PIN CUSHION HEARTS
Pins today seem an insignificant item, but from medieval times until the industrial revolution, they were highly prized as handmade. Pincushion hearts are pincushions where pin heads are used to create imagery or sayings to mark a special event, such as a marriage, birth of a child, or a birthday and have been made since the seventeenth century. During Victorian times injuried soldiers and sailors made Pincushions to aid their recovery and to send to their sweethearts / wives. Kits of Sweetheart Pincushions were made during Victorian times. Fabrics used include scraps of uniforms, military ribbons, silk ribbons, cigarette silks, scraps of velvet and other luxurious fabrics, photographs, beads, sequins, commemorative ribbons, etc., and the hearts were finished with braids (some with pompoms) around the edges. These military pincushions continued to be made during both World War I & II.
They continue to be made today to celebrate special occasions