Emory for sewing kits

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

OK...so I have been doing some reading in period ladies books and magazines. In them they mention having your pin cushions filled with emery. For the use in cleaning and sharpening needles and pins. I know that in modern times occasionally you may find this in the little strawberries or tomatoe pin cushions. Where can I find it for making my fiancee's and my projects?

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Emery for sewing kits

You can fill the basic cushion with bran or sawdust, too, stuffing firmly, and get a good result, reserving the emery portion for the little "strawberry" accessory.

Beyond buying 400 teeny strawberries and cannabilizing them, try here:
http://www.bright-works.com/store/html/setups.html (Scroll down the page)

You'd do best with the Abrasive Emery Grit in the over-100 grit sizes, though the super-fine stuff may be a bit dusty. I've been trying to track down a traditional "sewing" source for it off and on all morning, and this has been the best option for it in bulk so far. :) The places we end up looking, eh?

Now, for a pretty little strawberry in velvet, try Clotilde: http://www.clotilde.com/cl/product_l...&go.x=5&go.y=6

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Emery for sewing kits

[QUOTE=ElizabethClark]You can fill the basic cushion with bran or sawdust, too, stuffing firmly, and get a good result, reserving the emery portion for the little "strawberry" accessory.

I've tried to use the modern emery in the strawberries but it causes my needles to rust. I did find the fine emery powder and am going to try that. The instructions recommend using a mask if you work with it very much. It is fine enough that it is a good idea to make a liner of closely woven fabric and then the decorative fabric cover. After I get the emery done, I'll post the results.

I just purchased an antique sewing box and it had a small emery attached to the box. From what I could feel, the emery in it is extremely fine.

In research on emery, it could be very fine.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Emery for sewing kits

Hmmm... we've got an abrasives place in town, and I've a spare strawberry I could sacrifice to the cause... I may need to plan a field trip and compare what's in the modern strawberry to the commercial grits available.... :) Could be the ultra-fine stuff is exactly what's needed.

Virginia, what grit was the modern stuff you use that didn't take care of rust (or caused rust?)

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Emery for sewing kits

Could be the ultra-fine stuff is exactly what's needed.

Virginia, what grit was the modern stuff you use that didn't take care of rust (or caused rust?)

I don't know the grit. I had kept a modern emery strawberry next to my sewing machine for some hand sewing needles and when I went to use them they had all rusted. I didn't take the emery apart but when I squeeze the emery, the grit feels almost like coarse sand rather than a powder or even a coarse powder.