I need a strong, long pin. What is your favorite brand? Some of the flowerhead pins I have bend and are not heat reistant. I also bought the ones that look like buttons from dritz and the top came off several of them as I was pinning. What is your favoite brand and type. Thanks. Cheap pins don't seem to go through the fabric very well....
MA

Yeah, I've noticed the difference between pins made 40 years ago and pins of today. Safety pins, even bobby pins are thinner. Seems like they bend in the wind.
I have been collecting those hat pins, the longer, stronger ones with the white ball on top, about 2 inchs long. I have about 50 of them now. If they were cheaper in price, I would use those all the time. I like them for the toughter jobs.
I don't like the flower heads at all.
The pins that I have the most of are the ones that have the yellow or white ball on top, 1 1/2 inches long. Can't think of who makes them at the moment.
Sylv

My DD (being a past florist) uses nothing but the big white ball headed corsage pins. I love the long flat headed yellow
pins, yes they are a little flexible but I like them and there cheap. I don't know who makes them.

I use the glass head pins they seem to work pretty well!

Have you tried IBC pins from Clotilde? There are a variety of types and lengths and they are good quality.
http://www.clotilde.com/

Same here.

I love the big yellow headed quilter pins. I also like the flower head pins when sewing tiny blocks.

Dritz #16980 Extra fine Glass Head pin, size 22 1 3/8" long. They're a little shorter and therefore sturdier than the Clover band glass heads. Never had a head come off and I use mine to hold up a fairly heavy quilt on my design wall.

I have been reading the Art of Machine Piecing by Sally Collins. She says to use IBC Super Fine silk pins, #5004 1.25 x .50 mm. She also says to get this thread for the top and bobbin threads: 100 cotton DMC embroidery thread as it will cause less fabric in the seam allowance when it is pressed (for a more accurate 1/4" seam). I am going to try her suggestions, as I have a terrible time with my blocks coming out the right size. It is a really good book and has some very pretty blocks- I am still studying it. I have only had the book for a few days.

I inherited a lot of thread and notions several years ago and there was quite a variety. I haven't needed to buy any in a long time.