How to keep pins and needles sharp?
 

Does anyone know how to keep pins and needles sharp. Someone said to put emery dust in the pin cushions. Sounds dirty and its expenisive. Any ideas? Help.

I use crushed walnut shells in my pin cushions. You can buy the stuff at a pet store. It is used as lizard bedding.

I've used the little strawberries that are filled with emery to sharpen pins and needles, and it does work. The strawberries are a couple of dollars each, but I don't know about the emery dust itself. Sometimes the classic "tomato" pincushions have an emery strawberry attached.

Lizzyq - I had no idea the tiny tomato on a classic pincushion had emery inside for sharpening. Very good to know. Thanks for sharing.

I had heard a long time ago that sand keeps them sharp.

I used steel wool as the filler for a pincushion and it works for me.

The common name for the little strawberries (and other less common shapes) was actually an 'emery.' they used to be made in all sorts of fancy and decorated shapes...

http://store.berryhillheirlooms.com/senopa.html check out the new versions and some of the antique versions... how about a 'thimble pip?' that was discussed on this site and i had never heard of that term... it was apparently to store the thimble in...probably in a time when they were expensive and of course, so small as to be easily lost...

I like long, thin pins and they bend before they're dull. Sewing machine needles are simply replaced on a regular basis.
The idea of steel wool in a pin cushion is intriguing - that stuff works for all kind of things!

I keep my pins and needles sharp by putting them in a bar of soap after I use them. I keep it handy right by my machine, and stick them in that instead of a pin cushion. It really works, I've had my pins for 8 years now.

Interesting - I'll have to check my 'tomato' pin cushion and see if there's something attached.