Do Quilting Pins Go Bad?
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,896
I just tossed almost an entire box of dull basting pins. They wouldn't go thru all the layers. I think some just come that way. The yellow headed pins have a thicker shaft and that seems to dull faster to me. Try the glass headed pins, they bend and have to be tossed every once and a while but they do seem sharper.
#12
Me too! Only mine were long and so very sharp. I've had them for years and never seen them again--anywhere. They may not make them anymore. I don't remember one of them going dull.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 453
Lady in my guild shared her tip: every year for Christmas she buys a new box of pins for herself. She tosses the old ones (sharp or not) and says it has saved her sanity! Don't know about the tossing out of ALL of them, but I would be much more inclined to toss a handful if I had a backup!
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
For sharpness and quality, I always buy Clover brand pins...the flower topped ones and the tinier red/white topped ones.
https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Flower...er+sewing+pins
https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Silk-P...er+sewing+pins
But even those will rust with time and improper storage. You can't even really see that; you just know when you try to pin with them and they don't slide smoothly. I found that not much will help that situation, had to toss several packages of Clover flower-head pins when the shop closed many years ago. it nearly killed me to throw out those expensive pins, but nothing worked to improve them and my nerves were worth the pitch.
I use the longer, heavier yellow-ball-topped pins to stick blocks/sections/borders to my design wall, so some less quality is okay there. These get bent or dulled and are more frequently tossed.
I keep most all of my pins in a "Ewesful" pincushion made of wool which contains some lanolin.
http://www.ewesful.com/ewesful.html
Jan in VA
https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Flower...er+sewing+pins
https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Silk-P...er+sewing+pins
But even those will rust with time and improper storage. You can't even really see that; you just know when you try to pin with them and they don't slide smoothly. I found that not much will help that situation, had to toss several packages of Clover flower-head pins when the shop closed many years ago. it nearly killed me to throw out those expensive pins, but nothing worked to improve them and my nerves were worth the pitch.
I use the longer, heavier yellow-ball-topped pins to stick blocks/sections/borders to my design wall, so some less quality is okay there. These get bent or dulled and are more frequently tossed.
I keep most all of my pins in a "Ewesful" pincushion made of wool which contains some lanolin.
http://www.ewesful.com/ewesful.html
Jan in VA
Last edited by Jan in VA; 12-22-2017 at 12:24 PM.
#16
I really need to get some new pins. I have several varieties but suddenly they all seem dull. I haven't bought any in a long time so I guess it's time.
I bought one of those new pincushions (forget the name) but the pins just stick to it. I love that thing!
I bought one of those new pincushions (forget the name) but the pins just stick to it. I love that thing!
#17
Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 71
I find that pins corrode, esp. if the pincushion is made of the "wrong" stuff. I made one with crushed walnut shells and it ruined my pins....had the throw all the ones in that cushion away. The wool one, or even plain stuffing are good, and any that get a little dull, I push through an emery pincushion a few times. I ordered the emery...somewhere....can't recall now.
I love the Clover pins, too. A few years ago I got some that were great, sharp and smooth, they came in a little box, glass tops blue on one side, yellow on the other. I few months ago I ordered what I thought were the same, well they LOOK the same, but they are much thinner and bend easily. Unfortunately I threw the package away, so I don't know if they were produced to be thinner, or they are just made cheaper now, as many things are. The new ones are usable, and great for fine materials, but I do have to be careful when pinning quilt blocks with them.
I love the Clover pins, too. A few years ago I got some that were great, sharp and smooth, they came in a little box, glass tops blue on one side, yellow on the other. I few months ago I ordered what I thought were the same, well they LOOK the same, but they are much thinner and bend easily. Unfortunately I threw the package away, so I don't know if they were produced to be thinner, or they are just made cheaper now, as many things are. The new ones are usable, and great for fine materials, but I do have to be careful when pinning quilt blocks with them.
#19
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: East Oklahoma - pining for Massachusetts
Posts: 10,477
I have that same one but I worry about putting it too close to my sewing machine.
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