Howe obtained a patent for his machine in June of 1832. Howe enlisted the help of a printer press designer named Robert Hoe. After watching the inmate/patients at the New York Alms House laboriously make pins by hand, he began to explore ideas for a pin-making machine. In spite of not having an official claim to this invention, the pins manufactured in Slocum's Poughkeepsie, New York factory became known as Poughkeepsie pins.Ī physician by profession, Howe also liked to tinker with machinery. American Samuel Slocum also invented a similar machine but did not patent it. In the early to mid-1800s, American inventors Seth Hunt and John Ireland Howe and British inventors Lemuel Wright and Daniel Foote-Taylor patented machines that produced pins with a solid head from a single piece of wire. These early pin factories produced just under 5,000 pins per day.Īttaching the heads presented a particular challenge. At the end of the process, the pins were polished and inserted into paper packets. In his book, Wealth of Nations, published in 1776, Smith described how one worker drew out the wire, another straightened it, a third cut the wire, the fourth sharpened one end, and another worker ground the opposite end for the attachment of the head. A "paper of pins" became a familiar cultural phrase, signifying the possessions of the simplest nature.Īt the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century, noted economist Adam Smith employed the imagery of a pin factory as the perfect example of the intricate division of labor. Descriptions of a tailor's equipment from Spanish books dating back to this period included the mention of pins. The craft of tailoring was also well-established by this time. The use of iron wire, still applied during modern times, began as early as the fifteenth century in France. The clothes of medieval Europeans were adorned with pins of many materials including bone, ivory, silver, gold, and brass. In ancient Egypt, pins were crafted of bronze with decorative heads. Since their ancient beginnings, human beings have devised methods for securing cloth together. It is used to fasten pieces of cloth or paper together. It’s deep enough for all the pins I need for a pin fitting and other sewing projects.A straight pin is a small length of stiff wire with a head at one end and a point at the other end. It’s a beautiful alternative to plastic or metal. I love the classic shape and the weighty feel. My absolute favorite straight pin holder is my vintage ironstone bowl (above). My vintage white ironstone bowl pin holder. This holder stays out of the way and makes a good catch all for stray pins and clips. The weighted magnet bottom clings tightly to my metal machine. I also use this magnetic stainless steel bowl to store pins on top of my industrial sewing machine. The magnet is only on top and is super strong. This pin holder is compact in size yet holds a lot of pins. That way the pins don’t spill over in my travel kit, or go flying across my customer’s living room floor if I happen to knock the holder off the sofa.īlue Feather PinPal (shown above) does the job. Therefore, it’s important to use a strong pin that doesn’t bend easily going in at different angles with a little pressure.īlue Feather PinPal magnetic straight pin holder.įor example, I like using a magnetic holder if I’m traveling to a customer’s home to pin fit. You will be pinning not only straight seam lines but also around curves and hard-to-reach places.
The pin should be sharp enough to easily insert through 2 to 4 layers of fabric. Head: Ball style is best for gripping and pushing the pin.Tip: Sharp is a must - avoid ball points.Pinning a slipcover requires a strong, sharp straight pin that’s not too long or too short and not too thin or too thick.
Pin fitting in progress for blue denim chair slipcover. Sharp? Oh, yes! But they are not made to pierce and hold multiple layers of denim or canvas. Quilting pins are too thin, too long, and bend too easily. Too much struggle! That type of pin is not a good match for slipcover making. I remember using quilting straight pins for my first several pin fittings. The Slipcover Maker pin fitting a wingback chair. There are straight pins sized and shaped for quilters, dressmakers, crafters, bridal gown makers, and even for applique and sequin arts. Length, thickness, strength, tip and the type of head dictate the pin’s purpose. When I first started making custom covers little did I know there were so many types of pins!Įach type of pin is designed for a specific use. The right sewing tools make all the difference when making a slipcover.
I’ve tested a lot of sewing pins over the years and found one type that works best for pinning multiple layers of fabric together with a good hold. Strong, sharp straight pins are a must-have for pin fitting a slipcover.
0 kommentar(er)
