Some time ago I posted about cleaning out my red tomato pincushion. You can find that post here. I remember being astounded at finding so many objects that had sunk inside nearly out of reach.
The other day I noticed crumbs on my cutting table. Looking more closely I saw that the poor pincushion was leaking its sawdust stuffing. I considered a mending job, but saw that there were too many breaks in the fabric. Sadly I decided that this was the end of the line – the pincushion had been my mother’s and could easily be 50 years old. The fabric had stood up very well during its long life.
As I held the pincushion and pondered its fate something poked my finger and I realized that even though I had removed 15 needles last year, there must still be a few left inside. How many, I wondered – perhaps as many as 10?
Working over a dishpan I cut open the pincushion with scissors. As I shook out the sawdust there was a glimpse of something shiny inside. Needles! (and a lump of mud mixed in with the sawdust!)
I carefully removed the needles and shook out more sawdust. More needles! More sawdust. This is what I had when I had sifted through the last of the stuffing:
There were 67 needles inside! A couple of sewing machine needles, several tapestry needles, LOTS of “ordinary needles” – sharps in various sizes. Many of these must be left over from Mum’s days of sewing. She sewed clothing and loved to finish hems and buttonholes with her fine hand-stitching. I also found about a packet worth of my favourite crewel needles, the ones that are lovely and fine to sew with, but have a long eye that is easy to thread.
To think that all these years I have been wondering where needles all go when they disappear. I know that it is called a PIN cushion – perhaps that should be a hint that it will swallow the needles if I am foolish enough to put them there.
Now the needles are tucked away (safely in a needle-book made of felt) and I should have enough to last for many years. But I feel rather bereft when I see the empty dish where the tomato used to sit. Even though I have plenty of other pin-cushions I know I will have to replace that red tomato.
Thanks for sharing this about your mother's tomato pin cushion. I would dearly love to have my mother's but i'm sure my brother threw it out or gave it away when he put her in a nursing home after her alzheimer's got really bad. You really ended up with a life's worth of needles! :-)
ReplyDeleteIf that had been my mothers I would have saved some pieces to add to the scrapbook page that holds her old needle packages, What a great find.
ReplyDeleteI agree this has been a lovely find. I look back and think about the things I wish I had saved, but at the time they didn't really mean anything to me. Now, of course, I am older and wiser and more sentimental. I do have my husband's Grandmother's sewing kit which has treasures in it I can only "imagine" about, never having spoken to anyone about its contents. I envy you having your mother's tomato pin cushion. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteI really like my tomato, even though it eats needles.
ReplyDeleteI put my needles sideways on one side of the tomato rather than sticking them in like pins. Also helps to leave a bit of thread.
ReplyDeletethat's amazing!! gosh. THAT many needles!! good find ;)
ReplyDeleteI still have my grandmothers tomato, but my prize possession, she kept pins in a metal Sucrets tin. I think of her everytime I look at it. Such great memories.
ReplyDeleteastounding!!! I always wondered what was inside those tomatoes. Saw dust, lump of mud? and SIXTY SEVEN needles?????? wow what a discovery. I'm glad you posted!
ReplyDeleteDid you open the little strawberry? Was it full of metal filings? In the old days, that was the needle sharpener/polisher and where my mom parked her needles. I do the same thing that Amy Eileen Koester does - park them sideways in the pincushion with a little thread still in.
ReplyDeleteThe quilting/sewing equivalent to the dryer eating socks? If you get a new tomato, perhaps some day it will be a treasure for a future quilter.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for solving that little mystery. It's quite amazing! That must be where a great many of mine are hiding!
ReplyDeleteFunny! One of my readers sent me over to your site after I posted my Saturday Sewing Survey about my mom's pincushion a few days ago. I am amazed at how many needles you found! If you want to come over and answer the survey the link is here: http://bit.ly/KVP2Zv I'd love it if you'd add your story to the comments.
ReplyDeleteOh - and is it ok if I add a link and/or photo from your post to my next Survey post? I do a little review of last week's survey before I post the new one every week. I would need to know by this Friday (Jan 17) - Thanks so much for your time! sherri@threadridinghood.com