Sunday, August 26, 2012

Good Pins, Bad Pins

I am a fusspot about my pins. I like them fine, sharp and magnetic. I hate the extra long pins with the frilly flower shaped heads. (They're also expensive.)
Because I like my pins very fine, they get bent, and I have to replace them.  I like having a full pin tin, so when I go shopping for pins, I buy a lot.

I needed pins, so I went shopping for them. There are lots of options, and I couldn't remember exactly what kind of pins I bought the last time, so I stood in front of the big display and tried to sort them out. I thought I found what I needed, and bought six packages.
These pins suck. They are magnetic, they are the right length, but they are too thick and they are DULL!!! I couldn't get them through two layers of cotton.  Now I have a lot of pins I can't use and I had to go BACK to the store because I needed pins. Yuk!

This time I was smart. I brought some batiks with me and opened various pin packages and TESTED them.  I tried bridal pins (nope), pleating pins (too long), various dressmaking pins (too dull), and even the Extra-Fine pins were too thick.

But these made the cut. They are Ultra-Fine glass head pins.  I am not a fan of big headed pins, and these are actually a bit too long, but they are nice and fine, and very sharp.

You don't believe me? Check this out... The Dressmaker's pin is on the right. The Ultra-Fine Glass Head pin is on the left.


Amazing, isn't it?  I've made a note of these "good pins" so the next time I have to buy pins, it should be a lot easier.

Here's a closeup. Yes, the difference is THAT big!


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the glass head pins. I use a lot of batiks and found these pins to be the best. And you don't have to worry about the iron melting the tops if you hit the pins by accident.

Mary said...

I'm like you. I have very definite preferences for particular pins. I like mine long and extremely thin.

Vicki W said...

I agree completely. I just buy them often and do not sweat a lot of bent pins. They are cheap!

LizA. said...

I'm with you....very fussy about my pins. I simply don't know how people can use those "nails". I've been using only those fine glass head pins for years. The other nice benefit to the glass head is that you can iron the without the head melting.

Julianne said...

Ha! I started cracking up when you said you were opening packages!! LOL! Get what cha want Lynn...hee hee!

Tonya Ricucci said...

I'm with ya. I think that's the kind I bought the last time too.

Marilyn said...

I like the quilt pins with the yellow daisy on the top. They are easy to find when I drop some on the floor. They seem to stay sharp for quite a while. When they are dull I throw them out.
That one pin you had looked like a nail. I can see why you wouldn't want to use it.
Have a good week.

Quiltdivajulie said...

When I find a product I like a lot (like pins), I snap a digital photo of the package. There's a special "album" on my phone for quick reference when I'm shopping.

eva said...

aha...
yes.....pins are an amazing annoyance when not just to our liking. i've bought several different kinds too over the years... finally just like you i found the 'good ones' so i cut the packaging label and taped it to the bottom of my container....for future reference....
yours look great!!
smooches to millie
xo
eva

Lori R. said...

Another kind of pins that are very, very good and fine (and expensive too) are the Clover brand fine patchwork pins.

Annie said...

I haven't bought pins lately, but I like the ones with glass heads. The ones you bought look nice except for the length. I'd like to find some similar, but shorter. Does such a thing exist?

Maddie Can Fly said...

I'm with you on the pins. I swear that some of them are actually square pointed! And it's almost gotten as bad with needles!

Jean said...

I need to find some of the long dressmaker pins. I love the glass head pins. Very sharp and thin.