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Pins...remove or sew over?
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Posted by covehillsoaper (My Page) on Sun, Mar 5, 06 at 19:13
| When I bought my 'new' Viking sewing machine 25 years ago I was told I could sew over pins but have never done it until today. Still not sure if it is a good idea I was wondering what the general consensus on this is. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| I have sewn over pins for years when making clothes. I put them in at right angles to the edge of the fabric and go VERY slow when I get to a pin. I have also broken needles by hitting the pin just right or just wrong depending on how you look at it. The size of the pin can make a difference - ie diameter. Very fine silk pins are more likely to bend when hit. The needle isn't as likely to break BUT the pin & fabric may get wedged in the throat. The other end of the spectrum might be the big pins used in quilting. They're long & thick and don't give when hit. |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| Bernina USA (their American headquarters) says in an article entitled "10 Ways to Love Your Machine"..."Do not sew over pins. Not only will this blunt or dull the needle, it can also cause timing problems if the needle strikes a pin hard enough to affect the alignment of the needle bar." [the piece that hold the needle in place] I used to run over pins with my old Viking (circa early 1970's) but no more. You can also cause a burr on the bobbin case if a broken needle gets wedged under the throat plate. Just not worth the possible problems, IMHO, so I don't do it with my expensive Bernina artista 200. Mary |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| One drawback to sewing over pins is that it leaves a wiggle in the seamline - it's not as even as if you don't have the pin there. I place the pins so they are just outside the seam allowance - it lets me sew fast, doesn't break needles. If I have to pin in the seam allowance, I remove the pin as the needle reaches it ... broke WAY too many needles. |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| "I place the pins so they are just outside the seam allowance -" Do you mean perpendicular to the seam line? I've seen that method used. I think I like that idea. Do you pin to the left or the right of the stitching line? |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| It is SO not worth the hassle of a broken needle, I've had pins and broken bits wedged down the throat, tips of needles that got into the carpet and took FOREVER to find, and you WILL hit one sooner or later. Now, I remove the pins when I'm about 2-3" away from the needle. Also very good point about keeping the stitching even, the pin leaves a bump in the thread. If you are in a mega hurry and the project is nothing important then a line of pins (the kind with small heads) in the seam allowance parallel to the seam would be ok. But that method of pinning can distort a seam and I would not recommend it for clothing construction, especially on seams with a curve. Cheers,
AJ |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| That's it. I am going to continue my old way of pulling out the pins. Thanks guys. |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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covehill -
I put them perpendicular to the seamline. For a large piece, like a skirt, they are far enough out that I don't have to worry about removing them. Small or complex shapes need to have the pins close to the seam so things don't shift. That's when I remove them as I reach them. It doesn't matter ot me if they are left or right-facing ... I just make sure they are on TOP as I sew so I can reach them to remove them |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| I pin across the seam, makes it easy to pull the pin out just before it gets to the foot. I don't sew over pins - as mentioned before broken needles are not fun when looking for the broken bits nor when small bits flick into your eyes - once I was hit just below the eye. At the least it can bend or burr the tip, which in turn can snag and ruin your fabric. |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| It all depends upon the machine and year it was made. My Singer 6235 is made to sew over pins and says so in the manual. The old Lady Kenmore sewed over pins like a trouper as did the old Singers we used in junior high. We used fine silver dressmaker pins without a problem. The 6235 freaks out if it sees a horse-needle quilting pin. The older machines do not have a problem with pins and older sewers like me pin baste, press, sew, press to get through the seam faster and more accurately rather than sitting there sewing a bit, adjust, sew a bit, it's off so rip, repeat as necessary. I prefer to spend time pinning, fitting in, basting, press, sew, remove pins, press than ripping out because things weren't secured in place beforehand. My humble opinion is you get a more accurate seam pinning or basting ½" seams first--a little more work, a lot less ripping because of inaccuracies that always show up later where you don't want them to show up. Ripping out on dark fabric is no joy to do outside the fact you have to rip in the first place. Everyone knows I hate to rip. The newer machines do not cope with pins, period. The work-around is to pin perpendicular as always, just make sure the sharp end of the pin is to the right of the seam line and out of the line of fire. This makes it easier to sew an accurate seam quickly without constantly stopping to remove pins. The new Kenmore and Singer CE-200 love this method because they don't sew over pins, I'm happy because I can pin and get accuracy. |
RE: Pins...remove or sew over?
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| I always sewed over pins, until I heard someone (I think Martha Pullen) say that although machine companies said it was o.k. she had never seen a machine that was suppose to sew over pins. It is easier to take them out when I get to them than to change a broken needle. |
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