What is inside a pin cushion?
little tiny voodoo dolls
It depends. This one uses polyester fiberfill.
My ratty old pincushion is filled with sawdust.
That was quick, x-ray vision! I’m impressed (and highly amused)!
The traditional filling is sawdust, as noted above. The little strawberry that is usually attached to the traditional tomato pincushion is filled with emery powder. Jabbing a pin or needle into the strawberry will clean off the pin/needle (rust spots, whatever) and sharpen it a bit.
I’ve seen people use a bar of soap as a pincushion, too. The tiny bit of soap that the pins and needles pick up act as a lubricant.