Straight pins: Nothing in sewing works without them. But which straight pins are recommended? I have tested common straight pins. In this post, you will find out the results.
The most important things at a glance:
- There are many straight pins from a wide variety of manufacturers on the market
- Not every pin is suitable for every fabric
- There are major differences in the quality of pins, so it's worth comparing
- In this post, you will find out which pins are, in my opinion, truly recommended
Sharp, sharper, sharpest: Pins in the test
I’ll admit it openly: practical, high-quality sewing accessories make my heart beat faster. Because it makes the work much easier. And even saves money if it is well-made and durable. In my post about the best basic accessories, I introduce you to a shopping list for sewing beginners. This is quite suitable as an initial orientation for which sewing utensils are really necessary and recommended.
Because even with sewing accessories, the rule applies: If you buy cheap, you buy twice.
After I recently took a close look at pincushions, I am now dedicating this post extensively to straight pins. It’s actually a wonder I waited so long to do it. Because, in fact, these pointy little sewing helpers—alongside the rotary cutter and scissors—are the accessories I reach for most often.
How do you recognize if a pin is any good?
Good question. Especially when you consider how little material you have available for inspection. But these tiny little things can tell you a lot if you look closely. And: listen.
First, I naturally look at how the pin is manufactured. What does the workmanship look like at the transition between the head and the shaft? Are there any visible breaking points? Are there visible seams or roughness at the edge of the head that could snag threads or scratch you? Is the head generally easy to grip? Does it feel good in the hand?
Does the metal of the pin shaft have a nice, rich shine? Does the shaft bend easily?
And, on the subject of "listening": What does the pin sound like when it falls?
I know, that sounds crazy at first. Maybe it is. But light, cheaply made pins often have a high, singing tone when they fall, a quiet "ting!". The "good" pins fall with a noticeably fuller sound.
But I recognize the true value of a pin by whether I reach for it time and time again. And intuitively, at that. Sure, such an evaluation is subjective. And shaped by the experiences one has had.
But hey, you're here at SewSimple. That’s why I assume that you value my assessment. Okay. So here is my big straight pin test. :)
Straight pins: What you need them for
In sewing, straight pins are an essential little helper when it comes to pinning fabric pieces together. They help keep zippers in place, mark notches and sections, and fix patterns onto the fabric.
How do pins stay sharp?
Maybe you have already noticed: pins that you use constantly almost never get dull. If it does happen, a pincushion made of steel wool helps.
Super practical: Every time you insert the needle, the points are automatically sharpened.
And the best part is: You can easily make such a sharpening pincushion yourself.
Soap pincushions as an alternative
A good way to keep your pins gliding is to park them in a bar of soap from time to time. The soap coats the point of the pin with a fine layer, which ensures that it slides wonderfully into the fabric.
If you don’t like the look of "naked" soap, you can also needle-felt it with wool fleece.
Which pin for which fabric?
Not every pin is suitable for every type of fabric and every sewing project. That applies, for example, to long, fine pins that fail miserably with faux leather or sturdy denim fabrics, but prove their full capability with fine silk fabrics.
In general: The finer the fabric, the finer the pin should be. It is important that the pin does not damage the fabric and penetrates the knit or weave as much as possible without leaving traces.
If you are dealing with firm, densely woven (such as cotton fabrics) or knitted fabrics (such as jersey or French terry), you should choose a sharp, sturdy, and not too long pin.
So it makes perfect sense to have several types of pins on hand.
Tip: Sort out your pins
Yes, even with high-quality pins, it happens occasionally that one bends, a head breaks, or the point gets dull.
My tip: Do yourself a favor and sort out the defective pins at intervals. And don't do it to repair or straighten them: once pins are bent, you practically can't get them right again. It's better to dispose of them and save yourself the frustration.
That, at least, is my motto, which has served me very well so far.
Once or twice a year, I sort out the pins that are definitely no longer usable. But, of course, in my normal daily sewing routine, I also throw away a pin from time to time if it has become sticky, dull, or nicked.
Straight pins: Test report
I have tested the most common pins on the market for you. And in long-term use as well. Because the quality of a pin is also shown by the following questions:
- Does it stay sharp for a long time?
- Does it bend easily?
- Is it prone to breaking?
- Does the head withstand the heat of the iron?
I tested these pins:
Clover super-fine pins, 48 mm
The Clover, equipped with a two-tone glass head, is a very fine, long, and thin pin that should be used particularly for delicate fabrics. Because of its long, thin shaft, it bends easily if used for the wrong materials.
It pins light fabrics like linen, silk, or fine satin perfectly.
- For which materials is the pin suitable? Fine fabrics like silk, cupro, loosely woven linen
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Glass head
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Is it prone to bending? Yes, if used for fabrics that are too firm or not pulled straight out of the fabric
- Is it prone to breaking? No
- Is it iron-resistant? Yes
- What does the pack of pins cost? approx. 12 euros/100 pieces
- How is the price-performance ratio? A bit expensive
- Rating: 4 out of 5
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Prym glass-head pins, 43 mm
One of the most durable pins I have had in use so far. And because of the length, one that securely grips the fabric—even with many layers.
A very sharp, well-made pin that also withstands ironing due to the glass head. Less suitable for denim, canvas, sailcloth, and other very dense, firm materials.
- For which materials is the pin suitable? For materials that are not too thick. Ideal for jersey, cotton woven fabrics, linen, viscose fabrics
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Glass
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Is it prone to bending? Yes, due to the length
- Is it prone to breaking? No
- Is it iron-resistant? Yes
- What does the pack of pins cost? Around 6 euros/pack
- How is the price-performance ratio? Okay
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Prym glass-head pins, 35 mm
The little, fine sister of the long Prym pin. Not quite as sensitive when it comes to bending. Still
- For which materials is the pin suitable? light to medium-weight fabrics
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Glass
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Is it prone to bending? Rather not
- Is it prone to breaking? No
- Is it iron-resistant? Yes
- What does the pack of pins cost? Around 8 euros
- How is the price-performance ratio? A bit more expensive
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Dritz ball-head pins, 51 mm
Alongside the Magic Pins from Taylor Seville, my favorite pin set.
The heart heads are wonderful to grip because they are three-dimensional and truly exceptionally solid. This is also quite interesting for people with arthritis.
The shaft and handle are firmly connected and are not prone to breaking. The pin itself hardly bends even under heavy loads. In my view, one of the completely recommended pins.
Alongside the heat-resistant pins from Taylor Seville and the Prym pins with handles, my absolute favorites.
- For which materials is the pin suitable? Light, medium, heavy fabrics
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Plastic
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Is it prone to bending? No
- Is it prone to breaking? No
- Is it iron-resistant? No
- What does the pack of pins cost? Around 12 euros/pack
- How is the price-performance ratio? Still okay due to the high quality
- Rating: 5 out of 5
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Prym Love pins
The currently unavailable pins from Prym Love were likely sold out very quickly once they were on the market.
That is certainly due to the nice appearance: the heads consist of butterflies and hearts. That looks really nice.
The pins themselves are so-so. They are somewhat prone to bending, are comparatively dull, and do not glide as well into the fabric. Regarding the workmanship or the risk of breakage at the transition between shaft and head, they are okay; I haven't had any problems with that so far.
For those who want butterflies, I recommend the visually similar but, in my view, better-made pins from Dritz.*
- For which materials is the pin suitable? Light to medium fabrics
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Plastic
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? They are not particularly sharp to begin with
- Does it tend to bend? Rather yes
- Does it tend to break off? No
- Is it iron-resistant? No
- How much do the pins cost per pack? Around 8 euros/pack
- How is the price-performance ratio? Just about okay
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Taylor Seville Magic Pins, 50 mm
A real hit: I first encountered Magic Pins in the USA: In the quilting and patchwork sector, people often iron with pins in the fabric.
These pins are ideal for that because the handle is iron-resistant. But not just for that. The pleasantly ribbed handle is also great to handle. Using this pin for the first time was a real discovery for me.
The shaft is nice and stable, the tip exceptionally sharp.
There is no predetermined breaking point between the handle and the shaft; the pin is well-made. And from my point of view, really, really recommendable. The somewhat higher price is perfectly acceptable due to the long durability and good workmanship of the pin.
The pin* is available in various gauges and lengths, suitable for the respective material.
- Which materials is the pin suitable for? Light, medium, and heavy fabric qualities.
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Plastic
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Does it tend to bend? No
- Does it tend to break off? No
- Is it iron-resistant? Yes
- How much do the pins cost per pack? Around 12 euros/pack
- How is the price-performance ratio? Okay
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Dritz Glass Head Pins, 48 mm
The Dritz pin with the glass head is quite solid. Despite its good length, it does not tend to bend and holds its shape for a long time. Compared with the yellow glass-headed pin from Prym, it holds it for a very long time.
The tip stays sharp for a long time. Together with the stable pin shaft, this is a good prerequisite for using the pin for practically all fabrics you might encounter in the hobby sector.
- Which materials is the pin suitable for? Light, medium, and heavy fabric qualities
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Glass
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Does it tend to bend? No
- Does it tend to break off? No
- Is it iron-resistant? Yes
- How much do the pins cost per pack? Around 8 euros/pack
- How is the price-performance ratio? Okay
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Prym Pins with Grip, 38 mm
One of the best pin purchases ever. The grips of the Prym pins are extremely pleasant to handle.
The pins are somewhat shorter, especially in relation to the relatively long grip. The shaft is stable and does not tend to bend.
Many blog readers have written in the comments that they also value the pins with grips because of their good handling.
In fact, I find them unconditionally recommendable. Only drawback: The plastic heads are not iron-resistant!
- Which materials is the pin suitable for? Light, medium, heavy fabrics
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Plastic
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Does it tend to bend? No
- Does it tend to break off? No
- Is it iron-resistant? No
- How much do the pins cost per pack? Under 6 euros/pack
- How is the price-performance ratio? Fine
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Prym Quilt Pins with Flower Head, 48 mm
An old classic among pins. And one of my first pin sets. Because of that, I have actually gained a lot of—and quite good—experience with these quilt pins.
In the meantime, I have used up almost the entire set. Within 7 years, that is quite legitimate, because pins should be sorted out if they are bent or notched.
A crux with these pins, however, is indeed the transition between the metal shaft and the flower head. The plastic coating there is very thin and can break quickly.
A positive point is that the pins are so flat that they don't get stuck on the presser foot when sewing over them (if you do that). However, it can happen that the needle also punctures the head of the pin. The plastic is thin enough to be sewn over. :)
With flower head pins, I find those from SewMate* better processed, because the transition between the shaft and the head is more stable there.
- Which materials is the pin suitable for? Light to medium-weight fabrics
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Plastic
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Does it tend to bend? Yes
- Does it tend to break off? Yes, at the transition between the plastic head and the metal shaft
- Is it iron-resistant? No, they melt under ironing heat
- How much do the pins cost per pack? Around 8 euros/50 pieces
- How is the price-performance ratio? Still okay
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Vogel Flat-Head Pins, 48 mm
Not as bad as I thought: The no-name flat-head pins with little bird heads are a good size and easy to manage due to the relatively large head.
I have been using the pins for a few years now and am amazed at how long they last and how little they tend to bend.
The transition between the head and the shaft is more stable than that of the Prym patchwork pin.
Definitely not the highest quality pins in my sewing box, but not the worst either.
- Which materials is the pin suitable for? Light, medium, and also some heavy materials
- Does the pin have a glass or plastic head? Plastic
- Does it stay sharp for a long time? Yes
- Does it tend to bend? No
- Does it tend to break off? No
- Is it iron-resistant? No
- How much do the pins cost per pack? Around 4 euros/pack
- How is the price-performance ratio? Super
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
➡️ You can get the pins here.*
Pins: Which ones are recommended?
The test has once again clearly confirmed my favorites.
I find the following particularly recommendable:
- Taylor Seville Magic Pins*: these stably processed, very sharp pins are (especially as a medium-length version*) practically usable for every material. The heat-resistant head also copes with ironing heat and does not deform. Also positive: there are different gauges and lengths to choose from.
- Dritz Heart Head Pins*: One of my declared favorites. And not just because of the beautiful appearance. Although it is fun to work with beautiful materials, I admit that. However, I lost my heart primarily to these beautiful pins because they are so stable and well-made.
- Prym-Pins* with purple grip: A firm part of my equipment for a long time and not regretted the purchase for a single day: The pins from Prym are extremely handy, well-made, have an exceptionally pleasant length, and are easily usable for most fabrics. Clear recommendation.
No matter which pin you decide on: You should make sure that they are pleasant for you to handle. What is great for me does not automatically have to fit you, too.
It is important to look at the reviews, especially and particularly for imitations. They sometimes speak volumes. Personally, I prefer to buy high-quality pins that I can enjoy for a long time rather than poorly processed imitations that end up in the bin after a few months. :)
Special: The Queen of Pins
Unfortunately, the actual highlight of this pin test party came a bit late. But that's how it should be for a real star. Found at Amazon*. Always sold out there. If they are ever available (you can be notified by email), long delivery times. But when they are available: WOW!
I am talking about the incredibly beautiful and unbelievably well-made tulip head pins from Tulip (which also means tulip in German).
They are, unlike all other pins I know, not made of plastic. But out of cellulose. That is to say plant fibers. Pure white on one side, bright pink on the other. This is how the lovingly packaged beauties, stowed in a tube, arrive.
And yes, that is something very special.
The highlight of these pins: Depending on the surface, you can use them with the white or the pink side facing up. In this way, they are particularly easy to see. I know of no other pin that can be used according to this principle. And, quite honestly, compared to the workmanship of these wonderful pins, many others simply look pale. There are exceptions, of course. See above. :)
The sharp pin shafts glide very smoothly into the fabric, leave practically no holes, and are extremely handy.
Because they are so thin, they are primarily suitable for fine materials: Silk, cotton, georgette, cupro, or muslin.
These treasures are manufactured in Hiroshima, Japan, which is known for its needle factories. Tulip also produces many Sashiko needles. Don't mix them up when ordering!
Storing Pins
I store my pin sets on separate magnetic pincushions. I can recommend that especially if you use different pin sets for the various fabrics.
The good thing about magnetic pincushions: You can use them to collect the pins in no time at all after sewing by running the magnetic side over the tabletop once. In no time at all, you have them all back in action.
But there are also big differences in function and quality when it comes to pincushions. I have tested and evaluated various magnetic pincushions. Feel free to click over!
➡️ Here you can find my big pincushion test with tips & recommendations.
If you still have a moment, please leave me a comment and tell me which pin you prefer to use. I would be really interested in that.
Happy simple sewing,
yours, Sabine
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