Pincushion

I have this dream of having and using a pincushion for many many years until it becomes so worn that it will acquire a new beauty, just as my mother's which is at least 20 years old. Hers is a mouse-shaped pincushion made of black floral-printed corduroy that right now looks more like new navy and the flowers are barely visible.

So after making the Diamonds pillow I thought felted wool would work great for a pincushion. I took the motif from a pattern I created some time ago I hope to be printing by the metre soon!

While looking for a translation of the stuffing material I used here -huaipe- I found out that the name is apparently a Chilean adaptation from the English word wipe, as both sound very similar. Huaipe is a wad of loose threads and other textile waste used instead of rags for automotive and industrial wiping and cleaning. In this case it worked so good because it's thicker than the regular fiberfill and gives the pincushion a firm body and tight grip for the pins. Besides huaipe looks and feels like made of cotton (subject to confirmation). I wouldn't recommend it for stuffing things made with fine fabrics as it may end up looking bumped.