The Sewing Place

Tools of the Trade => The Haberdashery => Topic started by: JudyN on February 14, 2020, 19:55:31 PM

Title: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: JudyN on February 14, 2020, 19:55:31 PM
I need new pins... most of mine have been pilfered from shirt packaging over the years and are tarnished & blunt. And a pincushion... but there's so much blinking choice nowadays I struggle to choose!

So, what are your favourite general purpose/dressmaking pins? Is there much to choose between them? And do you prefer a wrist pincushion, or a freestanding one, or just a box? Or maybe a magnetic one?
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Kwaaked on February 14, 2020, 20:53:08 PM
I use Iris pins ball head and silk for 80% of my needs, but one pin will not really do it all.  And this  (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bohin-75590-Wrist-Pincushion-Black-Velvet/dp/B00QX3E9UA) wrist cushion.

Let me point out, I have a need of several things simply because I work with clients as well.  In my workroom, I tend not to use a lot of pins for construction.  I use weights or trace the pattern to fabric to cut out pieces. 

Draping, I tend to use #16 T pins, fork pins for plaids and cross seams and insect pins for really fine sheers.  I also have the standard applique pins and a banker's box of regular dressmaker pins for jobs where I know I am going to ruin, bend or lose a lot of them.

The Bohin has a few issues...if I work with fine lace it catches on clients' dress, the band has never adjusted to my bony square wrist and unless I am using silk pins, they cushion is hard to get them into.  However, for tailoring and male clients it gives a professional look.  This is something far more important to the men then the women.

I really want to have one of the neck boxes like they have at Dior and Chanel.  You can see it in the movie Signe Chanel, or the bad picture below. 

In my workroom, I just use pins out of a box.  A friend of my DH's makes me playing card boxes out of wood so all the specialized pins are in them, and I use the Iris out of the tin.

(https://www.brixpicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/P1040881.jpg)
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Vezelay on February 14, 2020, 21:51:08 PM
I use these Prym glass head pins  (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003OBPC78/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)for just about everything. I have ball point pins too but the glass head are just much easier to handle.

I have two magnetic pin holders and use both, the small one was bought at the Knitting and Stitching show, the other came in a pack of 3 from Lidl - intended for screws I think. I highly recommend both.  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] .
My home-made traditional pin cushion on the shelf just holds my hand sewing needles.
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Ohsewsimple on February 14, 2020, 21:52:12 PM
I like Iris silk pins.  Once they come out of the tin they go in a small plastic box so I keep them separate from the new ones.  I find they work well with most fabrics. 
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: snoozi soozi on February 14, 2020, 22:15:36 PM
I have prym glass headed pins too, which I use with a wrist pin cushion and a big pin cushion on the table. They're just stuffed with cushion stuffing. I'm not precious about my pins, maybe if I'd spent a lot of money on them I might be but these are good all-purpose pins  :)
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Greybird on February 14, 2020, 22:44:01 PM
I like the longer pins and I have a big pincushion on the table.
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: sewingj on February 15, 2020, 08:06:36 AM
I have glass headed pins so I can find them when I drop them on the carpet!

I made myself one of those pin cushions in a teacup - quite easy and extra bits and pieces can be put in the saucer
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Ploshkin on February 15, 2020, 09:10:18 AM
I keep my bog standard ball headed pins on 2 magnetic pincushions which are
 on opposite sides of the room, one near my machine and one near the ironing board because I can guarantee that they will never be near me if I have only one lot.  The magnetic trays are great for picking up dropped pins.
I also have 2 other boxes of pins, long, flower head pins that I like for quilt piecing and fine, silk pins for fine fabrics.
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Greybird on February 15, 2020, 09:14:08 AM
I also use the end of my ironing board as a pin cushion. There are always at least half a dozen pins pushed sideways into the padding.
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Bodgeitandscarper on February 15, 2020, 09:36:11 AM
I only discovered in the last couple of years that there are different sorts of pins  :[

I use ordinary (Prym) pins for cutting out, either normal ones or ball-points, and prefer longer ones.

I then use ones with big heads on for sewing, some are just cheap ones, but I also have some very fine flower headed ones too.

Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: BrendaP on February 15, 2020, 10:46:19 AM
I do a lot of pinning and not much hand basting so I like pins that are easy to get hold of and always use ball head pins.  I have one tin of plastic headed ones which I prefer for general use as they are a bit longer (32mm I think) but they have to be kept away from the iron.   Also a tin of glass headed pins that can withstand the heat of the iron.

If I had need for very fine pins I'd raid the stash of lacemaking pins; I have some very fine glass headed insect pins and some very short, small headed Lils.

Pins have two measurements; the length and the diameter.  Length is usually about 28mm for regular dressmaking pins.  The diameter is between about 0.5mm (fine) to about 0.65mm (fairly thick).

I don't use pincushions much though I have several of them in a drawer.

Always buy a good brand.  I bought a batch of cheap pin wheels from China and ended up ditching them all as there were so many that were blunt or not pointed at all.
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: UttaRetch on February 15, 2020, 12:39:48 PM
I have a few pretty glasshead pins, but for everyday use I have a tin of Iris superfine (https://i.imgur.com/YhpvgQf.jpg). 
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Kenora on February 15, 2020, 14:06:15 PM
Silk pins, definitely - and I just use them out of the box. :o
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: JudyN on February 15, 2020, 14:10:58 PM
Thank you everyone :D I'm quite tempted by the Iris plastic-headed ones as the tin is so pretty! Knowing me I'll probably end up going for the cutest pincushion too...
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: JudyN on February 15, 2020, 14:13:49 PM
Will silk pins still work if I'm working with denim?
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Acorn on February 15, 2020, 14:37:37 PM
Yes, but they might bend!
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Marniesews on February 15, 2020, 15:14:35 PM
Since I started sewing dance wear I use a much greater variety of pin types than I used to.

I like glass headed pins, especially the fine, super-fine (https://www.williamgee.co.uk/shop/super-fine-glass-headed-pins-029700/) and extra-fine (https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1412017449) ones as they work so well with lycra & fancy ballroom fabrics. Mostly Prym, Dritz and Clover. I also like the long flower headed type (https://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/Clover-Flower-Head-Pins--Fine--20-pins-carded--0-45-x-50mm--9069.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyp7yBRCwARIsABfQsnQntxWQAs9jjJktJVoYwaTTs7lYJe7w3hLpXOsaqZRT8FyACM3ZmOQaAuo2EALw_wcB) (0.45mm) and haven't melted one yet as I angle them all in one direction into the ironing board to hold the item in place and use an organza pressing cloth (to see if I'm getting too near) applying the iron from the opposite direction. I like to keep them flat on the magnetic dish so they don't get bent sticking far out from the pincushion.

Fork pins are great for aligning crossing seams (I don't do a lot of pattern matching), a very specific use but worth it, always so satisfying when seams or stripes match up!

I bought ballpoint pins when I first started sewing lycra but find the fine pins are actually far better sliding smoothly into lycra without any damage whatsoever and organza, satin etc alike. The ballpoint pins were stuck back in their container years ago and not seen the light of day since.

I like the Liberty apple pincushion as I can organise my different pins for easy selection. The coloured ones around the top of the apple are older ones, shorter and thicker than the bigger groupings of white and red. The red are the finest (0.4mm), pretty sure the white are 0.5mm and good for thicker seams that might distort the others - also much less likely to slip into finger flesh before you know it.  :S  I use short silver bobble pins (sourced from shirts over the years) for quarter marks when matching lycra bands onto neck/arm/sleeve openings - easy to see but don't get in the way. Can't see them around the back of the pincushion.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/4805/31473100127_1425bcf50d_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PXaSan)

And before anyone asks, no! I never stick anything into my little felted mouse.  ><
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Kwaaked on February 15, 2020, 21:45:50 PM
Will silk pins still work if I'm working with denim?

Depends on the weight of the denim.  Generally, not really unless it's really light, but the balled ones do on most denim normal people use (12 oz and under).  For the heavier stuff, I use clips or dressmaker pins.
Title: Re: Pins... and pincushions
Post by: Addiscomber on February 16, 2020, 19:51:11 PM
Another vote for Prym glass headed pins here, but I just use them from the box.

When I first started to sew in the early 60s I used much shorter, finer ones, whatever my mother used, but I prefer the longer Prym ones as I find it more difficult to see in electric light.