I agree -- the 0.5mm pins are the best! I haven't lately been able to find the long ones, but have found regular-length ones in this super-fine, glass-head pin.

Clover (I think) makes some blue-headed flower-head pins that are also ultrafine -- maybe even a little finer than the glass-head ones. Don't iron over them (despite what they say).

Look closely on the pack for the pin size. If the package doesn't say 0.5mm, the pins are probably thicker ones -- there are some glass-head pins that look like the fine ones, but they ain't.

I love IRIS pins. They come in a little round blue metal container. Sharp and super thin. I use them for everything. They are fairly hard to find, but I have found them in a few quilt shops, at quilt shows and through Clotilde.

I just looked on eBay and found a seller called "jenyus", all you have to do is type in the item no: 260657959507

Just to let international members know: "Clothilde" only ships within the US and to Canada.

My favorite pins are available from Clotilde or some shops. They are called IBC Glass Head Silk Pins 1 3/8" Sharp. Super Fine .50mm Steel Shaft 250/box.

They are amazingly thin, very sharp and slide in the fabric with almost no distortion. You can sew over them, altho if you hit one, it will bend into a U shape! Even with hard use, they bend. I keep them in their own pincushion and try to be gentle with them. They are the best pins I have ever used!

And, yes, they are expensive but I am worth it! Retail is about $7-8 per box. I buy a new box every year or two, so I really don't think that is too much to spend.

Michelle

[url]forum/hand-and-machine-piecing/3101-pins-used-for-piecing-[/url]
is a prior post that members dicussed their preferences.
Hope this helps.

I use Flat Flower pins By Clotilde. They are 1 7/8 inches long, very fine, sharp, and strong. The flat flower head allows the fabric to lay flat too. Do not confuse these pins with Clover flat flower pins which are big as nails, dull and the heads fall off. (voice of experience) You will find the correct pins at Clotilde.com Item #215054. Betty Ann

Ditto for your best scissors!

And when you have those thin and elegant babies, keep them away from the men in your life, or you'll find them, all bent and with gunky stuff on them in a toolbox in the garage.

I couldn't tell you the brand of my pins. Just look for a glass head, and skinny, skinny - you can see them thru the packaging. And as Alex says, "Buy the expensive ones".

Tonight I opened a new box of pins that I bought several months ago. They are terrible. These are Collins Color Ball pins. 350 pins. Fine, Sharp 1 1/4". .65mm steel shaft. Size 20. On the back is this paragraph: "These very fine, sharp color ball pins with .65mm steel shafts are the answer to every home sewer's dream. The color ball heads make them easier and faster to find among the various fabrics of today."

This pins are thick and dull. I could hardly punch them through the fabric. I paid $8 for them and I'm very disappointed.

The only thing I like about these pins is the color ball heads!

Do you have a favorite brand and size pins?