Taunton's Threads - For people who love to sew
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From the pages of Threads magazine A Pin for Every Purpose A pin is not just a pin. Consider its five parts: head, point, length, thickness, and metal content.
Any pin is just the sum of its parts The seemingly endless variety of straight pins can be daunting, unless you break each pin down into its five main components: head, point, thickness, length, and metal content. Just figure out what your needs are in each of the five areas, then seek out a pin with those qualities. I suggest that you buy a few basic styles for the kinds of sewing you do most, such as dressmaker, extra-fine, and quilting, and then think of the other pins as problem solvers. In other words, if you come across a situation where your stash of basic pins can’t handle a particular project, such as appliqué, supplement with appliqué pins. And with every pin you purchase, it’s a good idea to keep a portion of the packaging somewhere in your sewing room, and tape one sample pin onto the label as a reference. When you run out of your favorites, you’ll have all the information you need to replenish your stock.
The head is the most recognizable part of a straight pin. What it is made of dictates if it can be pressed, and the shape determines when you should use it in the construction process. Flat Also called “no head,” this pin may be pressed with a hot iron. It’s also good for handwork, as thread doesn’t get caught on it. A flat head can be difficult to see on busy or textured fabrics, however.  Plastic Ball-shaped plastic heads come in different sizes and colors, and may be pearlized. Wide, flower-shaped plastic heads are the easiest to spot, and because they are flat, they come in handy when you need to lay a ruler or tape measure over a pinned area. They are also a good choice for lace, eyelet, and loose weaves, as the large heads won’t slip through the holes in the fabric.Glass This small, ball-shaped head is fairly easy to see, and won’t melt when touched with an iron. Metal Metal balls aren’t common, but they can be pressed with an iron without fear of melting. Tip: Use only the best—toss the rest. If a pin becomes bent, dull, or rusted, don’t hesitate to throw it out. A less-than-perfect 1¢ pin can wreak havoc on your $10-, $20-, or $40-a-yard fabric. Point The points of pins should slide cleanly into fabric without causing snags or unsightly holes. Different fabrics require different types of points.  Sharp These all-purpose points are a fine choice for loosely woven, medium-weeight, and heavy-weight fabrics. Extra-sharp More defined and tapered, this point passes cleanly through delicate fabrics. Ball point Created especially—and only—for knits, this point is rounded so it slips between the loops of the fabric and doesn’t pierce or pull the yarns. Length Some sewing projects require long pins, other ventures may do better with short, stubby pins. Pin length used to be listed on packages as sizes (size 12 = 3/4 inch long, etc.), but most pin manufacturers now just list the actual lengths.  Appliqué/sequin This 1/2- to 3/4-inch length is the best choice for applying appliqués, trim, or sequins, as you can position many pins close together (below left). Long pins, in comparison, overlap awkwardly (below right).
Dressmaker/all-purpose If in doubt, reach for this medium- length (1-1/16- to 1-1/2-inch) pin. It is appropriate for all sorts of garment sewing. Quilting Made especially for pinning through many layers of fabric and batting, this 1-1/2- to 2-inch pin is also garment-friendly, as its long length hardly ever slips out of place.  Thickness To avoid marring fabric with pin holes, choose the thinnest pin to accomplish the task at hand. Unfortunately, we discovered that the naming convention, as it relates to actual diameters, isn’t consistent among manufacturers. So the best thing to do is roll a pin between your fingers to gauge its actual thickness.  .4mm, .5mm, .6mm and .7mm or .8mm .4mm The thinnest traditional pin we found was a .4mm “Patchwork Pin (Fine)” by Clover. It passes beautifully through the finest of sheers. .5mm Called “extra-fine,” “super-fine,” “silk,” or “satin,” these .5mm pins are recommended for fine, lightweight fabrics, including some sheers. .6mm Most all-purpose pins are labeled “fine,” and are best paired with medium-weight fabrics. .7mm or .8mm Although harder to find, these diameters are great for thicker fabrics like heavy wools, denim, and quilted layers. But they do leave large holes in their wake.
Metal content A pin’s content is important, especially if you are allergic to certain metals. There are six types: stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, nickel-plated brass, brass, and chrome-plated steel, which is the strongest option. If you aren’t sure of the metal, test it with a magnet; stainless steel and brass pins won’t cling. Put through a salt-water test, only nickel-plated brass passed. To test the rust-resistance of various metal types, we spritzed each pin with salt water. The results were surprising, as nickel-plated and chrome-plated steel should only rust if the plating is damaged; stainless steel should offer the best resistance. Brass tarnishes, but any residue washes out.  Left to right: Stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, nickel-plated brass, brass, and chrome-plated steel The bottom line: Never leave any pin in fabric for very long, especially if you live close to the ocean’s salty environment. Specialty pins For certain projects, you need special pins. The ones shown here aren’t always available at the local sewing shop, so you may need to order them.  T-pin This 1-3/4-inch-long thick pin can pierce and hold hefty upholstery and outdoor fabrics.Fork Fine and 1-5/8 inches long, this two-prong pin curves up at the end, which allows you to pin hard-to-handle fabrics, like lining, without lifting it. Also use to align stripes and plaids. Glow-in-the-dark If you drop this pin, simply turn off the light, and look for its glowing head. Tidy Similar to the fork pin, but flat and square. It was created to secure doilies, arm covers, and slipcovers to furniture. Pleating This fine, strong, sharp pin doesn’t look all that special, but is 1 inch long, which allows you to perfectly pin out pleats. Twist The thumbtack-like plastic head and short corkscrew shaft hold slipcovers and mattress pads in place. Safety pins Safety pins won’t wriggle free or stab you as you sew. They are available in a range of metals and colors, as well as sizes: size 00 (3/4 inch long), size 0 (7/8 inch long), size 1 (1-1/16 inches long), size 2 (1-1/2 inches long), and size 3 (2 inches long).
Button The bump in this pin holds delicate, nonwashable buttons temporarily in place. Curved The bend makes basting quilts easy, and ensures that the layers never shift. Traditional These pins can be used for sewing, quilting, and crafts.
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