Printable View
I do a lot of paper piecing (foundation piecing) and my sewing pins are getting dull. Any ideas on how I can sharpen them so they are like new? They are not that old. I've only been using them for about 6 mos. Can I just put fine sand in something? Thanks for any input.
I have an old pin cusion with the little red strawberry filled with emery( I think) anyway it sharpens pins and needles. You know the one that looks like a tomato
Deb, try this: http://www.craftypod.com/2008/07/07/...e-idea-get-it/
Or, take a fairly large piece of aluminum foil and fold it over and over into a semi-compact 'block'. Start sticking your pins into it when you remove them from your sewing project. The aluminum will also help keep them sharp. I heard that some people use this method to keep their rotary cutter blades sharp, also.
Deb, try this: http://www.craftypod.com/2008/07/07/...e-idea-get-it/
Or, take a fairly large piece of aluminum foil and fold it over and over into a semi-compact 'block'. Start sticking your pins into it when you remove them from your sewing project. The aluminum will also help keep them sharp. I heard that some people use this method to keep their rotary cutter blades sharp, also.
All so I have my Grandma's Tomato Pin Cushion and it is filled with sawdust and works real good still after about 90 years. Not sure where the little strawberry went to but it keeps my needles and pins sharp.
Hugs
Jan G
I have that dull pin problem too and a tomato pincushion and haven't noticed that it has sharpened them any. But.. I will try the foil idea....when I was scrapbooking, my punches would get dull and I'd punch through double foil about a dozen times and that did sharpen the punches! Plus...to make them glide smoother..I punched them through wax paper and that did help them slide smoother so maybe it will work on pins. Hadn't thought about that! Gonna try it!
NOTE to Karen: I posted twice for YOU. Thank you very much.
Cackle, cackle, cackle . . . hee hee!!
I took a embroidered pin cushion class at my local quilt store and they were filled with crushed walnut shell which is supposed to keep the pins sharp and from rusting. Smith Street designs carries the pin cushion fillers but the quilt store said you can purchase it in pet stores as it's used in lizzard tanks and much cheaper. You can also google it and they sell it in bags online. Here is a picture of some I made for my quilting friends.
I purchased some emery from a gal on etsy some time back. I use it in my pincushions of course - works great.
Sandy, I had heard about the al foil but had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder.
These all sound like great ideas-I may try them all. Thanks everyone!
I have an old wool sweater that I have cut pieces out of for the pincushions I have made. I use the fabric cover then a layer of the sweater then the filler, which I only had batting pieces. Next time I see crushed walnuts at the LQS I will get a bag of it and replace the batting with the shells. I also keep the wool sweater nearby when I am pinning quilts, if the safety pin is dull I run it through the sweater once or twice and it works like a charm.
haha ok so am I the only goof ball that thought from the title of the post that it was about pinterest?
Wool helps??? I would have never thought of that. I live in the land of wool. I definitely have to try that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lola2Ace
You are too funny. How the heck did you get Pinterest out of my title? LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by brittyboo07
Oh my goodness!!! I never knew that pins could get dull (even though I have experienced many times when my pins don't go through the fabric). AND, I never knew that the little hanging strawberry on my tomato pin cushion was to sharpen the pins!!!
Note to self: tell my daughters about this this!
I'm always learning from you guys! Thanks!
OMG Sandy! These are awesome ideas! I don't think we can ever say thanks enough for all the little tips you provide!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy Navas
This may sound disgusting and it is really dating me, but when my boys were little I used cloth diapers. When the pins were dull, I would run them through my hair a couple of times. Bam. They went through that diaper as slick as the lil bottom I was putting the diaper on. I still use that trick with my sewing pins. This is good for a quickie fix. Just be careful not to prick yourself.
Theda, it's not disgusting. That is one of the reasons a wool sweater helps (one that hasn't been through the steam cleaner) - there's lanolin in the wool - there are natural body oils in your hair. Another thing - I used to keep a bar of Ivory soap near the changing table and would stick my pins in it while changing diapers. The soap would add just enough lubricant to keep those pins gliding into the cloth diaper. (New mothers probably don't know what cloth diapers are, do they?)Quote:
Originally Posted by ncgrammie
Likewise, if you are trying to screw something into wood, they recommend putting the screw into a bar of soap first.
because you "pin" something that you like on pinterest and so I thought you were just getting bored with it haha!!! My bad!Quote:
Originally Posted by Deb Bennett-Jónsson
Sandy, I checked out that link. Interesting idea to use steel wool. Probably serging the seams would avoid that fraying and wearing a pair of gloves to protect the finger tips. What I don't get is why would the pins rust if left in the cushion? It's not like the steel wool would be getting damp inside there. I guess instead of steel wool one could just ball up the aluminum foil into a tight ball and put that inside instead. What do you think?
wow---I thought I was just imaginating that my pins were getting dull---I am going to have to try this. Thanks for sharing
pfft do TOO! :icon_razz: and I even bought some....mind you only used them about half a dozen times, they are now in the back of the drawer "for when he's not up so much at night(I think hubby forgot I said this)" *cough cough *looks sheepishQuote:
Originally Posted by Sandy Navas
Oops almost forgot! I read somewhere that you can use SAND in pin cushions too, does the same job as the emery powder I guess.
Smarty pants. BTW when Babe is grown the cloth diapers make the BEST dusting cloths!!Quote:
Originally Posted by KiltedQuilter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy Navas
I still use them while ironing delicate stuff or wool sweaters. They really come in handy those worn diapers.
I'm going to try both ways, steel wool and aluminium and post my results. I'm just too curious. As for the needles in the steel wool getting rusty??? How, since there is no condensation of any kind????Quote:
Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing
I like the idea of using sand! I guess the stitches would have to be really small for that pin cushion, otherwise, the sand would eventually leak out, wouldn't it?
There is enough moisture in the air and you remove the naturals oils off the metal - the contact with metal to metal over time they will rust. I've also pinned something together and went back to it years later and it's hard to get the pin out of the fabric with all the rust.