Pin Cushion Fillers from the DOLLAR TREE - Pin Cushion Series Video # 10

Join me for a short trip to the Dollar Tree as we explore some possible items to fill pin cushions with. I hope this video gives you some creative ideas, and ways to re-purpose every day items!
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• Pin Cushion Tutorials
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[@theresavadenais9972]

Hi my friend made me a mug rug and a small pin cushion with cloves. They smelled so nice especially when I put a hot cup of coffee on the mug rug

[@Crafty3627]

I use ground walnut shells for my pin cushions. I get the ground walnut shells from Walmart or a pet store. I’ve heard that they are great for keeping pins and needles sharp.

[@juanitamarroquin516]

B

[@katrineleber7238]

I always use white sand from the dollar tree. It keeps the pins sharp. It also really helps with the weight. I use cheap panty hose feet to put the sand in. Then I tie knots to keep it in. Hugs, treen 💕💕💕

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

I love this idea Katrine! Thank you so much for sharing :)

[@OutRagaous]

Yes! Thanks so much.

[@DD-ki9xt]

I use Black Blast Blasting Sand from my local Menards for weighted filling in my pincushions. They also have a white sand. They use in for many things such as taking a finish off of an item or etching. It is very fine and works great for pincushions. Actually sharpens you’re pins and creates great stability. Because is is fine I put a muslin liner in my pin cushions. Fill that then add stuffing around that. Or I will interface the fabric pieces. There is 50 lbs for about 9 bucks so it goes a long way! Shared a package with a friend!!!

[@DD-ki9xt]

I use my wool batting scraps for stuffing around the sand. The lanolin in the wool lubricates your pins. The sand sharpens them!

[@curtriceennis2924]

Just a few tips I wanted to share that I learned from doing a little research on what fillings to make a pincushion out of ... There are so many things you can make pincushion fillers with. But, I recommend looking up to find out which one(s) may actually "dull" or "sharpen" your needles. I think I read how ground coffee does "dull" the needle point - can't remember, really. And, I'm not sure of the effect the pink soap would have on your needles, but, in case you didn't know, those pink Brillo Pads are actually a form of steel wool that you were looking for. ❣🥰😻 Just wanted to share a little info I learned from my research on pincushion fillers. Hope this helps you and everyone else. 😉

[@eviedenell9179]

I still have and use the one I made in freshman homecoming class 60 years ago out of a scrap of my grandma's wool dress fabric and firmly stuffed with real wool batting...keeps pins and needles sharp. It's been mended a few times but I still love using it.

[@jenniferfarsh675]

Salt is corrosive to metals. I like the idea of steel wool and sponges. Wool sharpens needles.. maybe wool batting scraps? Great video with lots of tips!

[@smcdaniel45]

The Brillo will have soap in them so no good. Love all the cool ideas you have for fillers. If you have problems with ants or critters , I would not use food items , as that I would think would attract them.

[@donilink5500]

Agreed. In se coastal Georgia we have weevils and so beans, rice, and pasta have to be stored in air tight containers.

[@jennyrobbins6864]

Thanks for making me think outside the box.

[@Timetravel1111]

Rice 🍚 beans 🫘 floral foam, sachet!! Colorful magic filler.

[@clombard7134]

Hi Lisa! These pin cushion filler ideas are interesting! Love to see how the various steel wool scrubbers work. If I used coffee grounds I would need to take a coffee break! I use those little pebbles on the bottoms with fiber fill on top in my pin cushions. They also double as weights to hold down a pattern. Fun ideas!

[@stitchesbyjulia]

So many great ideas!

[@Timetravel1111]

I’m taking porcelain painted antique tea cups that I have and gifting them to people for pincushions find reselling them I saw an idea like this before and I thought it was really beautiful and that way you can have your tea cup have a more of a useful purpose and enjoy it more often 🍵

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

That is awesome!

[@marshagroves9233]

I found a walnut kitty litter in the clearance aisle at my local Wal-Mart. $4.50 for a 5 lb bag. Going to try it.

[@MrImog65]

The kitty litter sounds like a wonderful idea but hopefully it would not bother anyone if they were pregnant pregnant women they say is not supposed to be around kitty litter

[@nellyshea7807]

@@MrImog65 Maybe that is used kitty litter because of toxoplasmosis?

[@samuelanderson8405]

My mom had a pin cushion years ago that was filled with really fin sand she said the sand kept the needles sharp

[@daniellecollett5052]

Ground up walnut shells.

[@donnarichey144]

For the pin cushions I would try the gravel for fish aquariums. They should keep needles sharp.

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

Thanks for the tip!

[@elim3986]

Hi Lisa, I have used very little stons that they use in aquarium or in candle vase. That works great.

[@abitofsewing3750]

I have to go to the dollar tree, great ideas for pincushions

[@jackie-dbdstitchart4969]

Lisa: Rhodes American Steel Wool, Super Fine Grade #0000, 12 pads $3.78 at Walmart, home improvement dept.

[@scash1108]

Brillo pads will rust. I have had a box in a drawer unopened for more than a year they were rusted when I opened them.

[@almacollum6429]

You can also use crushed walnut shells for pin cushions.

[@lindaprice9242]

Great idea for pin cushion stuffing Lisa. I Like the idea of the beans or the rice but I was wondering if they would attract weavels?? I haven't made a pincushion yet but I am so anxious to try one. I have your videos to go back and watch I'm so excited.

[@donilink5500]

Steel wool is in the cleaning section next to plungers and mops.

[@soniaguzman762]

I have never been to a dollar store. I hear so much about them but I never think of them when I'm out and about.

[@dreamingrightnow1174]

lol

[@annphilbeck5174]

Steel wool will rust after a while. It will sharpen your pins though.

[@joyscranfield5527]

I bought a couple small packages of wool roving to try in pin cushions, got it at Hobby Lobby. Also have thought of using crushed oyster shells but don't know if they would work. What do you think?

[@Coastalanne54]

Wool was recommended for pin cushions as it helps keep the pins sharp. I thought wool batting scraps would be great.

[@clairglover7808]

You can also look for the steel wool in the kitchen cleaning isle as well

[@Kitkat-mn5ud]

Interesting finds

[@josieber8032]

I use crushed walnuts shells but i have used rice and sawdust to get sawdust i buy wood pellet cat litter. that i soak and dry and you have great sawdust. I bought those foam ball for something else bad thing is they go everywhere lol

[@velmafeyes7534]

I once saw people using pecan shells that is also supposed to sharpen the needles.

[@marilynvires1456]

Stuffed animals to repurpose for stuffing. I use the fur as hair too.

[@mary-ruthflores4107]

Just FYI, using rice and dried bean in pincushions are not a good idea, unless you live in a very dry area. Also the sachets could have very strange chemicals that could react badly with fabric and metal. The Brillo pads can rust very badly

[@sunflowerbaby1853]

They keep the steel wool next to the sponges in the kitchen cleaning Department

[@patmaddux.9962]

For sure. Hope you do it.

[@bethnorris1361]

I use ground walnut shells too... To me, it's important to find something that will sharpen my pins... I bet we could find something more affordable than w'nut shells🙆

[@bettyl2087]

I heard the steel wool could rust over time

[@rubyc.4311]

Good ideas! What would you prefer to use the most? Ty

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

Well I tried the cotton balls.....and they didn't work well at all.....and I love the little Styrofoam balls....but they are way to light and hard to fill the pin cushions with. So far my favorite has been the block of Styrofoam :)

[@juliamason8393]

If you have a Lowes near you, they have steel wool in the kitchen area

[@femalecrusader8389]

Question what be a good pin cushion filler to clean the oil off the needles (oil from fingers)

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

crushed walnuts

[@GS-st9ns]

I made a pincushion out sand back in high school in the 70s. It kept the Needles and Pins sharp the same way wool does. Nowadays people are just looking for a place to stick pins and needles. My mother would always stick a pin or needle into her ponytail a few times and it would sharpen it right up. I guess I'm off the Dollar Tree subject

[@wendymathews1030]

I used to run diaper pins through my hair before pinning a diaper....40 years ago!! Lol! Your mother obviously knew this trick, too. It really works!! 👍🏻

[@brittanycrawford1212]

it doesn’t sharpen the pins, the oil in your hair coats it and makes it slide through easier. i do the same thing with my crochet hooks and knitting needles lol.

[@clairglover7808]

Scented wax melting beads.

[@pattyprovost6516]

Im thinking the sections with scouring pads is probably where steel wool would be

[@velmafeyes7534]

Steel wool is used in painting projects. I would check that isle.

[@velmafeyes7534]

Steel wool is used for painting projects. At Home Depot it is in the paint section. Try that isle in Dollar Tree.

[@lizziedae91]

Im making a pin cushion for my MIL and she has a big dog that could confuse it with a toy & chew on it. Ive been trying to think of pet safe options just in case. Thats lead me to rice. Any other ideas?

[@evies1050]

I would not use dry rice around a pet that could eat it and maybe drink water afterwards. It might expand too much in their tummy.

[@lizziedae91]

@@evies1050 dogs can eat cooked rice so im not sure what the difference would be

[@sarahfierro8637]

You can use cat litter and sawdust.

[@andiebecco]

I was surfing the net earlier today and some people said that they have used kitty litter, dry beans. But the most interesting was using Emory sand. This is what they use to make Emory file's. The only issue is that it is super fine and can sneak out of most fabric. I think if you used the fusible laminate on both sides of your fabric it would solve the problem. Worth trying. You can find the Emory sand on Amazon. One person also suggested a 2-1 mix of filler such as ground walnut shells, rice, batting pieces or I would guess cat litter.

[@Nakpunar1]

You have to use an inner cover made from a cotton fabric and you should be fine. My emery pincushion at least 7 years old and still not leaked. I see dark color fabric to hide the holes and time to time I iron my pincushion to close the holes. A good emery sand should be fine enough to not full your pins and big enough to not leak from the pinholes.

[@deedeebeads]

Plastic bags sound good as fillers

[@ladybleu50]

I like using rice for bigger ones that need weight

[@traciowens2778]

I see a cupcake with the styrofoam & copper scrubber....just a thought.

[@gwan1ma]

Are bath salts really made of salt? Then they would rust the pins?

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

good question!!! I'm not sure????

[@virginiathomas6689]

What State is your Dollar Tree at?? There is NO Dollar Tree in San Diego CA. Or Lemon Grove CA. That look that CLEAN and every thing in the correct place. You are Bless to have a clean Dollar Tree.

[@Beruthiel45]

I'm in Alberta Canada and never knew we had a Dollar Tree in our city till my daughter told me. We have Dollaramas and another company name that I forget right now , and they are really great, always well stocked and clean. I tried the Dollar Tree once I knew where it was, and it was such a disappointment. It was grubby and dusty, the shelves were a mess and half empty. I'd not bother going again. Our Dollaramas are much more useful and pleasant to shop in.

[@barbaraboyd6022]

Your sponges instead of keeping them in same shape Cut them in a figure 8 on the long side and a smaller one on each en. This would look cuter than a rectangle when you tie around it. At least it would have some shape

[@abbeyp8834]

Crushed walnut shells

[@mariawatkins9939]

I save my hair cuts ( since I cut my own hair I can do that )and is what I use for pin cushions...

[@saltywench]

Do NOT use lentils in your pin cushions. I learned the hard way that mice LOVE to empty lentils out of anything fabric they can find. I think they think they are someone's winter storage. They can move a cup of lentils overnight.

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

Good to know!

[@LJSask]

Steel wool could rust and lentils, beans and rice could attract bugs.

[@kathywells6555]

Do you make placemats

[@TheQuiltmakerHomestead]

occasionally I do

[@sherrolsaxon82]

Copper scouring pads are better

[@sherrolsaxon82]

You can use aluminum foil

[@velmafeyes7534]

I also saw a video that several layers of aluminum foil would sharpen rotary cutting blades. Going to try that. My blades get dull quick as i do a lot of cutting.

[@Beruthiel45]

@@velmafeyes7534 I tried that with scissors and it seemed to work. I'll have to try it on my rotary cutter too, never thought if it. Thanks for reminding me. 👍🙂

[@cynthiafiloromo1432]

Skip the steel wool! It will scratch off the pin coating and will rust if you steam iron and pull at your material . Followers will be awfully upset with you. Sand may not work either! Beware of scratchy stuff!

[@cynthiafiloromo1432]

I use swifter extra fuzzy! Also steel wool is like needles when it goes through material and can get in your eyes if not careful! Just saying! I got it on my shirt too! Ouch!

[@joanneoldfield8037]

No kitty litter

[@abbeyp8834]

Nice! For me it depends where you live U.S. has nicer stuff than Canada 🙄

[@Beruthiel45]

Not where I live in Alberta. The Dollar Tree I looked in on was a dump, and once was enough. Dollaramas here are clean and well stocked and well run, much more attractive to shop in. I'm a senior and never bothered with dollar type stores except for kids party favours years ago, but the ones now have a wide assortment of things that save money and time. Great for storage and crafty stuff, plus they have better silk flowers than anywhere else. 🌻😉

[@jackie-dbdstitchart4969]

I use poly pellets with poly-fil, mine have to be washable. granddaughters that would drop anything pretty in the kitchen sink.

[@Mark32115]

Kitty litter is not good at all. Pregnant women should not b around it, the dust from it could cause deformity.

[@debvaughn15]

It is not the litter that causes problems. It is the fecal/urine material in used litter. I think you are think about toxoplasmosis .