Warning about pins
 

Hi all,

I use standard quilting pins, Dritz maybe. I also store my fabric wrapped around cardboard similar to a quilting store. To keep the fabric on the board I pin it - like in the quilting store. I had some fabric for a bout a year - very nice quality fabric - and when I went to use it today, I found the pin rusted and stuck to the fabric. I got the pins out but now have little red rust dots.

I am Not happy. Fortunately I'm using this fabric to make a quilted bag for my brand new acrylic estension table and the rust dots are small but - heads up. This can happen.

Guessing the dye rusted the pins. The pins I use say steel - not stainless steel. I'm sure that would make a difference. I'll be pulling all the pins out of my fabric today and using clips to hold it in place instead.

Joann

I use the plastic shirt clips instead of pins. I hadn't thought about rust, but I knew I would stab myself if I used pins.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

those are pretty cool. wish i'd kept the ones I got once in awhile. thanks.

No, not so likely it was the dye causing the rust.
More likely it was humidity/dampness in the air.
Yes stainless steel is what you wanted vs. just steel pins.

Instead of pins, I use green painters tape.
The adhesive does not seem to leave the residue that many other adhesives can.
Plus, I can write right on the tape, noting the length of fabric.

So sorry that you have had this happen. A tough lesson to learn.

I used this method to store fabric for a while, but as it takes up more space (yes, that little foam board that is less than 1/4" thick, multiplied by hundreds, adds up!), I went to folding around a ruler. Anyhow, when I stored it that way, I used large, vinyl covered paper clips.

I buy stainless steel pins. They have never rusted but they will not work with a magnetic pin cushion. Japan is the world leader in manufacturing quality steel. Never pass up made in Japan pins or needles.
For fabric boards I don't use anything, the fabric stays on the board just fine after wrapping.

I fold all my fabrics with a ruler. No need to use pins, clips or anything else.

Jojk, Thank you for letting us know. I will be checking to see if I have done anything like that.

I put a UFO in my cedar chest and forgot it for more than two years. I did not see any spots, but the pins were difficult to pull out. I won't be doing that again.