Some modern machines will sew over pins. Most of the time, I remove them as I sew, but there is one task which requires me to leave the pins in and just sew over them. I've dented a pin once or twice, but never had any issue with the machine itself nor have I broken any needles. I've done this with at least 3 recent model singers. Teena
________________________________ From: Lavolta Press <[email protected]> To: Historical Costume <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 21, 2012 11:22 PM Subject: Re: [h-cost] pinning The older machines will happily sew over pins and the newer ones will not. When my mother bought her Sears Kenmore in the early 1960s, she was very impressed by what was apparently the standard sales demo. In order to prove that the machine could sew over pins, the salesperson (well practiced, of course), sewed over a ruler, the spiel being that if the machine could pass over a ruler it could pass over anything. That was her first and only machine (and seldom used at that; I wish I had taken it when she died) so it was a new concept to her. But I had no problems sewing over pins with either a treadle or an early electric, let alone my own Kenmore which my parents bought for me some years after they bought hers. It was only when I started buying higher-end and more modern machines that I ran into problems. For about the last 20 years, I have pinned each seam, basted it, removed all the pins, sewn the seam, removed the basting (to avoid thread marks when pressing), and then pressed it. I went through two clothing design programs in college, one couture and one ready-to-wear. I was taught that pins should be placed a minimum of an inch apart and for curves and difficult fabrics, closer than that, usually about half an inch. I imagine I could just hold the fabric together instead--when I took an industrial sewing class I had to do exactly that. I also could remove pins as I sew. But I would prefer to either pin it all and then sew it all, or baste it all and then sew it all. I never use any kind of glue when sewing, either adhesives to take the place of basting, or Fray-check for seams. I am convinced that residue would be left on the fabric and/or the machine. Also, I like using traditional methods, though I do modify them to some extent at need. I also, BTW, never mark with anything but tailor's chalk or tailor's tacks and thread tracing. I can see Carol's point about using a walking foot for machine quilting. But otherwise, basting should continue to work for me. I realize that most people don't hand baste, and being able to sew over pins again would have been convenient, but I don't really mind basting. You can also use a slip-basting stitch for stripes and plaids which works better than pins for keeping them matched while you sew. At any rate, now I know that the Bernina 1008 will not sew over pins, and I will not damage it by experimenting with it. I still have painful memories of ruining an expensive new machine that way, which was way worse than having a broken needle. Bad design though, IMO. Fran Lavolta Press Books on historic sewing http://www.lavoltapress.com/ On 9/21/2012 6:24 PM, Kim Baird wrote: > Of course I remove them as I go along. > > Sewing over a pin is bad for the needle, can chip it if not break or bend > it. > I find it hard to believe that you need so many pins to hold a simple seam > together. Sometimes I don't pin at all. Although curves and matching plaids > are a different story. . . _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
