The History of Tomato Pincushions

Tomato-shaped pincushions are a staple in sewing. Generic pincushions date back to Medieval times and were used to both store and show off the owner’s collection of pins and needles, as these were expensive items at the time. Medieval pincushions (then called "pimpilowes," "pyn pillows," or "pin-poppets") came in all kinds of shapes, including dolls, birds, and boxes. So where did the iconic tomato pincushion come from? A longstanding tradition held that placing a fresh tomato on the mantel of a new home brought prosperity and warded off evil spirits. When tomatoes weren’t in season, people often created fabric tomatoes out of red fabric, sawdust, and thread. This evolved into the tomato pincushion, which first became popular during the Victorian era. During that time, many women displayed their pincushions in the parlor room and the tomato pincushion was considered the crown jewel of a collection. Today, tomato pincushions are sold at craft stores all over the world; they are the most popular and widely available pincushion shape.