Pins: horizontal or parallel?
 

I have discovered recently by trial and error that it works better for me to place pins parallel to the edge of fabric (an inch away which prevents the pressure foot from hitting them) when sewing 1/4 inch seams than to place them horizontally. The two fabrics stay in place, don't shift away from each other and I don't have to worry about removing the pins as I sew. Anyone else use this method?

YES this works for me too :)

i've done it both ways, depending on how i have to 'grab' the piece or if it has curves, etc.

I do it both ways depending on what I'm doing. Sue

Uh - oh. Am I supposed to be pinning things? The only time I use pins is matching seams. I place them diagonally catching both seams, pointy end toward the presser foot.

Both ways for me too.

Me too. I find my 1/4" foot with the guide is so helpful.
Annie

I pin horizontally and sew over them. My machine doesn't seem to mind at all except occassionally. By then I figure it's time to change the needle anyhow.

To answer the post above "should I be pinning"
I pin depending on the results I need. Sometimes do and sometimes don't The bottom line is straight seams and seams that match, and what the feed dogs and pressure foot does to the seam. Have you noticed how on some machines the feed dogs tend to pull the fabric to the left when you get to the end, making the seam narrow....

I always pin toward where I want to sew; mainly because when I lie it down and go back later I remember which part I want to sew, very important in piecing. The other thing that I was taught was to put you pins in at an angle; then if you do run over a pin it won't break your needle. I try not to go over pins (especially in piecing) because it can throw the seam off but if I go over putting them in at an angle limits the problems of breaking needles.

I got this tip from Fons and Porter. When you are sitting at your machine, is your machine centered in front of where you are sitting, or are you sitting with the needle and presser foot directly in front of you. You should be looking down at the presser foot. If it is even a little to the right or left, this can cause your seams to get narrower or even wider at the end.

I have tried both ways. The only thing I was ever told was that if you put the pins in Horizontally, your fabric is less likely to shift or stretch. I can't tell the difference either way.

I place my pins horizontal to the edge and remove before the foot gets there(usually).

I don't use a lot of pins, but when I do pin, I place them horizontally.

This is what I do also! So easy and works so well. It's amazing how 'slippery' fabric can be isn't it? This keeps the fabric under control, and our nerves calmer!
By 'this' I mean I place my pins about an inch in from the edge of the fabric and parallel with the edge of the fabric. A much better way to pin since the fabric absolutely cannot slip and the quarter inch seam is always the same (top fabric and bottom fabric) and you can sail right along without pulling out pins (or sewing over them and breaking needles). More efficient for sure

Majormom, That is my feeling exactly. Thanks to all who answered this thread.

No, I may need to try that now. Thanks for the tip!

I place my pins in the fabric with the pin horizonal on the left side of the seam and just far enough away from the seam line that I don't have to remove the pins as I sew. I am self taught and didn't know anything about pinning joins/match points until I got on this board. Let me tell you it is very hard trying to undo 40 years of doing everything wrong. But I don't think I will ever change how I pin. Thanks for posting this. I will be watching everyone's answers.

Yes, darn it!!! Hmmm would putting a pin close to the end help prevent this?

Suzy

"Have you noticed how on some machines the feed dogs tend to pull the fabric to the left when you get to the end, making the seam narrow.... " Holice

What I do for this is slow down and place my finger on the left right next to the presser foot and hold the fabric with just a little pressure. This prevents the fabric from slipping and making a smaller seam at the end. Hope this helps.

I'll stick with pinning the seam line horizontally with fine pins making sure that only the tip of the pin is lined up with the seam just for the rare instance when I don't pull it out in time. Besides, it's far less annoying to pull pins out as I sew than to carefully unpile several feet of sewn fabric and retrieve a mess of pins before I can press what I just stitched.

I set a pin at the very end of the seam line and pull it out slowly at a slight upward angle to keep that last little bit of fabric from pulling to the left. Works every time. Enders work, too, but they're an extra step and extra thread.

I recently decided to switch to those fine extra long daisy or butterfly flat head pins, which are much more convenient to remove and work with-I try not to sew over the pins, however, I noticed I am CONSTANTLY getting stuck by them. I use them for making my purses, so I have to pin allot-I guess I am just not used to the length. I have to keep a tissue next to my machine to blot the blood! (sorry if that's too graphic!).

I pin vertically too and about an inch from the edge so I can just keep sewing.
Works really well specially if your fabric is well starched. If I'm matching seams
I stick a pin where the seam should meet and then put another pin vertically
and remove that first pin.

I pin Horizonal to the seam on the sewing line and remove pins before sewing over them. Also I was taught when matching seems do not pin directly on the seam but on either side since pinning on the seam will not make seam match but rather make it shift .