Sunday, March 30, 2014

pins


Do you use pins? Up until recently I almost never used pins but I think I might finally understand the allure. I just finished sewing my largest quilt thus far and decided to try pinning the rows and wow, it really makes it so much easier! 


So, what about you? Do you pin when quilting? Sometimes, always, never? Do you have any tips? How about glue basting? 

37 comments:

  1. Um, wait, have you never used them before?? Crazy! I do without them whenever I can, but they are definitely necessary for matching seams. Also helpful for joining longer pieces, otherwise rippling can sometimes happen, and nobody likes that!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I always pin... The more pins the better... Especially on biased edges to limit stretching when sewing pieces! Lesson learned and luckily without tears!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I do pin. I should probably pin a little more than I do but I do pin!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I use them way less than I should! don't tell anyone.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I "finger" pin except when sewing borders...then I pin.

    ReplyDelete
  6. For block pieces, I don't pin. For putting rows together…I pin a good bit to keep everything lining up.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've always used pins! I just switched to using the super fin glass head pins and they are awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't use pin for piecing blocks, but always for sewing rows or joining seams between blocks. It reduces my seam ripping and general frustration.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hate pinning... so I'm careful about where and when to do it. Two straight pieces the same length, none needed. Piecing a corner that needs to match up.. yep.

    I've just started discarding pins that don't go in easily... realized that I've had some pins since I was 10... 27 year old pins don't cut it... or pin it...?

    I pin baste too, if it's not too big. I'm too lazy to sew-baste quilts... and hate puckering. I've heard that there's some good quilting adhesive spray to try. I've got to get out and get that.!!

    This is a good discussion question.. I'm curious about how people do this. I recently went to pattern weights, not pins for that, and wonder what else I can get out of pinning!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I pin anything longer than 2". I just finished my first quil top using glue. It was the best. So fast and accurate. I am sold on it and will keep using glue as my go to process.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I get better results when I pin. And I plow right over my pins, rarely ever damaging them or my needle.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I usually pin on intersections, but not much other then that. I bought some glue to try, but haven't as of yet.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't pin small tings but everything else I do, in fact I now put more in than ever. I usually sew right over them without a problem.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I always pin, I don't mind the extra time it takes...and not only I pin but I sew over them constantly (but slowly). It is well worth the extra time. I am a pinner!:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a pinner too! To me it would seem as though glue would take more effort.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a pinner and for really picky blocks I've been known to use a little glue as well.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm like you, I hate pinning...only pin when I have to. Long rows etc. I despise pin basting. I use spray to baste. Pinning makes me crazy. ;) Funny how we are all different! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Absolutely I pin!! Well, anything over about 6" and all the time when matching seams. I use fine glass head pins - some of those quilting pins are too thick. The bonus is that you can iron over them which can come in handy sometimes!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I pin when piecing and occasionally when longarming and I need to "spread the wealth" a bit! I love the long, thin glass head pins for piecing. I enjoy paper piecing because I don't have to pin then!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love glue basting for binding. It works so well and makes everything go and lie so smoothly. I pin tricky blocks, like paper piecing. Or pin blocks when pieces need to line up exactly. I would pin together rows in a quilt especially if they need to line up. I prefer to spray baste for quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I try to pin most of the time because it really does help but for strip piecing I find I can do without the pins. And I stitch over the pins too...yikes, apparently a big no no, as I've discovered with many a broken needle!
    Love the colours you've used for this quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have never used glue but I would like to try it. I always pin. I honestly don't know how people end up with a pretty project with nesting seams if they don't pin. It takes me less time to pin than it does to un-stitch so I pin!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh yes I pin profusely! I even wrote an ode to it a while back. :) Search "Why pin?" on my blog if you're so inclined!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I hate pinning, but I will on longer pieces with seams to match. I've never glued - doesn't appeal to me, but I should probably try it. For binding, I use Clover clips. Easier than pins!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I pin when I want things to match up or when I need to ease in a little extra fullness on one side. Other than that I don't pin.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am kind of a crazy OCD pinner. Mostly because I don't want to have to worry about lining up the fabric at my sewing machine. I seriously pin everything.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've become a pretty big fan of adhesive basting spray which I now use on just about everything. I'll sometimes add pins to the center and corners of my quilts to anchor everything, but that spray makes things so much easier!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I don't pin much. I learned a method for curves without pinning that has worked fine so far. I debate whether the amount of time is the same: pinning long strips or stopping to fiddle to keep the edges together. I have never timed it to check, though. I don't have enough ventilation to spray baste. When doing quilting sandwiches I pin if I am going to machine quilt and sew baste if I am going to hand quilt--too much moving of pins when moving hoop.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I pin when piecing rows, to help keep those seems aligned, but I rarely pin when piecing blocks. I always used to pin, but after a few years of quilting, found it was only needed for the longer pieces. I plan on trying glue basting, but haven't yet. I use spray basting for quilting too.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I try to avoid pinning, but they are quite useful for long borders. I have never tried glue or spray basting. I do pin baste all my quilts!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I pin quite a bit. Not always with smaller piecing,but always with border and rows....the little extra time really pays off on those!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yes and No. I use really thin pins meant for silk and only, only when absolutely necessary. I like "not" pinning and using my fingertips to tell that things are lined up properly. I will rip out when necessary (not too often).

    ReplyDelete
  33. Always for long pieces, joining rows, adding borders etc. I can only make my points look really good if I pin them carefully, usually with fork pins. I never pin if it's two small pieces of a block going together. I don't pin my binding on first, which has meant I've ended up with joins at the corners.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Yes, I usually pin. I use those Clover glass head pins (you can get them on Amazon) and they really made a difference once I got good at piecing. It just took some time and practice for me.

    I also pin both vertical and horizontal, especially for long pieces. Vertical pinning keeps the fabric from shifting side to side, and the horizontal pins keep the fabric from shifting up/down. A friend showed me once.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I use a ton of pins. But I also don't have (or know about most) 'new' tools. I inherited my grandmother's and great-grandmother's stash and notions and have basically just been winging it since! They pinned, so I pin ;)

    ReplyDelete
  36. I use a ton of pins. But I also don't have (or know about most) 'new' tools. I inherited my grandmother's and great-grandmother's stash and notions and have basically just been winging it since! They pinned, so I pin ;)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting!