Pincushion

A pincushion (or less commonly pin cushion) is a small cushion, typically 3-5 cm across, which is used in sewing to store pins with their heads protruding so as to take hold of them easily.

Pincushions are typically filled tightly, so as hold pins rigidly once placed.

The distinctive appearance of a pin-filled pincushion has resulted in the term being used for a variety of other things:

• pincushion (plant), plants of the genus Leucospermum
• plants of the genus Scabiosa
• pincushion cactus
• sea pincushion, a type of starfish
• pincushion distortion in video displays