Sometimes I sew over pins and sometimes I don't, what helps is to make sure you buy the quilting pins, the shaft is skinner, don't buy the ones that have a bigger shaft. I would bend a pin once in awhile, sometimes it very neccessary to keep that fabric in place, and I don't remove them because of that. Never had a problem except possibly breaking the needle, probably need to change it anyway, after a certain amount of sewing they get dull.