How much do you pin?
 

Just curious - I was watching a video tutorial the other day and the woman pinned *everything* even tiny little pieces. I don't pin that much. I have a 1/4" foot and the machine does a good job of keeping things straight. What it doesn't like is sewing over pins! So if I don't have to pin, I just don't. Anyone else have thoughts about this?

I pin as much as I need to and no more. If it's a forgiving pattern, forget it. If it's a fiddly little thing then I probably would pin, but I also probably wouldn't tackle a fiddly pattern with my machine :)

I like to pin if the seam is long. I also like to pin at any seams that need to match. I don't sew over the pins, though. I take them out just before they go under the needle.

I learned to pin, way back in Jr. High home ec class, so it may be just a habit for me. I watch Bonnie Hunter quilt on "QuiltCam" and have never seen her ever pin anything so it can be done but I prefer to pin.

I pin just like Cabbage patch, long seams like borders, where seams intersect and need to match, curves I pin alot, and anytime I need to ease in I pin.

Like feline fanatic and Cabbagepatch. Maybe a little less on the Pfaff (dual feed) -- I can do a full-length drapery sized seam with no pins, and can manage areas that need just a little easing. It's a good thing, because that dual feed hates sewing over a pin LOL.

On the Singers, I pin rather more. They don't care if you sew over a pin although every now and then I forget to take them out, hit one dead on and the needle breaks.

It depends on what I'm sewing. If there are seams that but up to each other and I want them to be spot on, I pin. If its a fabric or a seam that may need pins to stay put, I pin. You aren't supposed to go over any pins and some machines are worse than others about it. I had a teacher once who said to put your pins in at an angle and you'll never break a needle on them. I try that (except for butting seams) or try to put the pins down far away enough from the seam allowance but close enough to do the job.

I usually only pin for intersections and long pieces where edges might slip apart. I do pin to mark what goes with what. After 2 strokes I am easily confused. What did you ask?:D

It all depends upon the length. If it's long I usually pin about every 4" because that's what I feel most comfortable with.

Works for me!

I only pin where matching is important and NEVER go over pins. My dealer told me that I could mess up the timing on my machine if a pin was hit. Whether that is true or not, it made me much more careful....just in case!

I pin like Cabbage Patch too, with the exception that I don't pin the long strips of borders because I find that prewashed fabric seems to stick together if you lay the pieces on top of each other and just run it through your hand first.

I pin a lot...curves, easing, long seams, matching seams, matching points, registration marks, lots of things. It improves my accuracy greatly and is well worth the extra bit of time it takes because most of what I do is fairly detailed work. I pull the pins before the needle gets to them and I usually manage to pin so only the very tip would go under the needle in case I misjudge my timing. I do not sew at full speed so maybe that helps, too.

Me too! I also have "silk" very fine pins that I can sew over if necessary.

Hard question for me to answer, just depends on what I am making. I do not pin more that I have to.

As little as possible. I've started using school glue for a lot on things instead of pins. It works great for me.

I hated pinning until I started piecing a Bargello. This is one of those times when you have to either pin of give up the project altogethrer. So, grudgingly I pinned and after that quilt I do not mind pinning anymore. I do not sew over my pins, although this had happened on occasion and nothing happened, luckily. Nowadays, I pin when I have to, matching seams and when I do binding.

I was told to put pins close enough for my fist to fit between just touching in all directions. If my friend is around I use her hand it is at least an inch larger than mine, so not so many pins. I spray baste when at home nowadays.

I've been reading a lot about the Elmer's/school glue thing - how does that work? Doesn't it make the fabric gloppy?

I pin everything all the time. Lots of pins. If I dont pin it I glue it.

It depends on what I'm doing how much I pin. If accuracy of seam matching is essential I will pin every single one, no matter if they're only an inch apart. If that's not an issue then I may only pin every foot or so just to keep things together.

I can tell you from personal experience - that on a computerized machine if you sew over a pin (really if you hit it) you take a chance (probably a good one) that you will knock your machine out of time. That means unless you have someone who can time your machine - it will be going to the shop!

I have pinned very seldom in ten years

I rarely pin. I do if I am easing around a curve, but if my seams nest I find that I don't need to pin. I like to hold the edges together and sew that way. They almost always match. Pinning takes too much time.
Sue

I use elmers glue instead of pinning.

I fight with quilting pins when I use them, so I try to use them as sparingly as I can.

I pin a lot and was just thinking about that today. I should try to let up a little. I would have more time to sew.

I pin a lot! And I sew over pins, but I use very thin pins that my machine "likes". I hate pleats and I hate cutting squares down to make them the correct size. So I pin. About the only time I don't pin is when I'm doing strip sewing.

I pin long sections and intersections. I have an older machine and no problem sewing over pins...Thank goodness!

I am very much a quilt novice, but in my limited experience I have found that too much pinning causes me as big problems as too little. Like others above have said, I now just pin where matching is important, especially on a long strip. I also find that nesting seams helps the fabric just kind of 'stick' without needing lots of pins, especially if I starch it well first.

I pin very little now that I have discovered elmers school glue. I use a little drop at seams that need to match. I set it with the iron and then stitch away. It is not gloppy and the machine goes right through it

I agree with you. I pin only what I have to. I was watching a episode of The Quilt Show and I watched how the host had put about 10 pins in a 8 inch block, I thought wow! That's a lot of pins. But, that was what she wanted, so to each their own. When I'm making a drunkard's path, I use 2 pins.

Julie, I'm with you on this! When I am "building" a hummingbird or flowers with multiple colors, I use the school glue and everything is where is needs to be when I sew it down. I've been using glue for years, but after reading the comments our sisters have put up on QB I think I will expand my glue useage even more. Pins have there place, but a small dot of glue is even better. I always wash my quilts before gifting so any glue is gone. It takes so very little that it is hard not to "over glue"... but if you do you can always wipe it off with a rag, or with a wet rag if you feel it HAS to come off. I don't have that problem anymore. A little dab will do it!