Ellageo

This is so great! In Japan, on Feb 8th , is a memorial service to retire broken, bent needles & pins.
The service is to give Thanks for their hard work. The needles are stuck in pieces of tofu or jelly. They believe all things have a spirit and soul.
It is also a time to value small everyday objects of life that are otherwise forgotten. Burying the needles in tofu is said to symbolize rest for the needles, as they are wrapped with tenderness. It's also about the many sorrows that women are believed to carry in their hearts, the burdens that are passed onto needles in the many hours of sewing.
They also use this time to pray for better sewing skills.
To read more go to , www.odditycentral.com and search for Hari Kuyo... This would be a fun and good thing to do at our quilting circles, don't you think?

Onebyone

That is a thoughtful tradition for the Japanese to do. I know if my guild had a block of anything stuck with that many pins some would say Oh I can still use those and would take them out.

ManiacQuilter2

I put mine in a Crystal Light wrapper so they won't do harm to anyone in their transit to where ever broken needles go to their final resting place.

pennycandy

Nice sentiment behind the tradition.

ube quilting

There is ritual in all we do. Some make an art of it and are thankful and grateful and mindful. A lesson to be learned.
thank you for sharing this.
peace

jitkaau

Mine go into empty blood strip containers so the waste disposal men don't get stuck.

Reba'squilts

Mine go into one of the jars that chewing gum comes in. I can unscrew and put the used rotary blades in. I will do these things with reverence now! LOL

pal

I am so glad that you shared that. It's a lovely thought.

SuzzyQ

My bent, broken, not sharp pins and needles go into old prescription pill bottles with the childproof lids. Labeled sharp and when fullish they go into the garbage. Life is too short to keep using frustrating pins or needles.

Dodee

Mine go in old prescription bottles, too. If you don't have one, most of the drug stores will give you one if you ask. Some have child-proof caps, too.
Dodee