I also use those fine insect pins. I make Binche lace, and when the long and very fine pins went out of production several years ago, I bought every (expensive!) vial of them that I could find. So I still have a good supply, and guard them like Gollum "my precioussss")!
I discovered the insect pins were the same size, but have a plastic blob on the top. I prefer the tiny metal heads. So, to help stretch out my supply of Binche pins, I paint the tops of the insect pins with a dab of bright red nail polish. I use these strictly for support (temporary) pins in my work. I leave them in only until I have established the tension I want and have gone a few rows down. Then the temporary pins, which are easily distinguished, are removed. But, in all honesty, if you don't have access to the steel pins, these insect pins are a good choice! Certainly better than using a pin that is too big or too short, and they are mot at all expensive if you purchase them from a scientific source that sells pins to bug collectors! Clay Sent from my iPad > On Mar 25, 2014, at 5:13 AM, "Noelene Lafferty" <nlaffe...@ozemail.com.au> > wrote: > > Wow, Alex, what type of lace are you using such fine pins on? > > Noelene in Cooma > > Alex wrote > I have been using the Watkins & Doncaster stainless steel pins no.0. They > are the finest I have used and, although they are very long I have had no > trouble with them bending as they are very sharp and pass into the pillow > easily. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
