Curved safty pins
 

Can someone tell me what size of safety pin are used for basting a quilt. Thanks in advance.

i use the ones i got at walmart years ago. they are size 1. they are smaller than the ones that most of my friends use, but they work for me. i keep them in an empty pill container.

I have 2 sizes and like the bigger ones better. I'm sorry I don't remember where I got them but I know I did not pay as much as JoAnn had them in the store for this week!

I use the 2 sizes that are at Walmart.

Not sure what size mine are - about 1" I guess. But if you're using safety pins to baste, check out the Kwik Klip tool. It makes it much easier to close that safety pins, saves wear and tear on your hands. http://www.joann.com/kwik-klip/4490983.html

The pins I use are 1 3/4" long. I did not know that they came in another size :) I agree with dunster, the kwik klip tool is a must - I am not a gadget person and I would not be without this. Also, if you can raise your pinning table a bit it is a lot easier on your back. I put extenders under the table legs.

Find BRASS curved or non-curved safety pins, about an inch + long. (You'll probably have to look on line.)

You can use the Kwik Klip or you can use a cheap serrated edge grapefruit spoon -- I bought a couple @ $1 apiece at the Dollar Tree store. I prefer these to the Klip. You will need many more than you think you will for a bed sized quilt! Start with AT LEAST 200. They are expensive but so worth it. :)

Brass safety pins are "softer" and easier to open/close. They also do not stain the fabric if left in the quilt for a period. I have stored mine in a box along with the grapefruit spoons for decades.

Jan in VA

I have two different sizes. Jim got me the larger ones and I did not want to hurt his feelings so I use them a bit.

Size 1 are the ones that are about 1 inch long. Size 2 are about 1 3/4 inch long, and those are the ones I use most of the time. I have used the Size 1 at times but find that the size 2 is much easier to use with my arthritis getting worse. But, as mentioned before get you a Kwik Klip. It's well worth the investment. Saves the fingers from getting poked and sore. It's just a few dollars when you use a coupon at Joann's.

Jan, I agree with you about the spoons! My friend and I found a package of 4 and shared. Before that, I had used a butter knife that had small serrations on the end. I did not see the advantage of another 'gizmo' over our spoons!

Pin basting is so tedious no matter what pins you use. Why would you want to do that?

Size 1 and I purchase from Amazon. Prices are good. I must agree that recent purchase from Abakhan points were not sharp so I'll go back to amazon I wonder if it is the make. Hemline are my usual purchase from Amazon with only odd one which have blunt points.

I use size 1 &2 and keep them in an Altoid tin. Alto ides are another one of my addictions

I use on average for a double bed quilt about 500 pins and yep, I'm a bit disappointed as some of mine seem to be a bit blunt and hard to get through the sandwich. That being said, I am still quite happy using this method and I have a tragic old teaspoon that I use to help me!

What method do you like to use?

The curved safety pins I use are a full 2" long. I don't like the 1" ones. That's just too short for me. I had the LQS order them for me..... probably 200 pins or maybe 250. It was several packages. I use that many if I put together a queen sized quilt. And if I have a pin that doesn't want to go through the fabric, I run it through one of those sand filled strawberry thingys that are on the old red tomato pin cushions. That sharpens them right up.

I have used size 1 pins since I started quilting in the 80s. Still prefer pin basting to the other newer methods of sandwiching a quilt.

I glue baste with Elmer's washable glue. I basted a queen size quilt last night in 25 minutes from start to finish and that included setting up two folding tables. I have tried pins, thread, clip gun, fusible, pinmoors, and spraying. Elmer's is the only way for me. The quilt I hand quilted I had a longarmer baste it for me. My DD used my curved pins with the colored jackets on them to cover completely the front of a tee shirt to wear for some school day event. They are still on the shirt, good storage for them. LOL

Many people have switched to using washable school glue for basting. It's been used for years for applique, now it's getting more popular for basting. Easy to apply and washes right out. Search on "glue basting" to learn more.

Tate

I use a small 1" as they hold the sandwich tighter IMHO. i also prefer the straight ones instead of the curved ones...easier to handle and by getting them in the sewing notions instead of quilting notions they are cheaper.

I mostly use size 2. I have a few size 1 & 3's that I've acquired from who knows where, but the 2's seem to be the best -- 1's are so small it takes many more of them, 3's are so big it can make it more difficult to move around them as you quilt so you end up with wide open spaces as you prepare to quilt an area.

The Brass ones are like 2-3x the price of the regular silver colored ones. I'm sure they're probably worth it in the long run, but I usually go from basted to quilted in a few weeks & I've yet to have issues in my climate with rusting. If you can spring for the Brass pins, go for it ... otherwise just wait to baste until you're ready to start quilting & you should be fine. And yes, you need WAY more than you would imagine. I think I went through over 200 just on a baby quilt, basted a fist's width apart.