# Pin Cushions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955 "2003-01-26T01:49:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PurplePerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PurplePerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurplePerson)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955/1 "2003-01-26T01:49:56Z")

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What is inside a pin cushion?

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955/2 "2003-01-26T01:52:02Z")

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little tiny voodoo dolls

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955/3 "2003-01-26T02:12:59Z")

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It depends. [This one](http://www.kerryskollectables.com/PINCUSHIONANDJAR.html) uses polyester fiberfill.

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**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955/4 "2003-01-26T04:04:30Z")

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My ratty old pincushion is filled with sawdust.

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**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955/5 "2003-01-26T05:26:38Z")

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That was quick, **x-ray vision**! I’m impressed (and highly amused)!

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**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pin-cushions/150955/6 "2003-01-26T06:42:42Z")

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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.