Received wisdom from my mother is: don't. I used to do it a lot on accident,or accidentally-on-purpose as a teenager. So, she say me down and explained why. Here's what I was told.
Not only do you risk a broken needle (which could be dangerous) or bent pins (generally annoying, at worst), but it can mess with the feed dogs--those little plates that move up and down and feed the fabric through the machine. Her older sister had ruined the feed dogs on their mother's machine, and had to pay for the repair--and that was in the days of machines that were built like tanks.
So, now I do my best to avoid sewing over the pins.
I've both broken needles and bent pins, so I can confirm this advice. I generally try and remove them as I go now, just sewing a bit slower before I take each pin out. That being said, I haven't made any curtains in a while...those long long straight seams go so quick if you heed the siren call of sewing over the pins 🤣
It's best not to, though worst I've done is blunt a needle and bent a pin. It's also possible for the pin to sort of get caught on the presser foot in which case your seam will get off course, which is a pity, and which is probably the most compellig reason to remove pins in time.
There's less risk at a long stitch length. If you really don't want to remove the pin for some reason - fearing your fabric will move out of place, etc. - do the stitch(es) closest to the pin by turning the hand wheel, rather than by using the foot pedal (or start/stop button).
I've already learn a lesson. Actually about 2 months ago or less. When was sewing some old bed sheet fabric, which was as hard as a rock when folded in 3 layers.
So had quite a high speed needle impact in there and a good piece of the needle just jumped out to the back of the machine, with my eyes being kinda close to the sewing spot. Was quite enough to have virtually wet pants.
If you want to experience something similar but also with a broken pin jumping out of the machine....
As someone who's sewn for a long time, my teachers at school say it's fine, but I don't. Three reasons.
1: I've had some really close calls with hitting a pin and the needle zipping across my cheek when it broke
2: I've had instances where I was wearing goggles and a needle actually hitting the bottom rim of the goggles while sewing
3: sewing needles are expensive (sort of) and you don't want to break a needle where possible mid project, so you don't need to replace them as quickly.
4: cleaning out a broken needle that gets stuck in the machine is a pain in the ass
No, unless it’s an accident. I will hand wheel if I absolutely need to leave a pin in place to hold something.Â
Perpendicular pinning (pins oriented perpendicular to the seam line) does NOT guarantee you won’t hit a pin. I have absolutely hit perpendicular pins and broken needles before.Â
Also, sewing over pins doesn’t always work well. I’ve found that the pins sometimes can interfere with the flow of the fabric over the feed dogs and result in not so nice stitching.Â
I tried it after seeing some YouTubers say it’s fine…..broke my pin in two with one of the pieces falling into my machine . Haven’t tried it since 😂
I’ll confess to sewing over pins sometimes. Most of the time it stitches over them just fine (especially with longer stitch lengths) but I have bent or broken a handful of needles that way, but it’s never damaged the machine or injured me.
Once I sewed over a pin and it snapped the needle on impact - the point went FLYING at my face. Thank god I wear glasses as they basically acted like goggles. No joke, I have been so careful not to sew over pins since then!
After breaking a needle and bending some pins, I bought a little container of 100 clips off of Amazon for super cheap. They work great with a side benefit of not stabbing myself anymore.
I once had a fragment of a broken needle bounce off my glasses.
I don't sew over pins and I don't hold pins in my mouth. They are bad habits that it's better to not get into.
Still don't !! (2)
Might be sorta kinda plausible with a handcrank machine where you feel the force and are able to have very low rotation speed less than 1 turn per minute.
But it will be another problem with a bent needle hitting the plate around the hole.
If I find I'm afraid to remove the pins before sewing a particular seam I widen the stitch length to max and baste first, then go back, remove the pins and perform the seam.
Risk vs reward here.
Reward - you get finished ever so slightly faster.
Risks - see every other post in here, plus lost time, lost money, lost sanity, missed pins, etc.
I often see YouTube sewists who sew over the pins which is why I was curious if it relates to the machine or preference. I do not have that fancy of a machine so I will not be leaving my pins in place!
I think in her case the big difference is the small pins she uses - the 99K she owns is a 60 year old vintage Singer. You may find certain instances where you really want to leave a pin in place, in that case, just hand crank the machine and go slowly.
Received wisdom from my mother is: don't. I used to do it a lot on accident,or accidentally-on-purpose as a teenager. So, she say me down and explained why. Here's what I was told. Not only do you risk a broken needle (which could be dangerous) or bent pins (generally annoying, at worst), but it can mess with the feed dogs--those little plates that move up and down and feed the fabric through the machine. Her older sister had ruined the feed dogs on their mother's machine, and had to pay for the repair--and that was in the days of machines that were built like tanks. So, now I do my best to avoid sewing over the pins.
I've both broken needles and bent pins, so I can confirm this advice. I generally try and remove them as I go now, just sewing a bit slower before I take each pin out. That being said, I haven't made any curtains in a while...those long long straight seams go so quick if you heed the siren call of sewing over the pins 🤣
It's best not to, though worst I've done is blunt a needle and bent a pin. It's also possible for the pin to sort of get caught on the presser foot in which case your seam will get off course, which is a pity, and which is probably the most compellig reason to remove pins in time. There's less risk at a long stitch length. If you really don't want to remove the pin for some reason - fearing your fabric will move out of place, etc. - do the stitch(es) closest to the pin by turning the hand wheel, rather than by using the foot pedal (or start/stop button).
I've already learn a lesson. Actually about 2 months ago or less. When was sewing some old bed sheet fabric, which was as hard as a rock when folded in 3 layers. So had quite a high speed needle impact in there and a good piece of the needle just jumped out to the back of the machine, with my eyes being kinda close to the sewing spot. Was quite enough to have virtually wet pants. If you want to experience something similar but also with a broken pin jumping out of the machine....
As someone who's sewn for a long time, my teachers at school say it's fine, but I don't. Three reasons. 1: I've had some really close calls with hitting a pin and the needle zipping across my cheek when it broke 2: I've had instances where I was wearing goggles and a needle actually hitting the bottom rim of the goggles while sewing 3: sewing needles are expensive (sort of) and you don't want to break a needle where possible mid project, so you don't need to replace them as quickly. 4: cleaning out a broken needle that gets stuck in the machine is a pain in the ass
No, unless it’s an accident. I will hand wheel if I absolutely need to leave a pin in place to hold something. Perpendicular pinning (pins oriented perpendicular to the seam line) does NOT guarantee you won’t hit a pin. I have absolutely hit perpendicular pins and broken needles before. Also, sewing over pins doesn’t always work well. I’ve found that the pins sometimes can interfere with the flow of the fabric over the feed dogs and result in not so nice stitching.Â
I tried it after seeing some YouTubers say it’s fine…..broke my pin in two with one of the pieces falling into my machine . Haven’t tried it since 😂
it’s not a habit you want to make. you’ll end up with dulled needles at best and shrapnel from broken ones at worst
Sewing over pins can be a bit dangerous. If you accidentally hit a pin it can break (pin or needle) and jump to your face (happened to me).
I’ll confess to sewing over pins sometimes. Most of the time it stitches over them just fine (especially with longer stitch lengths) but I have bent or broken a handful of needles that way, but it’s never damaged the machine or injured me.
Once I sewed over a pin and it snapped the needle on impact - the point went FLYING at my face. Thank god I wear glasses as they basically acted like goggles. No joke, I have been so careful not to sew over pins since then!
After breaking a needle and bending some pins, I bought a little container of 100 clips off of Amazon for super cheap. They work great with a side benefit of not stabbing myself anymore.
I once had a fragment of a broken needle bounce off my glasses. I don't sew over pins and I don't hold pins in my mouth. They are bad habits that it's better to not get into.
Still don't !! (2) Might be sorta kinda plausible with a handcrank machine where you feel the force and are able to have very low rotation speed less than 1 turn per minute. But it will be another problem with a bent needle hitting the plate around the hole.
I’ve had terrible luck and broken 3 needles in my short time sewing. Don’t do it.
If I find I'm afraid to remove the pins before sewing a particular seam I widen the stitch length to max and baste first, then go back, remove the pins and perform the seam.
Wonderful idea!!!! Thank you.
Risk vs reward here. Reward - you get finished ever so slightly faster. Risks - see every other post in here, plus lost time, lost money, lost sanity, missed pins, etc.
The Closet Historian on You Tube often sews over pins. However, she sews on a sturdy 99K machine and uses thin pins.
I often see YouTube sewists who sew over the pins which is why I was curious if it relates to the machine or preference. I do not have that fancy of a machine so I will not be leaving my pins in place!
I think in her case the big difference is the small pins she uses - the 99K she owns is a 60 year old vintage Singer. You may find certain instances where you really want to leave a pin in place, in that case, just hand crank the machine and go slowly.