???Best most affordable filling for pincushions
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I would be afraid that some of the walnut 'juice' would remain on the shells and stain the pincushion fabric from the inside. It seems to go everywhere and is permanent. After all my hard sewing, I think a few bucks spent at the pet store is well worth it. Also, seems like the pet store shells are from English walnuts, not black walnuts...
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Duluth/ Superior, WI
Posts: 1,038
Julie,
Go to your local hardware or lumberyard, find the area that has sandblasting items. My husband has a business that he does a lot of sandblasting and he buys the fine walnut shells in large boxes a lot cheaper than the pet store prices. He also buys very fine emery sand. When making pin cushions, I make a small muslin bag to fill with sand or shells and that keeps all of the grit from coming out.
Go to your local hardware or lumberyard, find the area that has sandblasting items. My husband has a business that he does a lot of sandblasting and he buys the fine walnut shells in large boxes a lot cheaper than the pet store prices. He also buys very fine emery sand. When making pin cushions, I make a small muslin bag to fill with sand or shells and that keeps all of the grit from coming out.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 493
I have a pin cushion/thread bag I bought at a quilt show. It has aquarium gravel and I don't like my pins in it because it seems to dull the pins. I wonder if the steel wool would act as a sharpener? If so, that would be awesome.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: western australia
Posts: 1,793
Hi earthwalker, try the sandblasting sand you should be able to buy it in paint shops or hardware stores.
I have also been seeking some answers...so thanks for posting. Walnut shells are expensive and a bit tricky to obtain here in Western Australia. I was hoping to buy some emery sand (like the strawberry pincusions have) but that's also been hard to source. My next step was to "The Bird and Fish Place" to see if they have any aquarium sand or gravel as Lynnie suggested. Will let you know how I go.
#20
Go to a pet store and look for walnut crushed beddig for birds. Kaytee walnut pet bird litter. You can get a very big bag for way cheaper then buying it at the quilt store in those tiny packets.
http://www.buycheapr.com/us/product....&ga=us23&ts=go
http://www.buycheapr.com/us/product....&ga=us23&ts=go
Last edited by Annaquilts; 08-17-2012 at 06:56 AM.
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