Getting Straight in 2013
 

New straight pins, that is. I went through all my pins and discarded all those bent ones that, I'm convinced, are responsible for all my not so straight sewing. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.:o

Hehehehehe....I was thinking. "Straight" 1/4 inch seams!!!!!!

I got a 1/4 inch foot WITH GUIDE and it has made a huge difference. Easier, faster and more accurate.

I got a 1/4 Inch foot also and seams are more consistant and accurate too. I too need more long thin pins and they are hard to find in a store. About all I can find are like railroad spikes.

Earlier this month, I ordered new straight pins. I just dumped the mess that I had, and found new ones on sale. I like the somewhat shorter pins (size 17 - 1 1/8" long) for my pining of quilts and clothing. And the price was right - 2 pkgs, qyt 350 ea for $4.25. I was having so much trouble with my pins not wanting to go through and things that I decided that replacing them and starting over was the best thing. And it is been easier. I am figuring that it is like replacing you machine needle with your project and regularly replacing your rotary cutter blades.

Look for or ask for silk pins with glass heads. They are very fine but sturdy and work great. cost a few pennies more but if you don't try to sew over them they should last a lifetime.

peace

Get in the habit of tossing every pin that is bent or dull. Why save the bad pins? This way I know when I'm getting low on good pins and can start looking for a sale.

where did you find them for such a good price?

When I use pins, I never have a straight seam, but if I glue, it's perfect.

The best pins for piecing are very fine pins, because they cause minimal or no distortion. I like pins made by Clover which are .4 thick and have clear blue and yellow (in the same pkg) glass heads. Clover also makes identical pins in the .5 thickness, which is thicker, and the size commonly called "thin" by most manufacturers. Don't buy .5---buy .4 thickness. I have to buy them at quilt shows because they aren't sold locally. The closest I can get locally are flower head pins which are light blue on one side and dark blue on the other side and are .45 thick. I'll use those in a pinch, but prefer the thinner .4 thick pins. They are so fine I sew right over them---slowly---and have never broken either a pin or a needle. If you sew slowly, the needle seldom hits a pin, and if it does, it usually will just push the pin a bit. On the rare occasion that the needle does hit a pin, the pin is so fine that it just gets bent. These pins are so thin I have to remember to be gentle in placing them or they will bend slightly. They're the best!