free pattern, and I turned it into a wrist pincushion.
It is the most useful pincushion as it stays with me, but I still need the others dotted around to make sure stray pins always have a home.
Jessie
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The magnetic ones are fab. You throw the pin in the general direction and it will stick. If it falls on the floor the pins stay put and you can use it to suck up pins from the floor if you have a mishap. Only issue is that needles can get lost amongst the pins because they don't seem to stay quite where you put them.
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I tried the magnetic ones and they are brilliant, but I do prefer the traditional. I've got a couple of magnetic dishes too, which are fine for 'strays', but I always go back to my 'faves'.
I'm an old fashioned girl.... ;)
Jessie
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Beyond Measure have some gorgeous wooden and leather pin cushions. Someday I might treat myself to one of them.
https://shopbeyondmeasure.co.uk/shop/wooden-things/
https://shopbeyondmeasure.co.uk/shop/leather-goods/
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Love the wooden ones!!!! drool...
but surely you could as you lot are so creative make a round pincushion to fit into a turned wood thinymy...
Sure that would be cheaper...£17 is quite a lot ?!
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Love the wooden ones!!!! drool...
but surely you could as you lot are so creative make a round pincushion to fit into a turned wood thinymy...
Sure that would be cheaper...£17 is quite a lot ?!
It's a handmade item, local, small business. £17 seems too cheap for something that the creator has probably put a lot of effort in.
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I don't put needles in a pincushion. I have a needle case I made when I was 11, so yes, it's very old! It's like a small book with the cover made from cross stitch canvas and the 'pages' from pieces of felt. The needles are stored in the felt. When I'm handsewing and need to put the needle down, it will stick upright in the cover for a short time.
For pins I have a lace pincushion bought as a souvenir from Bruges sometime in the early 90s. It's slightly spoiled by having to go through the wash following my sewing room fire. I had to throw out the chinese silk one (I'm sure you know the type, it has a circle of chinese men in traditional dress holding the plump central cushion) that was my mother's as it was leaking sawdust very badly.
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I don't put needles in a pincushion. I have a needle case I made when I was 11, so yes, it's very old! It's like a small book with the cover made from cross stitch canvas and the 'pages' from pieces of felt. The needles are stored in the felt. When I'm handsewing and need to put the needle down, it will stick upright in the cover for a short time.
For pins I have a lace pincushion bought as a souvenir from Bruges sometime in the early 90s. It's slightly spoiled by having to go through the wash following my sewing room fire. I had to throw out the chinese silk one (I'm sure you know the type, it has a circle of chinese men in traditional dress holding the plump central cushion) that was my mother's as it was leaking sawdust very badly.
I have one of these too! It's lovely. I bought it from a handmade fair and it has a lovely print on the front of a vintage sewing machine.
My pincushion is a heart shaped one with strawberries that I made years ago. I just recently switched to a wrist one but the pins go through the other side and scrape on my wrist so I'm going to transfer back to my old one. It's a bit ratty and old though. The base is felt and it's pilled badly.
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I made one when I did a thread catcher and bits hold all for my sewing machine.
It's got fine gravel in the base to keep it where you put it and lots of toy filler over the top. Needles go in one end pins in the other.
I used to have a strawberry with a little strawberry attached that was filled with something like emery that give the needles a polish.
I intend to make one filled with steel wool to keep needles sharp but have only got as far as pinching the steel wool from the husband's garage.
Imi surely you want a patchwork one, lots of ideas on Pintrest.
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My floor appears to be my pincushion :| whilst needles just disappear into the ether :| My threadcatcher is empty but the rug under the sewing machine table is "interesting" :|
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Low you are just adding an extra layer of insulation.
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:D That's why I'm so minimalist really... I'm naturally a bit of an untidy slattern :| so, if I don't have it, it can't get in a mess :angel: Unfortunately.. thread,pins and needles just get away from me ......and the Dysons are in the house ( my excuse anyway ;) )
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Love the wooden ones!!!! drool...
but surely you could as you lot are so creative make a round pincushion to fit into a turned wood thinymy...
Sure that would be cheaper...£17 is quite a lot ?!
Have you got an old wooden napkin ring Imi ... you could make one with that
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I use pincushions on a lace pillow, but for sewing I use a mini biscuit tin (free offer with biccies some time ago) 8cm diameter, 3cm deep. I also use berry head pins; can't be doing with the tiny headed ones.
For needles I have a few stuch into a fancy shoe shaped cushion but mostly they live in the packets they came in.
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My floor appears to be my pincushion :| whilst needles just disappear into the ether :| My threadcatcher is empty but the rug under the sewing machine table is "interesting" :|
I found a pin embedded into the sheepskin of my slipper. On the inside sole, that is. Hadn't felt it just saw it!
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Have you got an old wooden napkin ring Imi ... you could make one with that
Nah! I'm not very good at making things like that and also it needs to have a base so the needles don't push through.
So a shallow Pin cushion with a non-permeable base...
I do like those wooden ones but thinking about it, you wouldn't be able to put the lids on when there were needles in it would you??? So style over substance...
If I could find a small turned wood pot and get someone to make the cushion bit then we would be away...
Hi Ho Silver...Off to the charity we go!!!
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I just have the boxes the pins come in - tried pin cushions but kept losing them - as it is I'm always losing the box lids. Had a look a that gorgeous site - there are some beautiful object there and I want one of these:https://shopbeyondmeasure.co.uk/product/leather-wrist-ruler/ Totally useless for dressmaking, but really really lovely. Might just have to do it.
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This is one I made many years ago. It’s really easy. The tin is a sweet tin I bought in Devon whilst on holiday. All you need is a square of fabric, fill it (I kept all my bits of thread and fabric from trimming and used that in this one). Gather stitch around the square and pull it up, stitch closed and fit into the tin. Simple 8)
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I use the same method with an old china cup and saucer, but I superglue it in place. I also superglue the cup to the saucer and it acts as a tray :flower:
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Have you seen the lovely little Mini Tuffett from Lady Sew and Sew in Henley? They come in a kit, the base is wooden and you can buy little wooden feet as an extra.
I bought one back in September for my sister who was visiting from Canada, she was delighted and on her return home she found time to make this up and used her brand new machine to do this - so a very satisfied person all around.
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Beautiful Lilian,
Clever Low
Want it Elnina...
But my what a price!!!
Maybe there#ll be something at The Exeter Spring show which Im now attending on Saturday!!! Woo Hoo!!
anyone else going??? Wanna meet up???
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Thanks Imi, but I was hoping to inspire you to make one ;). Unfortunately I won't be going to the show. Maybe when I get past beginner stage I may be more interested. Hope you have a good time though :toast:
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Lillian's sweetie tin makes me want to build a magnetic altoids pin tin! :)
I'll have to think on that ;)
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Just a thought about the magnetic pin cushions - whilst they are nice and handy at keeping the pins in place, these magnetic pin cushions can do an awful lot of damage if they are used near a computerised sewing machine - in fact any magnet will do damage.
Have fun at the weekend Iminei - do hope you find something nice. By the way I gather Lady Sew and Sew attend all the big shows, if you are ever up Henley way you should make a point of visiting their warehouse it is huge, and there is a place for having a cup of tea or coffee along with some comfy seats.
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and there is a place for having a cup of tea or coffee along with some comfy seats.
OOOh a husband creche!!!
That's such a good idea for Emporias you know....
Midsomer quilters have one with newspapers and free coffee!
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Not sure that the cafe part of Lady Sew and Sew is really a husband creche but then my OH doesn't mind coming round with me as the mathematical side of quilts appeals to his engineering side. There are some nice pubs around though and also the River and Rowing Museum which is interesting and of course many boats on the Thames. Some of the other shops in Henley are good too. Perhaps your chauffeur would like to come to Henley sometime?
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Perhaps your chauffeur would like to come to Henley sometime?
Way before Mr Im came home I used to live in Marlow and visited Henley often but this was pre-Iminei...
and a fabric shop would have barely registered with me.
Yes I would love to get to LS&S one day, maybe one day!
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I just recently switched to a wrist one but the pins go through the other side and scrape on my wrist so I'm going to transfer back to my old one.
Yes, I've been surprised by the number of wrist pincushions I've seen that don't seem to have a pin-proof base! I just got this one as a present and I like the slap band on it too - one size fits all wrists. The pearl-headed pins came with it - I'll never use them though.
The apple was a gift to myself on the occasion of my very first visit to Liberty's in 2014! Why so very long? -< I'm not a tidy body but I am a bit OCD about the colours in my pincushion and the apple segments are heaven for that. I'm the same with my various pen and coloured pencil tins and cases.
I suffer from lemming pins too so the magnetic one is a great supplement and now essential for my new passion for the extra fine flower-head pins.
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I do like that pincushion Marnie, it's gorgeous! :flower: :pin:
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SkoutSews - I bet my needlecase is a lot older than yours as mine was made as a wedding gift for my grandma by her young cousin, and my grandma was married in 1899! All I've renewed is the flannel inset.
I made a pin cushion stuffed with wadding with a small one attached filled with emery powder, which helps to clean the pins and needles.
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You definitely win that one, So Chic! Although I have recently had one of those big birthdays, my needlecase only dates back to the late 1960s.
What a lovely thing to have though, a real heirloom.
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8) try a search on Amazon for 'silver pincushion' it will bring up reproductions of the gorgeous Victorian pincushion animals and objects. Very expensive but if you have a birthday coming up, perhaps you could drop hints? ;). eBay or antique fairs often have them, too. They really are the prettiest and very special :)
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I got one off Amazon, very nice it was but the part you stuff your pins in was a tad too solid for me, so, I had a look on Etsy and found a lovely handmade pin cushion. It came with about six large fancy pins, which I then used to pin it down to the Amazon one. Works a treat now.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Pins-Pincushions/Button-82319-Cushion-Red-Polka-Dot-319/B004P3SVQI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490269009&sr=8-2&keywords=pin+cushion+sewing
Plus one similar to this:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/515597247/gift-for-mum-mothers-day-tilda-fabric?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pin%20cushion&ref=sr_gallery_13
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When she was six DD1 made me a pincushion at school and have used it as my pincushion since then. Last year I gave up trying to find a piece that hadn't disintegrated so I made a copy but couldn't use the original one to stuff it as was my original intention so that too is still in me sewing box.
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I have one I bought years ago at an antique fair. The stall holder made them herself from pieces of vintage fabric, very solid and beautifully trimmed with fringing. It's now worn through to the lining on one side and I have had to turn it over and use the bottom instead. I haven't seen that stallholder for some years so don't think I can get another one.
I remember reading somewhere, that "in days gone by", they used to fill pincushions with dried coffee grounds - might be worth a try?
The problem with magnetic pinholders is that the pins themselves get magnetised in contact with it, and when you try and pick up one pin, you get two or three others stuck to it.
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Interesting thread. I assumed that you would all make your own pin cushions as they are so quick to make. I have one that I made at school that I still use 50 years later (cross stitch) about 5" x 5". I can't be doing with little fiddly ones. I have also made a few patchwork ones recently so that I can leave one next to the ironing board and can always find a pin cushion when I need it.