I use some of this metal clips that you squeeze to open....to hold blocks or parts for blocks together....easier than pins for me and I don't get poked. I have used a stack of small sticky notes stuck to my stich plate to mark the seam line and also to temperaly label things but need to use a pin for a longer period as the sticky notes will fall off. Oh, and I use sticky notes stuck on the bed of my machine if I am using specific stitch settings so I don't forget what I was using if I turn the machine off.