Originally Posted by feline fanatic

I pin perpendicular for piecing. I do it this way to align intersecting seams and usually put two pins at the intersection. I set my needle to stop in the down position and just before getting to the pin I stop and remove the pin, the needle down helps to prevent the fabric from shifting as I remove the pin and also allows me raise the presser foot if necessary. I do sew over them on occasion but I have hit pins dead on too many times which can cause multiple problems like broken needles or worse case, throw my machine out of timing. I never pin parallel to the seam.