I prefer to use the 2 inch safety pins. Most of mine are the straight style, but I plan to replace them with the curved style as funds allow. I recently finished a queen sized Lone Star quilt. I had over 600 safety pins in it. That took me 3 days to do. May have got it done sooner, but I have back & hand problems. I use my kitchen table....it's a retro from the 50's that was my Grandmothers...the ones with the formica tops & chrome frames. It seats 6 closed, 8 open, so it's good size to work on. I also agree....removing the pins, as you sew alone, gives you a sense of accompolishment

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