Sweetheart Pin Cushions

My interpretation of a Sweetheart Pin Cushion.

It was during World War 1 that Queen Mary realised the potential of using the practice of decorating sawdust filled hearts as a means of therapy for convalescing soldiers. She organised for kits to be made and distributed to hospitals where wounded or shell shocked soldiers were recuperating. The hearts were decorated with whatever notions were available and once decorated were sent to loved ones at home, gaining the name Sweetheart Pincushions although they were not necessarily pin cushions just decorated hearts.

Inspired by this story Helen Birmingham, of Untangled Threads, replicated the manufacture of the WW1 sawdust hearts making 1568 of them, the number of days in the War which lasted from 28th June 1914 to 11 November 1918. Each heart was made and stuffed by hand (just like the originals) and then Helen asked artists and crafters all over the UK to buy one and send it back for an exhibition which was held in November 2018. The exhibitions aim was to recognise the centenary of Armistice Day and the origins of Occupational Therapy.This exhibition was amazing with so many different ideas and styles really evoking what an extraordinary collection the original hearts must have made. You can see some pictures of the exhibition by clicking here.

This is the Heart that Christina Preston recently purchased.

You can learn more about the story of pin stuck military sweetheart pincushions in Diane Grants book Forget me Not. It is a fascinating read and has photographs of some early hearts that pre-date WW1 and are thought to go back as early as 1650.  I have even seen some in antiques shops and on some websites so do have a look, if you are lucky enough to find one they are just quite fascinating and a whole history in themselves.

And after writing the original blog for the Secret Society newsletter I got an fabulous email from Christina Preston who says:

The back of the heart is very plain, almost certainly representing how rare and precious materials were.

“I was so happy to have received the kit this morning to allow me to make my very own sweetheart pincushion as only very recently have heard about Sweetheart Pincushions that were made in such difficult times and how much love they created or strengthened. I am extremely lucky to have been able to purchase one that I am led to believe was made during WW1. My own dad served during WW2 in the Navy with the Royal Naval Patrol Service. I am now on the hunt for one made then, or maybe now I could make my own adding his very precious sleeve badge I have.”

The pictures here are all of Christina’s heart – thank you so much for sharing with us all Chirstina, it has really helped to bring this story alive.

Mandy xx

Download Mandy’s Sweetheart Pin Cushion Blog here