I bought mine in the quilting section at Joanns and thought they were very sturdy.

I accidentally FMQed over two - thankfully, my machine did not hit them. Then I had to take them out without breaking the stitch. I had a heck of a time bending and twisting to get them to break. I finally spread the curlicue at the bottom of the pin the moved the stitch through it. They were like iron.

Mine are from Walmart as well. I bought them about a year agoand have no problem with them at all.

sounds like I may have just gotten a ''bad batch'' of curved pins!!!! will give JoAnn and Walmart another try. the ones I returned seemed like they were made of tin....they bent going through the 3 quilt layers so bad, there was no way to use them. my old curved pins are thick and sturdy and made like iron too....or at least stainless steel!!!!

jodimarie