When I tell students to sew over their pins, I get the look.
You know the one I mean, the one like you just got while reading this. I completely understand why students and other quilters feel like this, but give me a minute and I will explain.
For years you may have been told to not sew over the pins, that it could damage your machine, and in the interest of being transparent, if you sew over the wrong kind of pin, or that you hit the pin directly you could still risk causing damage. This is where I stand on the matter. I could just as much forget to change my 1/4 inch foot while trying to zig zag and do the same kind of damage. I am willing to take the risk for perfectly matched seams and points.
So let's talk about why and how I sew over the pins instead of taking them out. I am very particular about the pins I use. I like the very thin Patchwork pins from Clover, if i own one package I own, 100s ! The pin needs to be long to ensure that I can secure my pieces, and super thin so that I I like to pin both sides of my seams, to ensure when they go under the needle the seam won't flip, and that where I nested the seams together, will stay together.
If you take the time to line things up, nest things close, pin, pin, pin...... why remove the pin before getting it to the needle. Though I am not formally educated in sewing, I know what I see, and I often see students remove the pins wayyyyyyy tooooo early!
Removing the pin before the fabric goes under the foot leaves the full width of the foot for the fabric to move, the top and bottom layer to slip, or for the seam that is just slightly open to pull apart as it moves towards the needle, moves toward the stitch that will hold it together. If you leave the pin in the fabric right up to the level of the needle, you can either leave it in and sew over top of it, or you can stop, pull the pin out by the head and then continue to sew.
Now, if your pin is a big fat dressmaker pin with a big plastic ball on the end, you are certainly headed for a disastrous situation, where if the needle hits this thick pin, it will either, break the needle, sending parts of metal flying everywhere, it could partially bend the pin and break the needle all at once, or it can hit the pin head on… ouch!
Do I always use pins - No
Do I own lots of different kinds of pins - of course I do !
Do I always sew over the pins, nope!
The pins I use for each project can vary. I use my favorite very thin pins for piecing quilts and making seams match perfectly. I like no pins when just strip piecing, or adding pieces that will be trimmed to size, I have discovered small applique pins for hand work, and i like big meaty dress maker pins for holding patterns to fabric in making aprons ect. I sew over little pins when I want my pieces to match exactly and get perfect points... the rest, I leave to the fate of the sewing gods.... or to the IDT on my PFAFF!
Remember that you can always pull the pin our right before you get to the pin, just don't take it out before you at least get under the foot!
Helping you make memories, one stitch at a time!
