My 18 year old Bernina 1031 gives me no problems sewing over pins. I'd highly recommend a vintage Bernina mechanical (not a computerized) machine. They are truly workhorses, sew those heavy seams, are still made in Europe, and do not require you to buy expensive feet if you find one with all its parts and don't need it for specialized sewing. My current 18 year old machine finally went in for cleaning and routine maintenance after 8 years just because I was going to spend a week in the area where the best repair person worked! It was fine before and it's still fine now.

Jan in VA

I had to start taking out the pin before I reached it in the sewing path to stop problems.
margaret

In the early 70's I had a Singer that I always ran over pins with and had no problems. You have to be more careful with the newer machines(how did I learn that?) one guess
margaret

I love the old Singers. They sew forever if you keep them oiled. The 201 sews through muiltiple layers of thick fabric and is a real workhorse. I think I found mine for $30, maybe less.

Perhaps this would be a good time to experiment using Elmer's Washable School Glue in place of pins.

Meanwhile, if you don't care about the age of your machine, I'd recommend buying one of my old workhorse: a 1965/1966 Elna Supermatic. I see them occasionally on ebay for around $200. I used my Elna until a couple of years ago when I bought my Sweet Sapphire 875Q.

The Elna Super is mechanical, made of metal, and was made in Switzerland. It has cams which enable you to do all the (then) modern stretch stitches! I tried not to, but it would sew over pins quite nicely in case one was left in the fabric. Of course, even then, it was a "No No" to sew over pins. :)

Poor machine :(

I agree. It's best to just remove the pins as you come to them. Not good for any machine.

I don't own a machine that won't plow right over pins. Still a bad idea, and hard on the machine. When your needle hits a pin, it dulls it. When you sew with a dull needle, it causes problems. A slightly bent needle can cause damage to your hook. And you still risk injury to yourself. Is it really worth an eye?

I can't suggest a machine but I can make a couple alternative suggestions ....

I personally am NOT going to remove pins before they reach my needle. Call me lazy ... whatever.

I found three solutions to it though.

SLOW DOWN! The biggest problem with sewing over pins is that you are going to fast when you sew over them. If you slow your machine down you have far less chance of a problem.

Another solution is that I use very long pins and when I insert them I make sure the tip of the pin is outside of my 14" seam line. The pin doesn't have to be all the way to the edge when you sew.

Lastly, there is the glue stick. Run it along the edge of your fabric. Works great. But if you lay it on too wide (past the 1/4" seam line) then it's harder to open the fabric to press the seam. Not *hard*, but an extra step to make sure you have the seam fully open before you press.

I always pinned my fabric when I made clothes, and I have made lots of clothes in the last 50 years. (Is it possible that it has been that long!!!) I was really amazed 3 years ago when I started quilting and realized that pins are not used by quilters, or not much...or at least that is what I was told, as I took a beginning quilt class. It was a whole new learning curve for me. But then the 1/4 inch seam was a new idea to me too. :)

I have learned to not use pins and the 1/4 inch foot makes sure I get the seam right too. But it wasn't easy!

Dina