I made a discovery when I spilled my container of straight pins on the floor. You all know how easy it is to pick up pins!!! Along with the pins, I also knocked a comb on the floor and they were in the same area. Well, I started using the comb to sweep the pins in a pile then continued to pick up the pins.

Once the pins were in their container, I used the comb to sweep through the carpet fibers and found many pins down in the carpet! Since I sew barefoot, I combed the rest of the carpet within stepping distance from my machine and found more! How many of you have gotten a pin jammed into a toe?

Protect your feet and comb through your carpet occasionally! Works better than a vacuum. (Wish I had hardwood floors under my machine.)

thanks for the great tip

Great tip......that is why i put hardwood in my sewing room instead of cozy carpet!

Now to find a comb, lol

many years ago, at a hardware store, I found a round magnet (about 3 inches in diameter) on a pole. It has saved me many times from stepping on pins.

Mine just appeared out of nowhere! I don't even use combs. Must have had a son sit at my computer and leave his here. Don't most great ideas happen by accident?

I REALLY want hardwood. Maybe DH will consider it....

Neat idea!!

Go to a big office store. They have mats in different sizes and grades used under chairs/desks. Easier to move your chair but the pins might all roll to the edge. LOL

I have a teloscoping magnet that gets LOTS of use!

Thanks for the tip.

The only time I go barefooted is in water or bed. If anyone goes in my sewing room with no shoes well, it's their feet. They know better. I use the magnet pin holder to pick up dropped pins but I'll try the comb idea as some do get caught in the carpet. My vacuum cleaner thanks you!

Thanks! I have a lot of pins on the floor, and the magnet pin cushion doesn't help

Great idea! Thanks!

Glad to have wood floors too!

Great tip. I put a hard surface under my chair like is used in an office. Helps with the pins too.

I did that on top of my carpet. The darn mat just wanders over the floor as I roll across it, even though the mat has prongs in it to hold it into place on carpet. Same thing goes for the pins - they wander as well. If I can stop the pin from rolling, it is easier to pick up.

You know how it is with something round hitting the floor!

Great tip thanks!!!

That's my trick also - a big magnet!! Works like a charm

what a great tip, since i have a carpet, i will find a comb!! thanks for sharing...

I use a magnetic pin holder that I purchased at JoAnn's.

Me also. I wish for hard wood floors in here as well. It hurts me to vaccum. Dh will do it for me, willingly, but I could keep a hard surface clean myself.

I agree. I learn some really interesting things like that. I think it is our guardian angel letting us know they are with us. It is like finding pennies on the ground, don't you think? I pick either up and look up and say thank you God for providing for even the smallest detail in my life. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face.

Depending on what you weigh.....We won't go there......they will roll to your chair.

Me too, I am going to keep a comb close by. Thanks for the great tip. My son just came to me over the weekend with a needle in his hand and asked what it was (it was upside down so he didn't see the eye). I asked him where he found it as he had not been in my sewing room and he said his sock which he had just taken from his drawer. I now have little gremlins dropping needles and hiding them (lol).

I too go barefoot. I was brought up running around without shoes unless I was going somewhere. My husband is just the opposite. He will put on his shoes just to walk across the room! Hardwood floors would be nice, I currently have carpet.

I have to agree, also there is a telescoping magnetic wand that I got at Harbour Freight (the blade place) and it just sweeps up gobs of them fast. I keep an office chair pad under my quilting chair which helps too since even though the carpet is low profile pins get stuck there otherwise.

:D

Sounds good. I have a telescoping magnet as well. You can buy them at the hardware store.

I use Magnets, work great

I refuse to go into my sewing area without my shoes.

I tried the comb tip this morning. I pushed a few pins in the carpet and the comb took them right out. I did break a tooth from the comb. I have seen the metal pet combs so that may be better.

I have ca[eting in my house & when I know I dropped a pin I reach for the magnetic wanf & get them that way.

Thanks for the tip.

This is such a great idea. I've been using my magnetic pin "cushion" but sometimes I find "stragglers" in the carpet.

I can not sew with a shoe on I have tried many times and I can not control the footpetal the way I want too. Even at retreat I wear a pair of soft slippers so I can feel the petal. I sew in the basement and have a carpet because of the cold concrete floor. I use a mat under my chair and a extended handle magnet to pick up dropped pins.

What has helped me with pins and carpet. DH bought me a extending pole with a magnet on the end.

Thanks for a wonderful tip. I would prefer hardwood floors, but the apt. will only put in carpeting, but I know I will use this idea the next time I knock over the pins.

Well, dang, wonder why?
Mother Goose says:

See a pin and pick it up,
All the day you'll have good luck.
See a pin and let it lie,
You'll need a pin before you die.

Pins were a lot more expensive in Mother Goose's day. 8-)

Me too and I love it. Tearing out all carpeting room by room as we can afford to put down the new wood/laminate flooring.

There are now some great pin holders that are magnetic even when pins are dropped on the floor they "pick them up" the magnet is very strong.