Schmaltzy Craftsy Pincushion Blog by Jen Segrest

Why I hate magnetic pin "cushions"

2008-09-03T13:06:00.007-04:00

All things aside about them being as attractive as an ashtray, there's a reason I don't use magnetic pincushions anymore. They're dangerous.

Several years ago I was sewing at the machine and got up to try on a piece in progress and in my way back to sit down my garment caught a pin in the magnetic cushion and CRASH!

Pins all over the carpet. Under the table too. So I bent over and picked up a section then got on my knees and started scooping them off the carpet and under the table.

When it looked all clear I pivoted on my knees to get a good handhold to get up and OW!

Something stuck me in the top of the foot. I had a tiny red dot on the skin, and I found a pin nearby so I figured I'd just been stuck.

The next day, my foot was a little tender on top, but nothing out of the ordinary I thought since it was punctured by a pin where it was. While at work I was increasingly in more and more pain as the day went on. My foot was swelling up inside my shoe to the point it was incredibly painful. I started the tough 1.5 hour drive home. I called for a friend a neighbor to come drive me over to the hospital and we promptly arrived at the ER with me crying from pain (I'm not a cryer). We managed to get my shoe off, and the pain was a tiny bit better, but my foot looked awful. Like a bloated sausage.

They xrayed it. You could clearly see the shape of HALF a straight pin lodged horizontally in the flesh of the top of my foot on the films. It had broken off inside. Great.

They set my up in a corner of the triage and after a half hour in comes this giant machine. It had a Horsehoe type section, and what it seemed to be was a live xray imager with a computer screen. The "viewing" part was a horseshoe shaped attachment about 3 foot wide. They sat my foot in the center of the thing and gave me a couple numbing shots. (And took some pictures with the machine for me, which I would include but I can't find them at this time)

It was like a video game version of the old board game Operation. They could see the pin live inside my foot, but they didn't have a good angle on it, just one side. They were poking tools into my foot blind basically. The pin was hidden deep in flesh of my foot. Little by little they had to increase the incision to try to get at it. Occasionally they'd bump it and I'd wince or moan as it hurt! You could see the pliers coming close to it and when it was close you would see the pin move. The problem was all they could get at was the snapped off end, a virtual dot in a small opening of blood and fatty tissue. It was small and slippery, so the pliers kept loosing it.

Finally, two hours of poking and missing and a two sided incision later they finally managed to get a pair of pliers on it and gave a stiff tug. It came free. It had stuck into one of the metatarsal bones in my foot, which is why it was so hard to remove, and probably why it snapped off.

Most of my pain lessened immediately. I actually walked into the car which was something not easily done on arrival. Took three days for the swelling to go down, but they have poked and prodded in there so much I have a small bulge of scar tissue there now and a V shaped scar 10 years later.

This is why I stuff my pincushions so firmly that they actually sound as if they crunch when you poke a pin in them. I stuff in so much polyfil that I almost can't put in even a little more... I want to make sure that if you drop it, the pins stay in! Because I know what can happen if they don't.

I don't use magnetics anymore either. Not only do I not miss it, I don't stick my fingers trying to get a pin like I used to.

Sometimes the old way is the best way.

Get yer Bottlecaps!

2008-08-29T14:13:00.001-04:00

Bottlecaps!, originally uploaded by verybigjen.

I drink the pop so you don't have to! (okay I have help... friends collect them for me)

I am now selling them in my Etsy store in batches of 10, 50 and 100 so if you need some, come on over!

The Essentials.

2008-07-07T07:53:00.005-04:00

I'm often asked questions regarding what I use to make my pincushions with, particularly how I cut such fine shapes. So I thought I'd do a post on my short list of tools and materials I use.

I'm blessed in my location I have four Hobby Lobbies, a plethora of Joann's (including a Joann Superstore) and a myriad of Micheals, as well as a few other chains, and count them TWO needlework stores within 40 miles of my house. A simple 15 minutes in any direction will have me in a craft store, sometimes more than two. I know not everyone is so lucky, but online stores are your friend for most of this. I buy my stuff in a combination of in stores and online. With gas prices anymore, it's cheaper to pay for shipping versus driving for it.

As far as cutting shapes: I cheat.

I use a discontinued scrapbooking product by Sizzix called a Paddle Punch. You can really on find them on ebay anymore as well as craiglist. And if you can get them for $2 or less a piece before shipping, that's a deal considering they sold for $6 each in stores.

Find them on ebay with this link - some weeks have more than others. I have a search set up there to mail me when new ones are listed.

One of the best stores to get them at on ebay is the Sizzix Outlet, they sell a great number of paddle punches, including the cutting mats. Paddles are available for $1 and they also have bulk lots as well. BEST DEAL ON EBAY.

There are over 50 patterns that were made, but all are small, most under 1.5 inches. There are a few kinds of leaves, with Holy and Oak being the two hardest to find, as well a couple kinds of flowers, and lots of geometrics. Also some specialty shapes that I'll never likely use but I bought them in case I ever needed them. I recommend getting any you might want remotely want in duplicate, as in time these won't be available anymore. I have some of my most used ones in triplicate. And if the handle breaks off one, I don't throw it away, it goes into my "last resort" box.

There is a "paddle punch hammer" but truth is since I am using them for felt, I by pas it for a "lady hammer" or a picture hammer, with a bottlecap taped over the head to not mar the punch. I also use a 16 oz rubber mallet from a hardware store. Both can be under $4 each. Which one you use depends on the shape, I find some work better with one or the other, so I have both.

To use them I stack 4 to 5 layers of felt, on top of two sheets of paper (good use for junk mail, old magazines, or even scrap printer paper) on top of the Sizzix punch matt. It Is a extremely heavy matt and I do recommend them, they do hold up more than normal cutting mats I used before hand. Basically just try the hammers out till you find the ones that works best, some will need several hits around the edges, others can do just one swift solid thud to the center. You'll just have to figure out what each ones needs. You'll learn soon enough.

Other tools I use:

Variety of scissors: Shears for cutting & and sharp tipped ones for fine details and embroidery
Thread snippers - very useful for more than thread. I use them to also trim small corners and cut circles into "flowers" and take out stitches.
Doll needles are essential to put in the buttons on thick pincushions. I have quite a collection. some from as long as some super heavy 8 inches long all the way down to 4". When I found the 8" ones it was the fleamarket and I squealed in joy, they are really hard to find. Dritz makes a nice thinner 5" model available most everywhere, it has the bonus that it will also go through most buttonholes. Unlike my thick 8 inchers that can also kill a man.

My Materials:

100% post consumer recycled synthetic felt from Kunin. Joann's carries this brand, but most stores have a very limited selection, you need to go to Createorless.com (search for "kunin felt"), they have the entire line - but you can only get 24 sheets of a color minimum. So use it for the colors you need a lot of or what you can't ind locally, or sell the rest!
I use Pearl/Perle cotton size 5 for the embroidery and construction. I also use Craft Thread, which is a cheaper version, but comes in bulk pack, and its nice for starting off with and then widening out to Pearl #5. I don't like using Embroidery Floss, it's not strong enough and the skeins while cheap are not very long. There are 27 yards in a skein of Pearl cotton. I have a DMC thread guide (thank you Micheals 50% off coupon) and I order any colors I can't get at craft stores from Herrschers or at a local needlepoint store.
Just ordinary polyfil for the inside.
I get my fabric sticky labels that I "sign" my work with from Camillesquilts on etsy. Take a look! They stick FABULOUS on felt!

Hope this was useful for you, let me know if you have any further questions!

Another Social badge of honor

2008-06-14T20:42:00.001-04:00

Woo!

View my page on Indiepublic

Another Tutorial Online

2008-06-01T16:44:00.001-04:00

You can find the tutorial I did for SewStylish magazine back In December on Taunton's new tutorial site "CraftStylish".

Enjoy! Here is the link!

PPP back in stock at Amazon!

2008-05-27T10:28:00.002-04:00

I have a link on the side to get one at Barnes and Nobel, but Amazon had it out of stock for a bit, it's back!

Finally!

2008-05-16T16:01:00.003-04:00

Wanted to spread the words to all you pincushion/felt folks! These are fabric labels that STICK TO FELT! They are great! I previously had some ordinary 1" round paper labels, which were great but not as tacky as they needed to be for the felt. (They now will be delegated to "wrapping" duty").

I felt "tag" style labels were too obtrusive, and often just not right for my bottlecaps and I wanted ONE solution for every style I have. So I stuck with the flat sticker idea. A new search on Etsy led me to Camillesquilts. Happy day!

I did my own design, they are 3/4" inside the circle, and I cut them round by hand (designed in a cut line) and i got a little over 70 for $25. Pricier than the paper, but they work! I'm so happy! Buy some! The printing is super sharp! And they don't come off the felt easy at all, the will stay put unless the new owner pulls them off.

"Custom Stick-On Fabric Labels" from Camillesquilts - camillesquilts.etsy.com

Scalping Pretty Little Pincushions Book

2008-04-23T10:57:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to chime in about the rash of scalping for the Pretty LIttle Pincushions Book.

Evidentially there is a modern belief that if Amazon is out of stock a title it's suddenly "rare". For crying out loud people, it only came out in November, it's not even "out of print" yet.

Well truth be told Pretty Little Pincushions, while appearing to be really popular, is not in fact a rare commodity. It's available at MANY online sellers for cover price ($17.95) or less still, despite Amazon sellers offering it for upwards of $40 and a recent auction at eBay that has a copy for $150 or best offer!!!

Since I don't believe in scalping, and Amazon is was out of stock, I have changed my sidebar button to buy the book to Barnes and Nobel's site, who sells it for $14 online, and $17 in the stores. I want everyone who wants a copy to have one at the best price out there.

EDIT: June 1 2008 - Amazon does in fact carry the title again.

Email group for Pincushions

2008-01-30T12:12:00.001-05:00

I just found a Yahoogroup for pincushion people! Over 600 Members! woo!

Now selling on DaWanda

2008-01-25T23:48:00.000-05:00

As Etsy isn't European friendly I've opened a shop on DaWanda.com as well. All prices are in Euros, but I've done good conversions, so those wanting to buy my things in their own currency, now's your chance.

I'm growing more and more disenchanted with Etsy, and some recent questionable decisions or closures with other storekeepers and a serious lack of useful upgrades. And while I have no plans to leave Etsy right now, you never know what Etsy's plans are for me so it's good to have a backup as I could wake up and my store be gone.

I will probably eventually move my store to my own site, but for now anyway I have two.

New in shop!

2008-01-24T23:58:00.000-05:00

Mottled graphite grey and dark red ringer pincushion, about 5" across.
100% post-consumer recycled Kunin Ecospun poly felt.

Click here to Buy in the Etsy Store - $15.00

Let's talk stuffing

2008-01-20T03:22:00.001-05:00

I have had many people write me about what I stuff my pincushions with. I use the ordinary Polyfil.

I know some stuff with wool but I try to avoid it since I'm not using wool for the outisde due to many people being allergic to wool so I just use the ordinary cheap as you can get fiberfill. Hypoallergenic is good, recycled is good. I also pack them FULL, stuffing in as much as I can get them to hold and still keep it shut. I use the ends of my blunt scissors or even old take out chopsticks for stuffing sticks. if you can still fit in our stuffing, keep stuffing, and be sure to pay attention to the sides ad there are no flat areas. You want it to be well rounded and bounce back fully from a hard finger press.

Be sure to stuff any wrinkly areas to fill out the wrinkles entirely. No one likes a wimpy pincushion.

A few words on stuffing materials:

There is a "hard" pack or clumping kind for dollmakers, I have tried it and I hate it, clumping is right! It compresses and doesn't have the oomph. Compression is bad as I see it you want the airspace to fill so your pins/needles are held securely, when they compress they get hard for one, but they also decrease the surface area gripping our pins and I find it will allow 'shake outs" or pin droppage.

I will on occasion use polyester "Dollmaker" beads to add a little heft and weight to the bottoms (only) as well, you could even use them to fill a pincushion entirely though I won't suggest it as they would provide too little support with the round sides not giving enough surface contact to actually HOLD a needle or pin. Not enough resistance means pins would loosen with a easy drop.

The first pincushions in the 16th century were stuffed with sawdust or wheat bran or germ. I imagine the dust from one of those after a few years use was pretty bad! And probably went mealy or bug infested in time. Ew. That stuffing, as well as wool or hay, seemed to carry on for quite a while it was cheap and readily available in most households.

I've seen DottyRal use Emery sand which is what the old little attached strawberries on the old style red tomato pincushions your grandma used were filled with - and I wanted to address that. While it is a old style of sewing notion it's not the best idea for a pincushion.

When old pins dulled they became dangerous to fine fabrics as they pulled fibers, so they used the emery bags every so often to keep them sharp and clean from tarnish. But here's the problem: modern pins/needles don't dull or tarnish, and antique pins weren't plated.

Pressing a modern pin into a emery bag can scratch that highly slick chrome finish and even help flake it off with the abrasive action of being sand. You ever press a flakey finish pin through fabric? Trust me, it causes pulls. Modern pins also are of a more hardened steel, they rarely if ever dull and due to the finish to do not require sharpening. And if they do, they are cheap enough to discard if they flake or dull. Antique pins were pricey, even when they first began to be at least partially factory manufactured in the Victorian era so you tended to try to eek every cent out of them.

I hope this helped I'll think I'll be posting some more of these how-to/info posts on materials, and history (I'm a history nut) as this blog progresses.

Thanks for reading!

Now SchmaltzyCraftsy.com

2008-01-09T21:26:00.000-05:00

Bit of fresh pixels, some new code, and voila! Like a whole new blog!

I hope to offer some special discounts, and all that jazz as well as some new things and features on cool things found at Etsy.

Now on sale - Gift Certificates!

2007-11-27T16:26:00.000-05:00

I now have gift certificates in the store in denominations from $10 to $50. Also have one for $35 that is for $20 in store goods and a copy of the Pretty Little Pincushions Book that has eight projects of mine in it.

Go to Schmaltzy Craftsy

Book is out in stores now!

2007-11-02T14:55:00.000-04:00

This is a really great book and I am not saying that because I'm in it! It's full of gorgeous pincushion projects from crafters from Flickr, Etsy and Craftster and beyond. If you love pincushions, or just like crafting, this is a great book and Amazon has a great for it - $12 but all major booksellers both online and brick & mortar have it.

Projects of mine included in the book:
-- Bright Flowery Pincushion (as seen on the cover)
-- Egg pincushion and Bacon needlecase
-- Basic bottlecap pincushion
-- Eyeball bottlecap pincushion
-- Flowerbasket bottlecap pincushion
-- African Violet bottlecap pincushion
-- Ladybug bottlecap pincushion
-- Death cap mushroom bottlecap pincushion

Free US Shipping in October

2007-09-25T16:42:00.000-04:00

All orders to US addresses will get free shipping! Nothing to do just pay via paypal and I'll refund your entire shipping cost back to you.

Welcome to the new store blog!

2007-09-25T15:38:00.000-04:00

I might eventually move this to my own domain but for now this works.

I'm hoping to put up some info, cool links and even savings and new product listing alerts for my store, Schmaltzy Craftsy.

I hope you like that you see below in the store, I have more than that listed, so please visit.

I do commissions, and if you see anything you want reproduced on my store or flickr account, just let me know!