Quilting and Patchwork

Quilters’ Passion for Pincushions

by Mary Emma Allen on October 6th, 2007

When I read about the pin cushion contest, Call for entries: Pincusions,  at Noreen’s Hankering for Yarn, my mind slipped into “memory gear” and I thought of my first pinchusion.  When my grandmother (Nanny) and I were quilting, she decided I needed a pincushion like hers.

I don’t know if she bought it, or found she had an extra.  However, it was one of those tomoato red ones with the little red ball or tomato attached for keeping needles and pins sharp.  This remained in my sewing box for years.  (I have no idea where it, and the little sewing box Nanny gave me, disappeared in my many moves.)

When I was a 4-H leader, I taught the girls how to make pincushions for a sewing project.  Many of them exhibited theirs at the local fair.  

                 My treasured pincushion is one I use today.  My daughter made it during our 4-H years.  It consists of blue and white fabric with a piece of white lace around the middle.  The pincushion is shaped somewhat like a flattened ball with stuffing (the girls used polyester pillow fill).  However, it still serves me well.

My mother-in-law made me a crocheted pincushion one year as a Christmas gift.  It, too, has disappeared.  But for awhile I had both  my daughter’s and Mum’s pincushions to use.

Pincushions as Collectibles - Pincushions, along with other antique sewing accessories, are among the items that quilters often collect.  My daughter (now a quilter herself with her Meandering Threads blog) and I are always looking for sewing and quilting related items to add to our collection.

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POSTED IN: Books and Magazines, General Quilting/Patchwork, Memories