Needles and Pins

Last on the list of essential supplies that every sewer should have are pin needles. Pin needles are kind of like temporary glue that hold together your sewing projects before you put the final glue (the thread) into the fabric. Believe it or not, there are several different types of pin needles and each are used for different things related to sewing. If you are just getting started out in the craft of sewing, please continue reading to find out more about the different types of pin needles and their uses.

One of the most common types of pin needles are the quilters pins. These pins typically have a colorful plastic ball on one end and the other end is sharp and pointy. Quilters pin needles come in a wide variety of lengths and can be used for several tasks. As the name suggests, quilting pin needles are often used to hold the squares of quilts in place before the quilt is sewn; however, these needles can also be used to hold hems in place and to attach fabric to a sewing pattern. I find that quilting pin needles are the most useful of all pin needles and I always have a supply in my sewing basket.

Another common type of needles that are commonly used for sewing are nickel plated pins. These pins are smooth and void of rough edges, making them ideal for use for holding together delicate fabrics like silk, rayon, spandex and knits, since they won’t damage the delicate fibers of these materials. If you are going to sew a garment with any type of delicate fabric, I highly suggest that you use a nickel plated pin to secure the garment before sewing instead of a standard pin, as a standard pin is far more likely to damage the material.

Patchwork pins are also another type of pin needle that sewers will find useful. These pins are exceptionally fine, so there is no need to press or pry to make them pass through fabric. They can be used to hold together fine fabrics, but since they are rather short in length, they are better used to secure appliqués or patchwork to a garment before sewing it in place.

If you are going to sew with a sewing machine, then you are going to need to get yourself sewing machine needles. These types of needles are made specifically for use with sewing machines. There are several types, lengths and widths of sewing machine needles and the type you use will depend on the project you are embarking on. Also, some sewing machines may only accept needles made specifically for the brand, so be advised of this when you are shopping for your needles.

Hand sewing is another popular form of sewing and more than likely, you will hand sew from time to time. For this type of sewing, hand use needles are required. These needles have eyes at the end to feed thread through and they tend to be a bit longer so that they can be easily used with the hand. These needles come in a wide variety of lengths and widths, and the type you use will depend on what you are using them for.

So, there you have it; a list of the most common types of sewing pin needles. If you are going to set yourself up for success in sewing, you are going to absolutely want to make sure that you have a supply of these needles on hand to ensure that you are prepared for your projects. There is nothing worse than starting a sewing project, only to find that you don’t have enough pin needles on hand to complete the task.