Can you sew over pins? Yes, you can.

Should you sew over pins? I’ve talked to a few technicians in my day, and they all say, no.

Most of the time, if you sew over a pin, slowly enough, the needle will move the pin aside if it hits it. But, if it’s a thicker pin, the needle might hit just right and dull the needle. Or, worse, shatter the needle; little bits flying into your machine, around your table, possibly in your face.

What about using the super fine pins? Most of the time, with those, if a needle hits it dead on, the pin will bend. (Bye bye pin, needle is still duller, even if it didn’t break.) It’s also a very sad day, when that super fine pin bends enough to be forced down into the machine. And, I’m told, that happens. Then, that devil-may-care attitude about sewing over pins, will cost you a service call and time without your machine!

Ultimately, it’s your machine, pins and needles.

But, when someone comes to sew at my house, or if I’m teaching them to sew, I teach them the very best habit of simply pausing the machine a stitch or two before the pin to slide out the pin, and continue sewing. As an experience sewer (I really don’t like the term, sewist, so I’m going to use sewer and you just have to know that I’m pronouncing it as one would, when referring to sewing,) I can slow my machine without stopping and remove a pin. But, what’s the hurry, really?

I have throw away a lot of bent pins and sewing machine needles that go thunk, thunk into the fabric, after I’ve hit a pin. I’ve had to take my machine in, to get out the extra bits of broken needles. It’s really as simple to remove the pin as you sew, as it is to sew over it and remove it later.

Do yourself a favor, and make it a habit not to sew over pins!

Your friend,
Anne Dovel - The Fit Quilter