Who uses pinking sheers on their cuts and what is the benefit of it? How do you make sure that your sewing line is the same on each? I use the pinkers when I cut apparel patterns, but never thought of using them for quilting.

I did a quilt recently that I wish I'd used pinking shears. It was qualith fabric from a quilt shop, 100 percent cotton but it unraveled really bad.

Nope, It would be hard to match the edges I would think. Pinked charm squares were enough for me. Unless the fabric frayed a lot I would not pink them.

I either serge my fabrics or pink the edges before washing to keep them from unraveling. I definitely use them for clothing construction, but not for quilting other than the first washing.

I only use pinking sheers on applique pieces. The advantage is that the notches act the same as clipping the seams to go around curves.

I like to stick to the 1/4" seam and I think a pinked edge would make it harder to keep it even.

curved applique pieces are the places I generally use the pinking shears.

I use pinking shears because I hate things to unravel. I have no problem lining up the edge of the shear with my 1/4" foot. Blocks come out squared. Just takes a bit of practice and you will love to pink

The speaker at our guild last night discussed this. She pinks because she hand sews everything using English paper piecing. So the paper ensures the piecing is accurate. She discouraged it for machine piecing because it makes it hard to get an accurate 1/4 in. seam.

She pinks because her pieces are often carried around for a long time before they are quilted so it helps with the raveling. She also hand quilts all her quilts so they "live a long time as tops".

Never thought of pinking shears acting as the "snips" on curves for appliqué...thanks!

I would be more tempted to use a pinking blade made for rotary cutting for quilt blocks, you may get more accurate cuts than with scissors :D:D:D

I agree

I don't pink mine. To hard to match seams.

I don't pink, period. LOL

I've started pinking fabric before pre-washing and like that it doesn't fray. Also, if I end up using a different piece, the pinked edge will remind me that it's already washed.

I pink before I wash to prevent fraying, but that is it! Def. not to cut out my pieces.

If you are pinking, where is the edge of the piece when you put it through your machine? Is the cut notch part of the 1/4" or is that excess?

I use them to pink the cut edges of fabric before washing, and I use them to cut swatches of fabric for my quilt journal.

Pinking shears are not used in piecing quilts. Seams are sewn at 1/4 inch, the zig/zag when using pinking shears cuts into your seam allowance. Less fabric in the seam allowance will make the seams weak and will pull out after some use.
Rotory cutters are the best thing ever invented for quilters.
When using them with quilting rulers we can cut precise pieces.

The only time I pink the edges of my blocks is when I am doing applique. It keeps the edges from fraying so badly from all the handling while hand stitching. I cut the blocks larger than called for in the pattern and then cut them down to size after they are finished and ready to be put into the quilt.

I've only used the pinking before I washed. I tried the shears but had trouble lining the blade cut so switched to a pinking blade for my rotary cutter. Works like a charm.

Good advice!

I'm planning to do a Asian them quilt with brocades, which are horrible to work with. I will have to pink those edges and see what happens. Thanks to all of you for all the great tips and advice.

Do you think that would work for washing muslin as well? Heard that clipping corner of muslin would keep it from raveling, but I really like the pinking idea as well.

I would think that if your are pinking for quilting you would use the inside of the pink for your seam measurement. Some LQS's are using pinking rotarys for cutting fabric. Personally, I am not fond of pinking for quilting.

Thank you so much for that tip. I am finding that I love to applique. Penny

It hurts my hands to use my pinking shears. I avoid it when I can. My grandmother used to use them when making clothes sometimes, but I zig zag the seams now.

Have never used a pinking shears in quilting, and I'm not sure why you would need to!