I think I need a little advice. I have been using an old singer machine which sews over needles. I just bought a new Janome computerized machine and can someone tell me if I can pin my fabric then sew over the pins like I did with the singer. I know the new machine can only take plastic bobbins and wondered if pins might screw it up or something...thanks all.

Everyone is probably going to tell you the same thing.... DON'T sew over pins! It can damage the innards of your machine. That said, I do sew over pins on my 20 year old Pfaff but they're the very thin flower head pins and I go very slowly over them.

Now we'll see what everyone else has to say, huh? :-)

I sew over them, but only if I have to at a tricky intsection. I have an older Bernina, no computer.

Mine is not computerized.

It can throw the timing off is what I was told... so to me it is not worth a repair bill...

Thank you ladies....I think I will take Amma's advice and not take the chance. The machine does everything but salute me when I sit down, so I am not going to chance it. thanks

I stopped sewing over pins when the needle hit one and sent a piece of the needle flying into my face.

If I want to sew over something before I remove the pin, I stop sewing before I get to the pin and sew over it manually (using the hand wheel on the right of the machine). Hitting a pin can lock up a computerized machine. Want to know how I know?! :shock: :lol: :shock:

Congratulations on your new machine! :-D :-D :-D

I have an old computerized sewing machine and they told me never to sew over pins as it can throw the timing and everything off

I try not to sew over pins. It dulls my needle and throws my machines timing off. Keep in mind I said I try not to. I have on occasion.

I use the very fine pins, and at tricky intersections I do sew over pins, but very, very slowly and by hand to be sure I won't hit it. It does throw your machine off time. The older ones can take it, but our fancy schmancy spoiled little computerized babies cannot! Hummm, kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it???

I remember learning to sew back in the day and we were taught to sew over the pins. I learned on a treadle! I still sew over pins with my old trusty singer and my new old trusty treadle. The old trusty singer I've had for over 40 years and have never had the first problem with it.

I have a Janome 6600 and I sew over pins all the time. NOW I do use a thinner pin and I place them a little to the left.

PS I am only running my machine at between one third and one half speed and I never do it at the start of a seam.

You mean you're suppose to pull'em out before sewing over...
might have to try that, (ya right) but I do at times have to change that broken needle :) only time I've killed the timing is when sewing somthing toooo thick.

I have found that I can sew over pins on my cheap brother but my big brother 1500 doesn't like them AT ALL! I showed it, I quit using it for piecing! lol

I try not to sew over pins of any kind. I have a Janome, nothing fancy, but I don't want to damage my machine.

I have 10 machines: 1 long-arm, 3 singers (1953, 1955 and one I bought 4 years ago brand new), 1 Singer treaddle, 2 Brothers and varied others, 4 sergers, 1 Professional Zig-Zag from like 1940-ish and I have NEVER sewn over a pin. Not once. I've always feared doing it. I've seen people do it but I know I'll do it and break something. But I've heard not to sew over a pin on the new ones because it will knock off your timing.

On the newer machines I'd try not to sew over pins. They don't make 'em like they used to!

I remember clearly in Home Ec class in 1962 that we were taught to sew over pins on the Singer machines we used. Funny that these new fangled fancy machines can't do it!
P.S. I don't sew over them anymore since I bought my new fangled fancy machine.

the "official" answer is that we shouldn't sew over pins. even if your machine can take the lickin', hitting a pin can damage or break a needle. and, as somebody already pointed out, it's a serious safety hazard.

i'll give you three guesses who sews over her pins anyway. and she has two fancy shmancy machines.

i'll give you three more guesses who has gotten very good at digging bent pins out of the bobbin area.

three more to figure out who has knots in her stomach every time - wondering if this will be the time she has to take the baby into the shop.

:roll: :lol:

I had a nice viking machine and use to sew over pins but I do not do that anymore after hitting a pin and twisted the shaft. For the cost of the repair it wasn't worth fixing it.

Yeah - I sew over pins. 1936 Singer 221. Yes, it can be dangerous to me and to the needle - but not to the machine. Following the rules really isn't as much fun as it's cracked up to be. I keep extra needles handy and remove as many as I remember to.

If it's a tricky seam, I may "walk" the machine over the pin, but I don't sew over them. In a class I recently took, the lady said that you can also dull your needle by barely scraping past the pin. It's not worth it.

I sew over pins all the time on my Janome Excel all the time I've hit the occasional pin. I dont on the Janome 9700 but thats more cause I dont use it that often for normal sewing. I actually was told I couldnt/shouldnt use interfacing as backing on my embroidery because it would damage the machine .. funny cause its also a sewing machine so how come I can use it in collars and such but not with embroidery.. Me thinks there is a lot of myths going around :)

I try not to sew over pins, it breaks needles and harms the machine. Like someone else said, one of the few I accidentally went over broke the pin and it hit me in the forehead. Not worth it.

People who sew over pins have two eyes so they don't mind losing one...

I wear glasses ;)

I try not to sew over them. Today, however, I sewed a flower head pin to the fabric, I mean several stitches! Didn't even break the needle! Of course, I had to pick all the stitches out and get it....

Ditto all of the above so I quit doing it on my last quilt. I had already started drying out but had a 5" strip pinned, was tired and just wanted to be done. Pop goes the needle! The straight pin was inserted at a slant. The walking foot hates them too, I think. No, I quit. I will hand crank if I have a tight spot but that will be my exception.

I sew over my pins too. I always knew not too, but didn't know why until now. I remember running over a pin, it split and machine stopped. Could not find half of the needle when broke. The needle was in bedded in fabric but portion of the pin broke too. A piece of it was down in the bobbin case. I quit for the night. This usually happens if I'm getting to tired and not paying attention. So I watch myself now.

My mother was a seamstress,she taught me to remove the pin before sewing. :roll: I keep a magnet in a cup, gule on and place my pins in. That way if my fabric hits them they stay in the cap and not on the floor. :oops: I only have and old brother sewing machine. Happy sewing .

Someone who likes living by the seat of her pants? haha
I think I'm very glad I have a good old Singer to sew with and I won't worry about any of these problems.

I dont have the budget to include needles,pins and repairs on the sewing machine,or ER fees,definetly not a dermatologist or optometrist. Lol Needless to say I dont sew over pins.

SAFETY FIRST!!!TRIPS TO THE ER REALLY CUTS INTO SEWING/QUILTING TIME!!! one time i decided to leave in the pins, was told at the sewing machine shop that my new viking was ok to sew over pins...needle hit one, needle broke, flew right up and hit me in the eye...no permenent damage but pretty scary occurance...now, i wear my glasses...and NEVER SEW OVER PINS! and the dealer no longer tells customers it's ok to do it either.

I do not sew over pins. I have computerized Bernina machines. I don't know if sewing over a pin can damage a machine.(?) (Maybe a question for your dealer to answer) But my concern has always been breaking a needle while sewing over pins. And thinking about a piece of the needle flying up and getting in my eye. Maybe I'm just being over caucious. :)
I guess this would be an individuals decision whether to or not to sew over needles.

I was told I could sew over pins, but I wont take the chance either. Could mess up the timing and also blunts needle.

I try not to, but I didnt know it could hurt a computerized machine, good to know!

Years ago I sewed over pins with no trouble. Nowdays the machines have plastic and such and it can be costly to sew over pins. Sometimes I pin but take it out before I get right there.

I have a QC 1000 from Brother and I sew over pins (very thin) most of the time. If your machine adjusts automatically for different thickness of fabric you should only run into trouble when the needle actually hits directly on a pin while sewing. This has happened to me once in a blue moon. Slow down when reaching a pin to adjust and you should have no problems. I have been using this same machine for 3 years now. Also, make sure to read your instruction manual. :-D