I like the longest pins with yellow or white heads from JoAnns. Works for me.

I would use the pins with flat ends,but you might want to use pin more. They are sm pieces of spongy silicone made for quilters who need to pin their quilts for stitching by hand or machine.They work wonders. You put the needle through the needle and stick the sm piece on the end.When you pull the needle they self seal so you never have to replace them. A lady invented them because she has hand problems and couldnt use a safety pin to attach the three layers together.You can now see them in some quilting books.Nancy Notions sells them.

I like the thin pins about an inch and a half long with the small white bead heads and the tiny applique pins. Welcome to the boards fellow Nebraskan.

I use pins all the time - the only ones I use are

http://www.clover-usa.com/product/69...ins_%28Fine%29

or their equivalent in size. The reason I like them is that they are nice and long, strong enough to go through layers and are still fine (small shaft).

They are also iron proof!! Glass heads

my favorite pins are the clover extra fine flower head pins. they are blue. they are sharp and long enough.

My favorite - flat head flower pins.

The Clover flower head FINE pins are absolutely the best. They have light blue on one side and medium blue on the other. They glide into the fabric and don't distort it. Worth every penny.
SandyQuilter (not sandyquilts)

I had a wool pin cushion years ago but haven't been able to find them now. Where did you get yours?

I started using the flat flower head pins when making a OBW. I continue to use them for just about everything now though. I have discovered that there are different sizes of the pin shaft. I got a package as a gift and these are thicker, not so easy to use. They don't bend as easily however. I also have some glass headed pins that have a thin shaft but aren't as long as the flower head pins. These also are nice to use, especially if pressing over them - no chance of melting the head.

Same here, including sewing over the flower. :)