The Importance of Pinning & 2 Beautiful Patterns | Episode 35

In this video, The Opinionated Quilter goes over the importance of pinning as well as shares her won two patterns.
Heaven in Ireland Pattern: www.quiltershe...
Illinois Winter Pattern: www.quiltershe...
Instagram: www.instagram....

[@susanswanson8404]

I started quilting 40 years ago. My instructor told me, when I was cutting out hexies for a flower garden quilt that the tip of my forefinger was half an inch so I should use it to mark the space between. Turns out my big Swedish mitts are far closer to 3/4". I was pretty much a slap-dash, lazy quilter. I had done a few single and double Irish chains and loved them, then decided it was time for a triple. The mess I made of that was mind-boggling! I put it away, life got busy and I didn't quilt for years. With the pandemic and being home I started watching KZbin videos on quilting and saw all those wonderful quilters who didn't pin and thought, I can do this. Sure,but again, very slap-dash. It wasn't until I was taking a class and saw some of the women piecing so carefully and the wonderful results they achieved that I realized the error of my ways. I now starch, press, and pin nearly everything. Love your videos!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you for watching.

[@LoraKrizanich]

I'm so glad to see pinning! It does make all the difference!

[@lynngallegos2727]

Just want you to know that your information and demonstartion on the best way to pin to get perfect pints. I just made some gifts and your demonstration helped make me proud of my points. Thank you.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

That is so good to hear. You are most welcome.

[@cstovold2]

I always pin! Still doing what my mom taught me more than 55 years ago!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Good to hear.

[@ccreel64]

I think most people, myself included, don’t pin because we get impatient. Pinning is difficult and time consuming for me particularly with limited use of one hand. That said, I’ve started pinning more lately to experiment with ways to make it work better. My motto is an old one from the military: “Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.” Quilting has brought me such joy, and I’ve grown so much personally through the process as well as in my sewing skills. It just keeps on giving back to me tenfold.

[@ritasroost]

New subscriber. you are perfect, I am not so picky or perfect. but inspired by you to try to do better.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you for watching.

[@katrinahough290]

Your two quilts are beautiful! I love the Heaven in Ireland!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thanks

[@KumaSews]

I am loving your opinions and skills you are teaching!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you so much!

[@lorileeb1402]

I don’t pin anymore. My original old Kenmore had no presser foot adjustment and I used to have to pin every half inch and sew over the pins or the top fabric always got pushed ahead. I can’t count how many bent or broken needles and pins I dealt with. But a few years ago I was finally in a financial position to buy a second hand Bernina and it changed my life. 😊 One pin for intersection was wonderful. Then I met Shelley Tobish of Acorn and I gradually stopped pinning and now glue EVERYTHING! Best product ever.

[@mariavaldez7147]

I started pinning when I could see how messed up my quilt looked. After I started pinning, I could see how much better seams matched. It felt at first that it was so much more work, but I learned the hard way. Thanks so much for all your suggestions.

[@ceciliaschleicher278]

Especially since you don't have to rip and redo seams as often. Since I pin, I rarely have to redo seams. Redos are because I piece a square backwards or upside down 🤣🤣

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Glad to hear that. Thank you for watching.

[@marilynbook4211]

I have always pinned exactly as you showed but I don't sew over my pins no matter how thin they are as I have hit them in the past when I tried, not a happy occasion.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Everyone needs to do what works for them. It is okay to avoid sewing over pins if you get the result you are looking for.

[@diannaskillen845]

I think pinning saves time because it’s rare to have to unpick and re-sew.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

That is exactly why I pin!

[@juliaconner5445]

I really enjoy your opinions!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you so much.

[@jobeth6021]

Thanks so much for the pinning tips. They were thorough and concise. I can’t wait to try it out on my piecing!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Let me know if you like the results.

[@NightowlBB842]

Thank you! The videos where people proudly proclaim they are "not a pinner" drive me crazy. So many beginning quilters are watching these, and when the teacher says "you can pin if you want, but I don't" it sends the message that pinning isn't important and gives the impression that there's something wrong with you if you need to pin. Anyone aiming lessons at beginners needs to understand that they are setting their viewers up for failure when they breezily say pinning isn't needed. I learned to quilt almost 40 years ago, and the laws of physics have not changed. Pinning saves a lot of ripping time.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

I couldn't agree more

[@ceciliaschleicher278]

I was watching MSQC when I was trying to learn. Wow was I failing badly. Everything from beginning to end was sloppy. It wasn't until I started watching FQS did I learn proper techniques for winning. I still watch MSQC, but only for patterns- it's hard not to want to try the fast sloppy way now that I am better, but I keep reminding myself how fast and skipping steps was a failure so don't even think about it 😉😊

[@melanienicholson2834]

Ive noticed the same thing. I do what works for me. I pin!

[@priscillalancaster3234]

Enjoyed the video. I use your method for matching points but I need to get those finer pins. Thanks,😊

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you for watching.

[@bethkoch11]

I am a pinner, absolutely. Maybe it's hard-wired in me because I when I learned to sew many years ago, it was to make garments, and that means pins. Now that I'm a quilter, I continue to pin and I don't think I could piece accurately without it. I watch a lot of quilting videos and quite often I hear "I'm not a pinner", almost like that's a better way to do things. I don't get it, but I'll continue to use my pins. I love both of your quilts, and I'm going to order the patterns.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you. I hope you enjoy the patterns.

[@littlejoan7473]

Love both of your quilt patterns. Using different pin sizes for the pin technique is new to me. Going to try it that way. I have a top on my design wall with one seam left to go. It's been there for months! My design, so no I didn't plan pressing directions all the way through. Lots of points coming together, Gaaa!

[@lucilegubbins4433]

I pin all the time - even more than you did here!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Good to hear.

[@bettybyers4698]

Really enjoy your video teaching and your opinions! Do you sew over the magic pins? I used to sew over pins when I garment sewed, but when I got a new sewing machine back in 1998, it was very much stressed to not sew over pins. Maybe that's why they're called magic pins!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Yes I sew over pins and magic pins are my favorite. I make sure they are very thin and I have not had a problem.

[@angelikaimnaehglueck]

00:33 i agree with you. But not pinning people earn mostly the appropreate results. Or you don´t see the results in the video. On middle/matching points stand vases.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Vases, candles, bowls or lamps.

[@ceciliaschleicher278]

Then you have the people that can't figure out why their points, intersections and blocks don't meet. Trying to explain that they need to pin just doesn't make sense to them

[@randylls5341]

👍

[@linetteevans8337]

I'm a over pinner! Tried the clips, really don't like them.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Clips have their place but I agree, not as good for matching points.