Sewing without pins can be a challenge. How do you stop the fabric from slipping around and moving? Sometimes, using pins is not an option though, so what are the alternatives?
Sewing PUL
PUL fabric is designed to be waterproof and as such, making little holes in it is not a good idea. The fabric is also quite slippery, which means that if you don’t pin it, it’s very hard to sew it without mistakes. Any delicate fabric can be damaged by using pins, so finding a way to sew without them is always helpful. Another time that it might be useful not to be using pins, is when you are sewing something quite small. It can be quite hard to get the pins into the right place and get a good finish.
Sewing without pins
What are your options then if you don’t want to use pins? In the past, I have resorted to using things that I have around the house such as clothes pegs and paper clips. Although these do the job, they can be quite bulky and heavy, which can cause problems. I have known them to drag the fabric and stop it from travelling under the sewing machine foot properly. Another choice is to use something that holds the fabric by weighing it down. This works well when you are cutting out fabric, but it’s very difficult to use with a sewing machine. There is, however, a better option.
Sewing clips
Recently, we have started to stock sewing clips. These are handy little clips that hold the fabric in place, stopping it from slipping around and do the job of pins. Unlike pins, they do not pierce the fabric and therefore will not damage it in the same way. Although the clips are brightly coloured, they are also see-through, which means that you can see the fabric beneath it, while the clip is still attached. You do of course, have to remove the clips before they pass through the sewing machine, but they hold the fabric well whilst you are sewing. I’ve found that they are handy even when sewing things that I would normally use pins on and are a great addition to my sewing box. If you want to know more about them, then please click here.
