Hello Everyone,

So, I finally crossed over the bridge to not being afraid to use basting pins, but, I find there are choices - LOTS of choices.

Straight vs Curved???

Size - #1, 2 or???

Steel or brass???

This brand or that brand???

When I first bought a 'package deal' a while back, it included curved #1 steel pins and those wonderful Pin Holders that my achy hands appreciate oh so much. Recently, it was time to get some more of both as I'm working my way up to basting larger quilts.

I was able to get the same nice Pin Holders at my LQS no problem, but when I asked DH to please insert the pins into the holders - he found a problem. My newly purchases Brass, "Quilt Safe", size #1, curved pins wouldn't fit into my Pin Holders. What's a girl to do?? :x

I called the place I bought the original package from to inquire about this, and she did say their packages include "Steel" pins, but thought it odd that these Brass ones didn't work since the Pin Holder package specifically states "Attaches to: blah, blah blah, which includes Brass and Steel.

Okay, so now I'm thoroughly confused, :roll: , and hoping some of you folks in the know will educate me on this prickly situation, lol. :lol: :roll:

Thanks,

Karla fr CO

I use these long pins with yellow tops to them.
They came ALOT to a plastic box.
Sorry I cannot help you more than that.

I use the pin covers and I was told to use needlenose pliers to snap the covers on the pins. The covers popped on the curved pins just fine. I don't know why anyone uses naked basting pins :D

I never have bought the curved ones...
Just normal Safety pins about 3 inches long...
Works great for me...
Maybe they are a bit shorter than 3 inches...
But work great!
Kirsten

Open pins? Don't you scratch yourself as you're machine quilting? Don't they fall out? I would be afraid of both things happening to me.

I'm just new to quilting, but I found a box of 200 for $8 that were size 2 nickel plated straight safety pins. My experience with them was that they went through all the layers easily and I closed them up using a soup spoon to lift the points. Really easy!

I think the curved ones are to make it easy to close without moving your quilt, but the spoon helps close them easily and I've had no problem with the quilt moving.

I saw on the really expensive "quilters" pins that it said they were safe to leave in the quilt for extended periods, but from what I could see they were just straight nickel plated size 2's so I went for the large box - 200 was the same price as 45 pins and identical product.

You are correct! That's what DH used the first time to get them on my pins a couple of years ago and it worked fine. He said they didn't work with these newest brass pins, nor did using a pointed dowel as the pin holder directions suggested. Ugh!

I worked with naked pins once - and I didn't like scratching my arms all up! :cry: Quite painful, but maybe I'm just a sensitive kind of quilter, lol.

Thanks for the tip, Kirsten. I've never tried that size. Maybe being larger, they're easier to grasp. Do they get in the way of your quilting more often, tho?

Wish I had thought of using a soup spoon, it would've been a lot cheaper! :shock: The "safe" pins that you refer to might be the same brass ones that I purchased and am not happy with. :? So much to choose from out there. We really have to be careful and make the best choices, for sure. Thanks so much for your input.

I use #2 safety pins and have never had a problem (except breaking my nails :lol: )

On my first few quilts I used the quilting pins (long ones with the flat yellow heads), but after getting stuck by them MANY times while quilting I quickly changed to a different methodology. I got some large safety pins (#2s, I think), and they were a great improvement. But they were the straight ones, so distorted the fabric some. I then got some of the large curved safety pins, and they're great. It is MUCH easier to pin the fabric since they curve in to gather the layers as you insert them and they don't distort the layers near as much as the straight safety pins.

i only use curved, steel, i believe its size 2. they're very small.

My pins are all curved. I have two sizes - smaller and larger - and it depends on how dense my quilt is which size I use. My pins are all stored open and I simply dump a pile on the quilt and shake them apart.
BUT, I HATE pinning and think I'll try spray basting.

Here's a great pinning tip from KLue
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/20874.page

I don't know what size mine are but they're about 1-1 1/4 inch and curved, they don't makw a big hole in the fabric and I have a tool I forgot what it's called but it's a small metal rod inside a wooden handle, the rod has grooves in it and you use it to open and close the pins so your finger doesn't get sore. I thought those pin jackets were for marking spots that you needed to go back to later for whatever reason.

It use this set up and wouldn't pin or unpin hundreds of pins without the tool or the covers. And the pins do not get tangled when tossed together. That saves me so much frustration.

http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponlin...lay.asp?i=4840

I might give the #2's a try, but so far the #1's are doing pretty good. Maybe it's because my quilts haven't been terribly thick. I usually use W & N batting. Thanks for your input. :)

Thanks Eddie, sounds like you've already "been there, done that" and are wisely sharing your gnarly pin scratching experiences with us - hopefully before some folks prickle themselves to the point of bleeding on their quilts! :cry:

Thanks Klue,

Have you ever heard of steel causing any problems if left in quilts too long? Or? Why do you suppose this other company selling the brass ones is touting them as being the "safe for your quilts" pin? :?

Thanks Barbara. I dump my pins out, too on my quilt, always leaving them open between uses.

I went the spray basting route first, and I do like it, especially for the smaller projects. I found it a bit unwieldly for the larger quilts, tho. This quilt I'm working on now is actually my first large project basted entirely with pins. So, depending on well this goes, I may be right back with the spray. :lol:

Thanks too, for sharing the link to Klue's marble idea. That is really neat!
I've lost plenty of my own marbles, LOL, so probably wouldn't miss one more. :lol:

Hi Kathy,

Sounds like you're using the Kwik Klip, as am I. What a wonderful too! Pinning is SO much easier for my arthritic and weak hands with this tool. :D
Those nifty pin holders make it SO much easier to pick up my pins. Without them, I probably wouldn't be able to pin baste at all. :wink:

Same here. These tools are the ONLY way I can pin baste due to weak and arthritic hands. Praises be to the developers of those great tools!!! Thanks for sharing. :)

no i've never had a problem. the longest i ever had a quilt pinned was 8 months. i actually had to go buy more pins because i left them in that quilt for so long.

I use curved steel ones. I open and close them with my hands. Have not yet gotten to the point where it is a problem for my hands. I guess I am lucky there. As to brand name, I just get what I feel I can afford.

I switched from the straight safety pins to the curved ones a long time ago. The curve makes passing through all layers much easier and more reliable. WIth the straight pins, I always had to lift the quilt or distort my hands. Don't know what size I have - they are relatively small and they go through the layers quite well.

Using the tool (looks like a blunt screwdriver) helps stress on closing the pins.

#1 and curved. #2 is too large but can be used if you need them. I just liked the shorter ones.

I love the Kwik Klip tool also, but I don't use the plastic covers. I haven't done much pin basting since I bought my mid-arm frame and machine.

Thanks Klue,

Have you ever heard of steel causing any problems if left in quilts too long? Or? Why do you suppose this other company selling the brass ones is touting them as being the "safe for your quilts" pin? :? [/quote]

no i've never had a problem. the longest i ever had a quilt pinned was 8 months. i actually had to go buy more pins because i left them in that quilt for so long.[/quote]

You don't suppose this could a case of a marketing ploy, now do you? :? LOL

I'm glad you don't have any troubles with your hands. Hurray!

Finances were definitely a part of the equation. 100 pins shouldn't cost $12! My subsequent purchase was 300 pins for $6 something. I'm wising up! :D

Hi Martina,

Curved pins - whoda thunked it? :D They sure make pinning and sewing much easier. I use that same tool and just love it, too. Thanks for your reply. Happy stitching.

Thanks for your vote. I like the #1's too.

Congratulations! I'll bet you're having all kinds of fun!! Enjoy your new toys. Thanks for replying. :)

I use a large crochet hook to close my pins. I have a ton of them since I crochet too...so I choose which hook to use depending on how my safety pin is. Works great...no pin pricks, no fatigued fingers or crampy hands. Ohhh yeah...did I mention cheap...uhhh I mean frugal? I love multi-purposing things LOL.

That's a AWESOME idea!!! :wink: Only problem? I just gave away ALL of my crochet hooks to a dear friend since I'm no longer able to use them. :cry: Next best thing? I'll tell her what she can do with them, thanks to you! Frugal is so cool, too. Good for you!! :-)

i used to use the gun that shoots those plastic tags. the tags come in different lengths, and i chose the length that i needed to go in and come up one inch away. since they are flexible and bend with the fabric i had no distortion. and if i left it in for years, there was no rust. when you finish up, you just clip the 'string' and remove the tag ends. i used it until i got my longarm, then i didn't need it anymore.

Ya know, I wondered about those at one time. Kinda spendy, for one, and I wasn't sure if my hands could handle that operation, either. Thanks, I do appreciate your suggestion. :)

when i got the longarm, i passed the grid part on to k3n, who uses the gun. when she gets back from her trip, ask how she likes it.

EDIT: i never used the grid part. my method was different. but i liked the gun a lot.

Oh, I have stuck myself numerous times! OUCHY!
I've tried the curved pins, regular safety pins, nope, didn't like them.
I just pin, pin, pin and pin. If I think I don't have enough pins, I pin some more. Sure, it's a bit tiresome, but like they say.....to each their own,right?

[quote=tlrnhi Oh, I have stuck myself numerous times! OUCHY!
I've tried the curved pins, regular safety pins, nope, didn't like them.
I just pin, pin, pin and pin. If I think I don't have enough pins, I pin some more. Sure, it's a bit tiresome, but like they say.....to each their own,right?[/quote]

What works best for us is usually what we get used to, for sure. Thanks for replying. Hope you stay scratch-free. :)

Getting the quilt ready to quilt is the worst job of all so I invest in all the easiest gadgets to help out.
Tried the spray and it worked well for awhile but then had a disaster with it so stopped using it.
Pining always works so went back to that. But I use the bent pins with covers and the quick clip with the large wood handle, much easier on the hands.
I cant get down on the floor so use my cutting table with the special clips to hold the quilt. I use the large black clips when I run out of the small plastic ones. Larger quilts I have to reposition so the clips are a must.

I have clips that I bought in the auto section of Kmart to clip my quilt to the table so I can pin, pin, pin. But, sometimes the quilt is just too big and needs to be on the floor. That's where the Painters Tape comes in handy.