Here are several of my pincushions.

 The black, green and red folk design cushion was a gift.  It works well for regular pins and needles but not for thick yarn needles.  I crocheted the pastel pink, green and yellow one with size three acrylic yarn, and stuffed it with craft fiber fill.  It works well for thick yarn needles, but It is ugly.  I also crocheted the red cushion to try making a pin cushion out of a steel wool soap pad.  Somebody wrote that soap pads made great pincushions, because they sharpen and polish the needles.  After I made this cover, and tried it, I found it very difficult to use, even for regular pins and needles. which would not go into it easily.   My favorite is the multicolored cotton crocheted one with the fiber fill.  It works well for yarn needles, any pins and needles, and looks good.

• Steel wool pads do not make good pincushions, though the covering looks good.  It is useless
• Dense fabric does not accommodate yarn needles
• Number three or four acrylic yarn, covering the pincushion, is useful for yarn needles, though it is ugly
• Cotton number four yarn makes  a both beautiful and useful pincushion for holding yarn needles.