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Can you handle another confession about straight pins? I'm afraid I'm pretty clueless about the different types - when I look at the variety on the shelves in my local sewing store I feel lost and just grab the closest package (or walk away empty-handed!)...
How about you? Do you think it really matters? Is there a particular type that you buy? If so, what and why? Does anyone buy more than one type and use them differently? Any/all advice would be greatly appreciated!
Photo credit: Craftapalooza
11 comments:
Except for one packet of knit pins that I bought from a small sewing store that I wanted to support, I have only ever bought stock-standard straight pins. All those fancy pins do look pretty in other peoples' blog posts though.
I just buy simple quilting pins- the mini ones with colored balls for heads. I find that some pin heads hurt my fingers when sewing for an extended amount of time-particularly the dritz all-metal dressmaker pins. I also choose by price.
I looked on joanns website. Correction to above comment: I use small ball point pins although there are a variety with colored ball heads.
If you shop at Joanns, I like to go to the Joanns website and choose what I want to buy before I go to the store or I can at least narrow-down what I want. Some things they have are online-only but they do mark it as such.
I buy the large box of extra-long pins with yellow plastic heads. I don't put them all out at once, and a box lasts me a few years.
Plain old regular straight pins for me. Too cheap to pay more for pretty heads LOL.
I have seen quite a few recommendations for glass head pins because you can iron over them. I started to look for a box and came up with 2 problems (1 - I can't find 'em, and 2 - it seems to me it would be a pain to try to iron over the bump of the pinhead. Think I'll stick with the regular pins.
I am the Queen of pins. You need the right pin for the job. My everday pin is a glass head pin, at least and inch and a half long. They pin well and don't melt under the iron. I also have silk pins for use with silks and other fine fabrics. Then I have the long flower head quilters pins for use in quilting projects and also heavy weight garment fabric like fleece and wool. The length of the pin is important to me. I like the longer ones. Short pins get lost in some fabrics and are harder to pin fabric with. Cheaper plastic head pins aren't always a good buy. Many have no points, are dull or have burrs when you buy them. Cheap pins are not a good thing to buy. And pins don't last forever. Throw them out when they get burrs or ridges or just aren't sharp anymore. I am new to your Blog. Good questions. Linda T
I do believe you get what you pay for. I love Iris silk pins and they are my primary pin. They are super fine, and a nice length. They slide through any fabric without grabbing. The inexpensive pins I have used are so thick and dull you have to force them through the fabric. I also use a long glass head pin for fittings, and heavier fabrics like denim. I prefer the glass head because of the ironing issue, as well as the heads don't pop off the pin. I demonstrate the difference in my sewing classes and beginners can clearly see that the better pins are much easier to use. Treat yourself and experiment to see what you think.
Until last year, I just picked up pins at any standard pins that were in Hancock's or Jo-Ann's. Now, pins are like scissors to me. Select the right pin for your current project. I took a class with Susan Khalje and I've been using the pins she sells for most of my projects. I use silk pins for fine fabrics. I use ball point pins for knits.
I'd rather not have to fight to get the pins in my fabric or worse put pin holes in my fabric because I used the wrong pin.
Pins, like everything else in sewing is a personal choice. Try different pins for different fabrics. You just might find your new favorite type of pin.
I like the glass head pins that are super fine. You can iron over them and they don't snag on knits or fine fabrics. You do get what you pay for with pins I believe. I am also big on throwing out bent or dull pins asap. Sometimes it is the little things that make big problems and quality pins are cheap insurance. My $.02-Corinne
I used to order fine, glass-head quality pins by IBC. Dritz now makes a nice pin--extra fine, glass head. I use that one for the most of my work. But--there are double-pronged pins for fabrics that don't hold a pin well. Flower-top pins for bulky fabrics. Small, 1/2" pins for applique. Silk pins for delicate fabrics. Then, there are the "alternates" like small clips for fabrics that would mar from pins, or are too bulky.
only IBC glass head pins for me. you can iron over them, they are fine enough for delicate fabrics, and are nice and sharp. they get discarded right away if bent, dull, or they get a burr. i order them online, 5 boxes at a time. i tried the flower head pins -- drove me crazy. i've tried the fine silk pins, but i like the large glass head of the IBC pins.
oh, i buy big packs of safety pins for pinning quilt sandwiches for FMQ.
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