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?
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!!
ReplyDeleteI always pin... The more pins the better... Especially on biased edges to limit stretching when sewing pieces! Lesson learned and luckily without tears!!
ReplyDeleteI do pin. I should probably pin a little more than I do but I do pin!
ReplyDeleteI use them way less than I should! don't tell anyone.
ReplyDeleteI "finger" pin except when sewing borders...then I pin.
ReplyDeleteFor block pieces, I don't pin. For putting rows together…I pin a good bit to keep everything lining up.
ReplyDeleteI've always used pins! I just switched to using the super fin glass head pins and they are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI'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!
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.
ReplyDeleteglue stick, or elmer's school glue?
DeleteI get better results when I pin. And I plow right over my pins, rarely ever damaging them or my needle.
ReplyDeleteI usually pin on intersections, but not much other then that. I bought some glue to try, but haven't as of yet.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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!:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a pinner too! To me it would seem as though glue would take more effort.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pinner and for really picky blocks I've been known to use a little glue as well.
ReplyDeleteI'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! :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely 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!!
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteLove the colours you've used for this quilt!
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!
ReplyDeleteOh 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!
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI'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!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteI pin quite a bit. Not always with smaller piecing,but always with border and rows....the little extra time really pays off on those!
ReplyDeleteYes 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).
ReplyDeleteAlways 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.
ReplyDeleteYes, 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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 ;)
ReplyDeleteI 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