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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: mikecox
Date: 09-14-2003, 01:04 PM (1 of 26)
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I have been told "you don't have to pull the pins while sewing" by sales persons who are advocation for the sewing maching they want to sell me. Is that true, or just not a good habit to get into? I have noticed that I am able to get away with it, most of the time, but sometimes the material doesn't feed though evenly. That seems to be the worse that has happened. But I usually pull the pins out before they get to the foot, rather than take a chance. What do most people do about the pins? Michael
In San Diego |
User: mikecox
Member since: 09-08-2003 Total posts: 42 |
From: dmoses
Date: 09-14-2003, 01:10 PM (2 of 26)
I believe that sewing over pins is unsafe, and it is better to be safe than sorry. Why ask for trouble? 
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: mikecox
Date: 09-14-2003, 01:25 PM (3 of 26)
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Hmm, hadn't considered that point, which is certainly a good one. Thanks
Michael
In San Diego |
User: mikecox
Member since: 09-08-2003 Total posts: 42 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 09-14-2003, 01:32 PM (4 of 26)
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Personally I never sew over pins. I find it not only shifts the material but if you hit them just right you will break a needle or bend your pins. All of the TV personalities sewing experts also stress that pins should be removed before you sew. It's probably not a huge problem but you have to remove the pins anyway, why not before you sew? 
I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: maps
Date: 09-14-2003, 02:25 PM (5 of 26)
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i always take my pins out, always...
Marge
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User: maps
Member since: 06-18-2003 Total posts: 152 
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From: mikecox
Date: 09-14-2003, 02:38 PM (6 of 26)
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This is such a great board! So very Active! A great improvement over that "other" sewing board I tried.
Michael
In San Diego |
User: mikecox
Member since: 09-08-2003 Total posts: 42 |
From: Raine
Date: 09-14-2003, 04:16 PM (7 of 26)
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Always, always, always remove the pins!! You can mess up the timing on your machine or bend or break the machine needle. Alex Anderson on Simply Quilts once said she used to sew over pins until she ruined her sewing machine. Happy Sewing! Raine |
User: Raine
Member since: 04-19-2000 Total posts: 259 
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From: chiloGod
Date: 09-14-2003, 10:39 PM (8 of 26)
| Remove them! I sewed over pins before and ran into a problem. The pin got stuck in the feed dogs and it could have ruined my machine, but thank God it didn't. |
User: chiloGod
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 65 
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From: mamahoogie
Date: 09-14-2003, 10:58 PM (9 of 26)
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This is off topic but "cute kids chiloGod". p.s. I've already put my 2 cents in on the pin issue. I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 09-14-2003, 11:22 PM (10 of 26)
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It's easier to pull the pins than replace the needle -- or worse. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MaryW
Date: 09-15-2003, 08:28 AM (11 of 26)
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I can't imagine that sewing over pins does a machine any good at all. I have always pulled them out. I did see a demonstration on TV once where the lady sailed right over them, I just cringed.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: sewingrandma
Date: 09-15-2003, 07:29 PM (12 of 26)
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Always pull out the pins. Ever been hit in the face with a broken pin or needle. I have when I was a novice sewing many years ago. Still have the scar. Other than safey it does mess up the timing and you have to go fishing for broken needles and pins if they drop into your machine. So much cheaper to remove them.
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-15-2003, 07:37 PM (13 of 26)
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If you will all pardon me for showing my age, I will tell you how this all got started.. Back in the 50's someone in the sewing machine business invented a new gadget.. He called it a 'hinged presser foot'. It would flex up and down where it was attached to the shank. Everybody came out with one for their sewing machines. It was the greatest invention since sliced bread. The Home Ec teachers even started teaching their students that basting was no longer necessary on 'all' seams. We were allowed to pin straight seams as long as they were pinned perpinducular. The head of the pin was pinned on the opposite side that people use now.. (remember, this was a brand new procedure) In other words pins were pinned with the head of the pin on the left side of the seam line. You then sewed over the pins and then took the pins out after you were through.Worked well as long as you did not push the pedal all the way down to the floor. This was done for a good long while until the computerized machines came along. That is when it got really dangerous to sew over pins. The timing is too delicate with a computer and as has been stated above several times better safe than sorry. So the pins are placed right to left now, so that you can grasp them easier to remove as you come to them and you only slow down, and don't have to stop to remove them. As much as I loved not having to baste, I had no trouble "un-learning" to sew over pins and to remove them as I got to them instead.. I have seen a few instructors on TV leave them in, but they are older than I am and I guess they are too set in their ways... After all, I'm only 69..... 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Magot
Date: 09-16-2003, 10:18 AM (14 of 26)
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Gee Libby, I'm one of those people who always sew over pins.. I hate basting - I'll do it for zips and sleeves but I pin with the head to the left and take 'em out after, (Pins always perpendicular to the seam) My machine just hops over them. Perhaps I have to be a big girl now and take my pins out.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: mikecox
Date: 09-16-2003, 11:17 AM (15 of 26)
What a great explaination Libby. Thanks, it was like a little history lesson. I loved it. 
Michael
In San Diego |
User: mikecox
Member since: 09-08-2003 Total posts: 42 |
From: weezie
Date: 09-21-2003, 11:53 PM (16 of 26)
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Several good points have been stated as to why it's better to take out the pins but the best reason beyond the chance of throwing your machine out of wack is the possible loss of eyesight.It is possible for a pin to snap if hit by your needle as you are speeding along and for that small piece to bury itself in your eye. I don't think the few seconds that it takes to remove the pin are too much time to safe guard your eyesight.
weezie
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User: weezie
Member since: 01-01-2002 Total posts: 34 |
From: gm23237
Date: 12-01-2003, 05:45 PM (17 of 26)
| I never sew over pins until today LOL. I was serging a placemat an ran into a pin. My serger, just about 4 weeks old, is now in the shop being repaired. Never will I sew over pins again. I usually do not even use pins, not sure what got into me this morning????? but, lesson learned. |
User: gm23237
Member since: 11-03-2003 Total posts: 145 
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From: james.diane
Date: 12-01-2003, 09:30 PM (18 of 26)
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Take the pins out! I also used to sew over pins but stopped after a broken needle got jammed in my machine. You have to take them out anyway, why risk damaging your machine?
Diane :)
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User: james.diane
Member since: 09-23-2003 Total posts: 100 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 12-02-2003, 12:34 PM (19 of 26)
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Weezie, Never, Never sew over pins with a serger... I can imagine that your serger will have a long stay in the shop... In the old days, mechanical sewing machines had to have a hinged presser foot to sew over pins.. Sergers do not have this, and besides the pins will mess up the loopers and the knives... 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: Mary Jane
Date: 12-03-2003, 04:40 PM (20 of 26)
| My Mother gave me her feather weight Singer and at the time she said, the machine is really great, you can sew over pins. I wonder if Singer used it as a selling point? The only benefit I can think of it one can sew faster without stoping to take them out and it hold the material in place better. But, maybe that is not really the case? I was taught not to sew over pins because they can break and fly into your eye. Luckily I wear glasses, saving my eyes from pins. I wonder if I could sew over pins with the feather weight machine? The problem is I don't use the feather weight because I need help to thread it. I am planning to use it some day, when I can get some help with the tension disc. It is much harder to thread then my modern machine. |
User: Mary Jane
Member since: 11-15-2003 Total posts: 13
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From: MartySews
Date: 12-03-2003, 11:20 PM (21 of 26)
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I have been sewing for over 40 years and was always taught NOT to sew over pins. First of all, it is a hazard to your eyes and to your machine. If the needle hits the pin, then a bit can break off and wedge into your machine requiring a repair bill or a doctor bill if it hits you in the eye. The second reason is that sewing over pins affects the stitch quality and the timing of the machine. This again requires another repair bill. The third reason is that it will dull, bend or break your needle which can harm your machine if bits of the needle becomes stuck in the bobbin case. I have used mechanical, electric and computerized sewing machines and sergers and do not recommend sewing over pins at all. If you need to have the fabric held together, try basting it before sewing. It takes a bit of extra time but well worth it in the long run. The sales clerk at the dealership may or may not know very much about sewing but from experience, I can tell you it is a good idea to remove the pins before sewing your seams. Happy Stitching! Marty It takes one moment to change a life.
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User: MartySews
Member since: 02-23-2003 Total posts: 504
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From: gm23237
Date: 12-04-2003, 07:43 AM (22 of 26)
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I like your reasoning there Marty! If you read my earlier post you know I am waiting for my serger to come back fron the repair shop now. I have never used pins and instead of them I have used that iron on seam tape to hold the seams until I have sewn them. It works well. I have been sewing for about 25 years or so and I never used pins except as a marker now and then for heming and until I started a seam them I removed them all at once and did my sewing. This board is fabulous and I have learned a lot from the people that post. Thanks to all!!!!! Peace |
User: gm23237
Member since: 11-03-2003 Total posts: 145
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From: mikecox
Date: 12-04-2003, 03:06 PM (23 of 26)
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Originally posted by gm23237 used that iron on seam tape to hold the seams until I have sewn them. Just when I decided this thread, in response to my original question on the subject, was getting tired and redundent; and I was going to stop following it, I read your post and learned something new What a great idea, I'm going to try it. Thanks ps And I plan to continue following this thread; I might learn something new 
Michael
In San Diego |
User: mikecox
Member since: 09-08-2003 Total posts: 42 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 12-04-2003, 06:44 PM (24 of 26)
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Mike , you can tell some of the people did not read the start of the thread, and do not know that in the beginning the machine companies all advertised this as the newest method. (sewing over pins).. I guess nobody else is as old as I am, so nobody else remembers that.. My Featherweight Portable has a hinged presser foot to this day and it is the original one.. I have never had to replace any parts on that dear machine which I bought used in 1957.. I started sewing in 1949 and was taught by a pro to sew over pins..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: gm23237
Date: 12-06-2003, 05:03 PM (25 of 26)
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Libby, I got my serger back in just two days! Luckily we have a very good repair shop on the southside of Richmond, Va. The mechanic said he had to clean the machine and make some adjustments and then sharpen the cutters. I got off with a bill of just $69.95 but still that was an expensive pin! LOL Happy Holidays everyone!!! |
User: gm23237
Member since: 11-03-2003 Total posts: 145
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 12-06-2003, 07:44 PM (26 of 26)
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You know, I can just imaging one of the knives hitting a pin and sending part of it flying... Maybe into an eye or something.. That could be awful.. I'm glad my instruction book told me not to do that..Glad you have your serger back ..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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