tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post8321792048050773214..comments2024-03-14T16:03:32.434-04:00Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: Is Your Pin Cushion Shaped Like a Tomato?Gertiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314542159287533507noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-20933621976597172292013-02-26T22:00:42.844-05:002013-02-26T22:00:42.844-05:00lol now i wonder the strawberry meaning but oh wel...lol now i wonder the strawberry meaning but oh well i may never know. i do know that 1 day my grandaughter will get my sewing box an it contains mine an my moms tomatoe an straweberry pincushions. i miss my mom im glad she chose ta make them a family tradition. thnx 4 posting this it took me down memory lane Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733654692349976539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-771927661191174282012-01-31T11:33:02.823-05:002012-01-31T11:33:02.823-05:00My nana always used a large square magnetic tube. ...My nana always used a large square magnetic tube. It was huge and heavy, and we always assumed it was something rare and exotic. Several of the descendants were "negotiating" it's ownership after nana's death when my uncle walked past and said that he'd given it to her and we could all have one, it was a discarded radio component from his work, and he could get as many as we wanted. It didn't seem so special after that, and we all lost interest. Nana never owned a computerized machine. Now I don't think I'd want such a strong magnet near mine. <br />I made an elasticated wristband with a Velcro patch, a matching strap for my machine, and a Velcro backed pad that can swap between them depending where I need the pins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-23277043218167850822011-12-01T10:16:41.860-05:002011-12-01T10:16:41.860-05:00I use two pin cushions, the smaller of the two bei...I use two pin cushions, the smaller of the two being a cupcake shaped pin cushion which is the first thing I ever made a few months ago and the larger being a 10 inch polka dot cushion a made and has since become my fave as i can chuck it out of the way when need be :)Amber Rohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04481734280945509900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-34657670009272869772011-11-25T18:46:46.252-05:002011-11-25T18:46:46.252-05:00The strawberry thing attached to the tomato pincus...The strawberry thing attached to the tomato pincushion goes inside a thimble so you can always find your thimble for hand sewing. At least that is where my grandmother always kept her thimble.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-27009105621007588472010-06-05T03:16:42.218-04:002010-06-05T03:16:42.218-04:00I'd always thought that it was a Persimmon. Th...I'd always thought that it was a Persimmon. The thought kind of tied it in to chinese embroidery for me.<br /><br />I tend to keep my pins in altoids tins and in small bowls or in the arms of my sofa.Colettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-18572474458148336242010-06-02T12:58:03.270-04:002010-06-02T12:58:03.270-04:00I too always assumed that it was a chile pepper, n...I too always assumed that it was a chile pepper, not a strawberry. A chile pepper makes more sence food-wise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-42636008368123314692010-02-05T02:10:20.269-05:002010-02-05T02:10:20.269-05:00Very beautiful..I feel like using this for my dinn...Very beautiful..I feel like using this for my dinner....LOLCushionloverhttp://www.kagziexports.innoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-84378600849083008732010-01-19T04:28:54.754-05:002010-01-19T04:28:54.754-05:00What a great discussion! I think I may have a hybr...What a great discussion! I think I may have a hybrid pincushion. It's got the tiny little people around the outside, but inside the ball is red and kind of resembles a tomato as well. I think I may have the harmony and unity of the small world style with the evil spirit protection of the tomato to boot. I feel lucky now.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12166111655335307433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-11159947972979311772009-12-31T12:49:02.988-05:002009-12-31T12:49:02.988-05:00I just replaced my "little people dancing aro...I just replaced my "little people dancing around the mound" cushion with this version two weeks ago!<br /><br />My son calls the little bit a chili pepper and I can't convince him otherwise.<br /><br />As to the folklore, hard to say, but I think the possibility of blood red tomatoes and sharp instruments has significance. Or maybe that's only at my house...<br /><br />Love reading your blog.<br /><br />JenniferAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-70228634666691541852009-12-30T00:42:55.530-05:002009-12-30T00:42:55.530-05:00I can honestly say that I have never seen a strawb...I can honestly say that I have never seen a strawberry growing out of a tomato but somewhere in the blur of my past, maybe my nan had a tomato pin cushion. I have never really been a pin cushion person but maybe one day I will try one. Meanwhile thank you for your research. Maybe tomato and strwberry pincushions just aren't what us Aussies are into for our pin storage.Tashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216773844356794636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-35830441588589481742009-12-26T06:52:01.892-05:002009-12-26T06:52:01.892-05:00Aah, what a coincidence! I just stumbled on your p...Aah, what a coincidence! I just stumbled on your post about this pin cushion - and I received that exact same one for Christmas this year!<br /><br />I have to say, I thought the strawberry was a little chilli pepper.<br /><br />It's nice to know that the design has a bit of history! Thanks for sharing :)<br /><br />Sadie xSadie's Wardrobehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17303598375006893232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-58424276210924336872009-12-20T22:55:09.892-05:002009-12-20T22:55:09.892-05:00My pin cushion is a tiny little ice cream dish wit...My pin cushion is a tiny little ice cream dish with a purple felt cushion! all my little pins look like sprinkles! my sister made it for me, but growing up my mother had the tomato.My Heart's Debaclehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139795484866356453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-61474087782225516042009-12-19T15:25:55.993-05:002009-12-19T15:25:55.993-05:00Becky, I don't know whether it has to do with ...Becky, I don't know whether it has to do with your theory as to the origins of the tomato pincushion, but your theory that tomato has something to do with the biblical fruit must be correct - in Czech, tomatoes are called "rajská jablíčka" (though nowadays usually "rajčata" for short), which means "apples of paradise". Although I've always felt the connection was more positive than negative, such as them coming from warmer climates or something like that. But that could be just my subjective feeling.<br /><br />That being said, I don't think the tomato pincushion has any sort of tradition here. I've never seen it here; I think I first encountered it on BurdaStyle and, honestly, didn't like it at all. I don't like the colours!<br />I'm storing my pins in jars and boxes; the only pincushion in our household is a shoulder pad ;) my mum didn't like in one of her sweaters. So she cut it out and now it serves as a storage for needles used to darn socks.Hanahttp://marmota-b.blog.cznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-32194582055070304962009-12-18T20:27:14.932-05:002009-12-18T20:27:14.932-05:00Of the two pincushions I've bought, both have ...Of the two pincushions I've bought, both have been the traditional tomato. After reading the comments, I remembered my mom has a satin pincushion with the Chinese kids around it. I'm not sure if she bought it here in America or brought it over from Asia. Pincushions in general are so cute!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-42714980773071145122009-12-17T20:12:42.646-05:002009-12-17T20:12:42.646-05:00I actually somewhat buy the 2nd story, as if you t...I actually somewhat buy the 2nd story, as if you think about the red fruit (tomato) in the Biblical context, it wouldn't be so odd during an era of symbolism to think of tomatoes as representing evil...which eventually translated to tomatoes BEING evil.<br /><br />Gertie, your blog is my favorite! I'm so happy to have found it!<br /><br />xx<br /><br />BeckyBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04679687508093366057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-37695552776706293492009-12-17T05:00:36.266-05:002009-12-17T05:00:36.266-05:00I am an Australian and my Mother in law gave me a ...I am an Australian and my Mother in law gave me a sewing kit 2 years ago and it came with a tomato pin cushion (before that I had a home made pillow shaped one). We both thought it was a bit weird and wondered what the thing hanging from it was. I cant wait to tell her. They sell them at the big sewing shops here. But I had never seen one before I opened my sewing kit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-72179944058903160382009-12-16T23:34:36.040-05:002009-12-16T23:34:36.040-05:00I own a tomato pincushion. But I've never stu...I own a tomato pincushion. But I've never stuck a pin in it. In fact, it's still where it was when I got it--in the compartment of the Singer sewing kit that my sweet sister-in-law gave me for my birthday. (It has lots and lots of thread in it...)<br /><br />My pin storage of choice is an old baby food container. Baby food, Gerber brand at least, comes in square plastic containers with snap on lids. I washed out a few after Evie was finished with them and started storing things like pins and safety pins in them. Best thing in the world. Now when I drop a pin box, nothing comes out!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07717835382469677601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-39077545816895631412009-12-16T18:19:57.531-05:002009-12-16T18:19:57.531-05:00I've never actually found I've needed a pi...I've never actually found I've needed a pincushion- until reading this post! Even though I live in Australia, the ol' tomato pincushion has always been slightly familiar, although I've never known anyone that used (or owned) one. But all the allegory surrounding it compelled me to feel the need to possess one!<br /><br />So, yesterday I ventured to my local haberdashery megastore, and eventually found a teeny tomato pincushion hidden amongst all the liberty-print lovehearts and whatnot. BUT, most bizarrely, I found a "collectible" tin of pins with a PICTURE of a tomato pincushion on it. So, the tomato image must have some sort of folkloric power and/ or meaning? <br /><br />Now, let's see whether I ever actually use the thing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01724327681909814567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-25607377838679724972009-12-16T06:33:54.507-05:002009-12-16T06:33:54.507-05:00Yes, it can't have been a tomato in the Renais...Yes, it can't have been a tomato in the Renaissance but also it is very unlikely that a pincushion would have been red then, Why? Because true red dyes were extremely hard to find or make and were very expensive. That is one of the interesting aspects of the history of textiles and the trade between India and the Ottoman Empire and the Silk Road, etc, etc. All fascinating stuff.....<br />So of course at some point giving a bride a red pincushion would have been a very generous gift. And the strawberry is supposed to be full of emery so that when you poke your needle into it and pull it out, it sharpens it a little every time. As needles were so expensive, you didn't just throw them away when they got blunt. You kept them sharp and shiny!<br />HattyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-6756274766478958562009-12-16T00:50:31.904-05:002009-12-16T00:50:31.904-05:00Now you have all made me want a tomato shaped pin ...Now you have all made me want a tomato shaped pin cushion, so even though I live in Australia I am on the hunt-first stop ebay!!!Linens and Royalshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07424916243839362866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-74454296372486199122009-12-16T00:02:06.480-05:002009-12-16T00:02:06.480-05:00As others have already noted, the tomato pin cushi...As others have already noted, the tomato pin cushion doesn't exist here in Australia and I can also add that they aren't known in New Zealand! I used to have a little apple-in-a-basket pin cushion but am currently using a freebie shaped like a turtle which is as disturbing as it sounds! In fact, I think I'll get another one ...Claudettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-16484195736736332112009-12-15T23:18:27.133-05:002009-12-15T23:18:27.133-05:00Oh yes, I defy! I use a roll of wool felt strips i...Oh yes, I defy! I use a roll of wool felt strips inall colors as my pin cushion. I could sure use a strawberry for sharpening, but i love my wool felt rainbow.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037636603903648365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-24741070530414324542009-12-15T22:57:35.727-05:002009-12-15T22:57:35.727-05:00Too funny!! My pincushion is one of the magnetic ...Too funny!! My pincushion is one of the magnetic things - I LOVE it!! I have a pincushion that my grandmother made. I keep needles for hand sewing and pins I don't like as well in that. I also have a pincushion I bought at the World's Fair in 1982 down in Knoxville. It has little Asian stuffed figures sitting around the round part in the middle. I guess I got it in the Asian exhibit. I was only 11!Kathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11152942097072530468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-22856479083150294122009-12-15T20:16:34.508-05:002009-12-15T20:16:34.508-05:00You know, I was just pondering this very question ...You know, I was just pondering this very question the other day. Thanks for the sleuthing!<br /><br />I don't use a pincushion at all...*gasp*...as the wife of a potter, there are always a million seconds floating around the studio, so I use a small ceramic bowl to hold my pins. Probably foolish, because there's nothing to keep them from flying all over the place if I nudge the bowl, but so far so good...Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444647423337451493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-10210340308296487522009-12-15T18:55:03.899-05:002009-12-15T18:55:03.899-05:00I can't believe how many of your have tomato p...I can't believe how many of your have tomato pin cushions!!! I had never even seen one til just now! I just use a stuffed circle thing I made. It's not so good when it's on my lap cos the pins poke through to the other side :) Maybe I will make a better one one of these days.Jodi Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02870868377104504738noreply@blogger.com