Anne made a needle sharpener (Coffee grounds?)
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
Eugene, Oregon
February 28, 2018 3:45pm CST
Anne sews a lot, sometimes through newspaper, cardboard (on this last project) and thick layers of cloth too. That is a lot of wear on needles.
She happened to mention yesterday that she had misplaced her needle sharpener. "What?" I said. I had no idea that needles could be sharpened. I figured you used one, wore it out and used another.
She found this thing she had made and I thought it was so interesting that I would share it. The photo shows an empty little plastic cup and the one that Anne re-purposed. I asked what was inside her creation and she said "very dried coffee grounds. She glued a piece of thin cardboard over the open top and pierced the bottom with a push pin. I put a needle in to show how it works.
You can buy needle sharpeners, but she says hers works better. Do you sharpen needles?
72 people like this
72 responses
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
28 Feb 18
My mum used to keep her pins and needles in a special pin-cushion - it looked like a big grapefruit-sized tomato, and it was filled with very fine sawdust... sounds similar to your very dry coffee grounds.
I wonder how it works...?
9 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
She has used both and prefers the grounds.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (160677)
• United States
1 Mar 18
The old time pin cushions that looked like a tomato and had a tiny strawberry on a cord had the strawberry filled with something to sharpen and polish needles. I have also heard of using crushed walnut hulls. I am going to have to borrow Anne's idea, though. I have lots of dry coffee grounds at my house, and even some of those little cups, and of course, cardboard.
7 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32697)
• Calgary, Alberta
1 Mar 18
I have the tomato ones. I also have one that looks like a voodo doll.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
@GardenGerty Walnut hulls might be good and even steel wool might work.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
@CaptAlbertWhisker Voodoo doll? Unique!
2 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
28 Feb 18
My late mother had a tomato pin cushion. It looked like a tomato and it had a little strawberry attached to it. One time I asked her what it was for and she said: “To sharpen her needles.” I never used it but I used to see her using it.
5 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
28 Feb 18
@pgntwo - Guess that shows how much people who sew have in common. I was only attracted to the post because I saw the words "needle" and "sharpener" and immediately thought of my mom. 
4 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
@cmoneyspinner I guess they really do have much in common spending time with fabric.
4 people like this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
28 Feb 18
@JamesHxstatic I am going to show you a photo on the collection of strawberries.They are filled with sand.
People put the needle in this to sharpen.I will try to do this tomorrow if I can.
6 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
28 Feb 18
What a unique invention! To imagine that needles can actually be sharpened, this is wonderful information to learn about
5 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
4 Mar 18
@JamesHxstatic Everything gets dull after awhile.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
1 Mar 18
@JamesHxstatic Neither did I know this!:)
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Feb 18
I never heard of it either. Of course, I can't even sew a button on a shirt.
5 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Mar 18
@sol_cee No kidding! That is one I never heard of before!
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
1 Mar 18
I don't sew much and have never worn out a needle. I never even knew that they needed sharpening. We learn a lot on MyLot.
4 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
No kidding! We have been together nine years now and I never heard her mention this tool.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
Me to, @topffer. I was quite surprised to hear it.
5 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
4 Mar 18
@CoralLevang You are right and so many people wore decorative pins on their clothes.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471547)
• Switzerland
1 Mar 18
@JamesHxstatic A sandpaper sheet with 150-200 grit, the rough edges face outward.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
Sounds like good ideas too! Anne wants to know what "number" sandpaper you use on the scissors.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82797)
• United States
1 Mar 18
@JamesHxstatic maybe we'll see her on Shark Tank 
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
I passed that response along! Thanks!
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
4 Mar 18
@Marilynda1225 This is not a new idea. It has been around since I was a kid and use to sew my own clothes.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Mar 18
Thank Anne for me! I needed to know this, I had no idea I could sharpen my needles.
5 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
I will do that. It was quite a surprise to me.
3 people like this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
28 Feb 18
Well that is very interesting. I never thought that was such a thing. of course, when I'm sewing I lose about 20 needles so there is no need to sharpen them haha!
5 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Feb 18
I hope you buy them in bulk quantities.
2 people like this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
1 Mar 18
@JamesHxstatic Luckily I don't sew that often haha just crochet and knit.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
28 Feb 18
Traditional needle cleaner/sharpeners were usually little felt cushions stuffed with sawdust, sand or emery powder. You can also stuff a small cushion with steel wool for the same effect. It would have never occurred to me to use coffee grounds but, of course, they are fine and certainly as good an abrasive as sawdust.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
I never thought about needles needing sharpening.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Mar 18
Apparently they do with much use in stiff fabrics.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (180767)
• United States
28 Feb 18
Oh heavens no! I hate sewing and haven't done so for years.
4 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Mar 18
tjat is really some thi bng I hAD not
thought aboutsharpening needles clever i ndeed
@allknowing (136477)
• India
1 Mar 18
How would I know a needle needs to be sharpened with constant use because I never use it. (lol)
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Mar 18
@just4him Yes, we throw most of then out in the garden.
2 people like this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Mar 18
@JamesHxstatic It's also a good use for old coffee grounds.
2 people like this
