I would think any design would work. You could try the scrubbies but I think they might wear the fabric and cause holes. However, by that time you may be ready for a new version anyway! How about trying sand (very dry).

Hi Debra, I love this idea! I have made pincushions using felt, which gets so dirty. I have some rock polishing sand which I would use if I could put a thin layer on top. Maybe use a lining or some kind of center. They used to put this stuff in them along with sawdust. Live Laugh Download Stitch!

Of course you can! It does help if they have a bold square outine, then you can stitch them up from the outside and get nice crisp corners.

Debra ,What a great idea

Of course they can, especially if they have interesting corners.

Thanks for asking I have been wondering the same thing myself. I did make a couple of the Biscornu from the free ones on cuties and they turn out lovely. I stuff mine with sand blasting sand that was suggested to me by a lady from our quilt store and that works fine. I found mine at Trator Supply Store. Let us know how the quilting designs work out. Hugs & Stitches, Liz

Any square design will work but you will be happier if all 4 quatrants are alike or similar. I stitched one with a different cross stitch owl in each corner and pumpkins on the bottom piece.

You have your answers from some of the best - so I will just wish you a great day and leave you with a * and a HUG.

Hi, Debra. I am not sure how to make them, but there are some wonderful answers here and I will also try one. Hope yours turn out to be lovely. Have a lovely day.****

Debra,At your local Harbor Freight you can find the crushed walnuts and the loose sanding sand (in LB bags). This is sometimes called emery sand. At HF it retails for a lot less than at quilt store. I would send you pictures but someone pinched my camera, now I have to find a cheapie. Stella

I've been thinking on the same lines as you with the quilt blocks. Haven't tried many yet though. I use the border from a biscornu design added round the edge.
And rather than the copper scrubby which I think would be too coarse - try fine steelo (just not the soap filled kind!) You can get very fine steel wool from the hardware store. Mine is by Briwax and 0000grade. It is used for furniture finishing. I put it in the bottom of my biscornu and if I want to shine my pins I stick them in the bottom a few times :)

Biscornus are great fun to make.... ask Aussie Lyn (mi30kaja), our Biscornu Queen.
You can use any balanced, as in square, design but I believe the original biscornus were stitched in red cross-stitch patterns as in a true European style.

I'd just been viewing the sets of redwork quilt blocks for $3/set at Stitch Delight ... http://www.stitchdelight.net/proddetail.asp?prod=DS1694 .... for one example, with a plan to make some biscornu tops to make pincushions for my friends at the up-coming quilt camp, when I saw your message.
I had planned to deviate a little and sew the tops onto plain darker bottoms.... 1) to save time .. and .. 2) to save the worry of getting the bottom stitched design grubby. This probably would make the end result not a true biscornu but that doesn't worry me.... I'm normally outside the square anyway.

Thanks for asking this question as the answers regarding the fillings are very interesting.

I rather think the 4x4 size biscornus attached to wide elastic would make excellent wrist pin cushions.
AlmaG.