To Pin or To Clip: That Is the Question!

If you are planning on sewing many different craft projects, you need to invest in some sewing gadgets. One of the most common notions used in all areas of sewing is sewing pins. 

However, if you choose not to use pins, what other options do you have? Sewing clips enter stage left. You can use these small clips for a wide variety of projects, and in this post, we will see the battle between sewing clips vs. pins. Hopefully, by the end, you will be able to figure out which is best for you and your projects. 

What Are Sewing Clips Used For?

Before we jump into comparing pins and clips, let’s first observe how you can use sewing clips in your everyday sewing projects. This shortlist will give you an idea of how you can use these clips.

• Hold binding in place for sewing on quilts and blankets.
• Hold bias tape in place for garment making.
• Clip different pieces together for bag construction.
• Clip straps into place on a bag to figure out the proper length.
• They can hold thick fabrics together for various sewing projects like DIY stuffed animals. 

What Are Sewing Pins Used For?

Now that we know a few projects you can use clips for let’s look at a few techniques that you can use sewing pins to achieve. Pins for sewing are the traditional option, which will be reflected in this compilation.

• Pin a paper pattern to the fabric for cutting the pattern pieces out correctly.
• Hold layers of fabric together for piecing, such as quilt block construction.
• Hold trim in place for garment making.
• Pin applique pieces in place for either hand or machine sewing.
• Pin layers of fabric to hold them perfectly in place for a curve.

Are Clips Better Than Pins for Sewing?

The question we’ve all been waiting for, right? Drum rolls, please? The answer to this hot debate and the battle of the century: sewing pins vs. clips, is…

Yes.

And no.

Whether one is better than the other will depend on what type of project you are working on and your personal preference. There are specific projects that work better with clips and vice versa. We will go over those, and I will teach you some of the tips and tricks I have learned in my years of quilting and sewing.

Sewing Clips vs. Pins: Which Do You Choose?

There is no cut-and-dry rule that states, “When doing (fill in the blank), you should use pins, and when doing (fill in the other blank), you should use clips.” Since sewing is an art form, there are many ways to achieve beautiful results. 

In this section, I will break down the pros and cons of clips and pins. This should shed some light on what projects will work best. However, I will always encourage you to figure out what works for YOU! Let’s do it!

Sewing Clips

Sewing clips are a newer notion, and some people may be hesitant to use them, but I would encourage any sewist to get at least a small pack of them to try out. They are more common in the quilting community, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them for applications. 

Here are the pros and cons of using sewing clips for your sewing needs without further ado.

Pros

• They have a robust spring mechanism that will help hold the fabric securely, even if you have to move the project around.
• They have a flat side that allows you to move the fabric through the sewing machine without the clips getting stuck on the lip of the table or sewing machine bed.
• You can’t get pricked or poked by a sewing clip. This will help you avoid the pain of the poke and the rare (yet frustrating) drop of blood that may fall onto your fabric. 
• Unlike pins, you won’t get puckering where the clip touches the fabric.
• You can use clips with thicker fabric like suede and leather without poking holes. 
• Great for attaching quilt binding, zippers, and other trim notions. 

Cons

• More expensive than pins.
• They don’t work great for curves since the fabric can shift when sewing a curve.
• Clips can weigh the fabric down which is not ideal if you work with stretchy fabrics.
• You can only use it on the edges of the fabric. 
• Only come in a couple of different size options.
• Must remove before sewing the seam.

Sewing Pins

Unlike clips, sewing pins have been around for centuries and show up in almost every type of sewing. They come in all shapes and sizes and have many uses, from holding the fabric in place for piecing to basting the layers of a quilt sandwich. I wrote an entire post on the different types of sewing pins that you can read here. 

Let’s go over this little sewing tool’s pros and cons to determine if they would be a good investment for your sewing kit.

Pros

• Less expensive than sewing clips.
• You can place a pin anywhere on the fabric, not just the edges. 
• You can iron over them as long as they don’t have a plastic head, or you don’t place the iron onto the plastic head. 
• This may be up for debate, but you technically can sew over pins. I wouldn’t recommend it, but I know a lot of sewists do sew over pins. I have bent many a needle and pin doing this and, therefore, do not do it anymore. 
• Come in a vast array of sizes for different fabrics and projects. 
• Work great on curves and holding applique pieces in place.

Cons

• They are pretty sharp and will poke you if you aren’t careful.
• Since straight pins are not secured to the fabric, they can fall out.
• They can potentially leave tiny holes or even snag the delicate fabric. 
• They can get bent or dull over time.
• If the fabric shifts around the pin, you will get unwanted puckering.
• They can get lost in the fabric.

As you can tell in the pros and cons lists, both options have their strengths and weaknesses. Where one will excel, the other will fall behind and vice versa. I recommend having both on hand for your sewing needs and figuring out which works best for you.

I use both about the same amount, but for very different projects. How about you? Which do you prefer, and what types of pros and cons can you add?

Happy Stitching!