i'm one of those who Always *tries* to play safe!!! so, i remove pins...I missed one once- my needle hit it, the needle broke, a piece of it flew up & stick right in the center of my glasses...if i had not been wearing glasses i would have had that piece of needle right in my eyeball....now just the thought of not pulling a pin terrifies me...and if i have any one in for classes or just for a sewing day i make sure they understand it does not take any time to slow down & remove pins as you go---once there is an injury it's not fun any more...not to mention all the machine repairs people have had due to throwing off their timing from running over pins...a very costly-dangerous bad habit to get into....and i started sewing way back in 1965 in 4-H...made clothes for 40+ years...we were taught to ALways remove pins...it was not an acceptable action back then either.

I generally take them out but on occasion I miss one and it only takes one "clunk" to bring me back to reality. The old Singer used to go in for timing issues all the time when I would hit a needle - fortunately the Baby Lock is not that easy to rattle.

I don't sew over pins, you have to take them out anyways so why not do it as you are going along...

You are absolutely right, I too was taught to sew over pins. I decided not to do it after my sewing machine needle caused a pin to break and the sharp point missed my eye by about 2 inches.


QUOTE=Stitchnripper;5979365]I seem to remember when I learned to sew a hundred years ago, we went over the pins. Of course maybe that we were using what are now "vintage" singers and nothing electronic or computerized had something to do with it. Or not. Will wait to hear what everyone has to say.[/QUOTE]

I must be lazy in some way or another. When I'm pinning pieces together, I sew over my pin's. Have broken a few needles. But I'm afraid if I come to joining pieces that are pinned, they wont have that close butting up look. Like I said, Im a little lazy, I don't want to stop everytime I come to a pin.

Well, when you break the needle going over that pin it takes time to remove everything and then put in a new needle and begin again....and if you guide you seam correctly and have those seams "snuggled" the correct way those seams will meet like bread and butter.

Ever try setting in a sleeve without sewing over pins? It's hard to do. But since I just quilt now and found out about Elmers washable glue, I'm gradually kicking the "over the pins sewing":)

After watching many of the quilting shows lately, I notice the trend is not pinning. Butt up, lock, snuggle...no pins. Made me want a new sewing machine. I fear the needle in the eye and remove pins.

I took sewing classes all through junior high and high school. All three of my teachers told us to sew over pins. That was long before computerized sewing machines. And it seems that the older machines are better at jumping those pins. I still take the chance with my computerized machines if its a tricky seam. Its hard to break the old habits.

I watched that and rewatched it after it looked to me like she went over the pins. After seeing it a second time, I don't think she went over the pins. The pins are out of the seam allowance. IMHO I love her hint about moving the pins back. Don't know why I didn't think of it before.