Pins, pins, pins!
 

I've been searching for half an hour and to no avail! Which pins do the best job when piecing? I don't need advice on how to choose a pin, just tell me what pin works best for you. I've tried many, but still think there must be something that works really well. Help!

I like the long, thin, flat, flower head pins.

silk pins with glass heads...go in smooth

Sometimes I use a flat flower-head, other times I prefer a sharper pin. Sometimes I want it longer, sometimes shorter. It all depends on the application.

These are my faves. They are very sharp, thin shafts. I keep mine in one of those wool pin cushions to keep them "lanolinized" to prevent rust. They are $11.95 at Amazon, where I got this picture.
http://www.createforless.com/Clover+...FYZaMgodGSsAhw

Jan in VA

The smaller the shaft diameter the better. Easier to get through the fabric layers and also does not distort the fabric at seam joints nearly as much.

I like the long (1 1/2 inch) glass head pins, but I rarely pin anything.
Sue

I've almost stopped using pins. I switched to the red binding clips and find my seams lay flatter when sewing. I do use a long, sharp flower head pin to match the points of triangles (put straight in, perpendicular, to the block) then put a clip on each side close to the pin, remove the pin, then sew. The clips slide off easily as I get to them and I'm not pulling pins out and moving the fabric. The clips also have a 1/4" mark on them so I can double check my seam allowance.
I primarily paper piece and was bending pins and distorting my pieces until I started using the little clips. Now I use them even when not paper piecing.

I too rarely pin anything anymore unless prepping lots of pieces prior to a project that I intend to travel with to a meeting. I have lots of pins in different sizes. I have the ones with the flat, flower heads on them. The typical ones that you used to see mom use, and all of them I have in different sizes to fit whatever I am working on. Just try some out and see what works best for you.

The flat flower head pins for sure!!

My favorites are the long ones with yellow ball heads

I rarely pin, but when I do I use the flat head flower pins. More important than the pins, I think, is how you use them. I do not pin at a 90 degree angle from the edge of the fabric. Instead I pin seams at a 45 degree angle, with the pin going in lower on the edge and angled up to the left. This allows me to sew closer to the seam intersection and actually catch the seam allowances before I slide out the pin, not so much by pulling it,but by holding onto it as the feed dogs pull the fabric away from me. Try it - you'll like it!

The only time I use pins is when matching seams. Otherwise, I don't pin. It's easier to be able to adjust the edges while sewing. Sometimes when I use pins the fabric tends to "bubble" while sewing. When I do use pins, I prefer the flat flower headed pins.

My favorites are the long ones with the yellow pinheads....easy to use and easy to find if any should fall on the floor. Next I LOVE the little red Clover clips; they are perfect for lining things up and folding down the binding from front to the back.

For piecing, I like Clover 2507. The are very fine and therefore more fragile than
most other pins. I wouldn't use it on heavy fabric or multiple layers. They bend
easily and are pricey but I wouldn't be without them.

Clover glass head pins or IBC pins from Clothilde. I use the flower head pins a lot too. If I have to push a pin through fabric I toss it. A pin should glide right in.

I prefer the flower head pins too.

These are my favorites too! I like that they are thin, sharp and wee bit flexible. I've had mine for many years. These also tout that they are melt proof http://www.joann.com/dritz-flat-flow...kg/xprd315862/

Although I don't pin often - perhaps not as much as I should, lol - when I do, I prefer glass-headed pins, but not the ones that are super long. I'm not sure why, but I have an aversion the plastic flower ones.

Thanks, everyone! I am OC, and want everything to be perfect, including points, seams, etc. I pin everything, and am looking for the right pin for every occasion. :)

Thin pins are my favorites, unfortunately most pins in the stores are like spikes. Too thick and not very sharp. Most of my favorites have been hit by the needle too many times and are very rough.

I use silk pins with the small metal heads mostly.

I like the small thin pins with the different colored heads. I think they are called dressmaker pins. They are a slim pin and go in really easily. I use the plastic flower head pins when pinning the quilt back to the quilting table.

I have several boxes of the pins with metal heads. Don't like them, I also have a lot of the long yellow quilting pins hardly ever use them, then I have a lot of T pins. Never use them anymore.

Glass head pins!

Can you please show me what the clips look like.

I use those too! I also use the flower head pins because they were thinner than the others I have used but the Clover ones are great! They don't distort the seams like some of the others do. I got mine from JHittle.

Me too! They stay sharp and the heads do not melt if you iron over them. I have been using them for over 30 years.

I don't pin either... I find Elmer's washable School Glue works better for anything pins used to do. And I never stick myself with glue!

I use to use the yellow head pins without much luck. One day my instructor suggested I use a smaller shaft pin and I have been very happy with the results.

flower heard pins for the reasons noted above but also because the size of the head makes them easier to find.

For me, there is not one pin that works for everything. I have about 4 kinds that I use all the time for different things. The newest ones i fell in love with are the double shaft pins that you use for pinning on each side when match seams. Don't know why it took so long for someone to invent those but I'm very glad they did.

That's my choice too!

I watched Sally Collins video PRECISION PIECING on "The Quilt Show". She recommended Clover Patchwork Pins (Fine). I sent for some and they were great! I also went to her website and ordered her CD Precision Piecing so I could review her suggestions whenever I wanted. I am starting a Jinny Beyer quilt and I intend to pin as I go per Sally's instructions. http://www.sallycollins.org
http://www.createforless.com/Clover+.../pid50265.aspx

I, too have stopped pinning and have started using Elmer's school glue. I just finished Mirror, Mirror and I bet there's not one seam that doesn't match thanks to Elmers! Fantastic stuff.

I mostly use the long, skinny glass head pins from clove, but if I'm pining something heavy duty I use the flower head pins.

I like the flower head pins as well. They lay nice and flat and are easy to take in and out.

This thread has convinced me I should give the flower head pins a try. I usually use the dressmaker pins with the different colored heads but I don't have the dexterity in my hands I used to have and sometimes they are hard to get hold of.

I like the flat flower head pins the best. BTW, the butterfly pins are not the same; the shaft is thicker and don't work as well.

I use the 1,1/2 inch curved saftey pins for top pinning for FMQ'ing. For just pinning pieces together...I use 1,1/4 in straight pins.