Blocking pins
Can anyone tell me how many pins I should buy to start with? And Where is the best place to buy them. Distinctive accessories do not stock them and I can not find them in the hat academy store.
I did see some interesting pins, has anyone used these pins they have a red cap on them,the are meant to be kind to your fingers?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Aoife Kirwan
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Hi Bronwyn, for blocking I use regular pins and a pin pusher like this.
Some people use stainless steel push pins but I find they leave very big holes. Red headed pins are very kind to the blocks because they are very fine and bend easily but I find them too shallow to hold thick fur felt.
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Permalink Reply by Bronnie G Millinery
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Thanks Aoife, I appreciate your advice. I haven't started the lessons on blocking yet so this has helped heaps.
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Permalink Reply by 1fi9iq6yxs6ig
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I use blocking pins, which I push in with a finger + thimble. They come in boxes of 100g or 500g - Pyrm brand - mild steel pins. I get them from a supplier in Melbourne, Australia, but I expect they're available world-wide. I like them because they're very strong, don't leave a big hole and, if not too bent, are reusable.
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Permalink Reply by Bronnie G Millinery
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Thank you Greer, I appreciate your help.
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I love the red pins. I have tried other pins and like these the best. I think I overdo it with pins, but five boxes is plenty (two would probably be enough).
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Permalink Reply by Monika Fine Millinery
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Hi Bronwyn!
I use nickel-plate hardened steel pins by Prym which I get in Germany. I believe this is the article # Prym Art. 024263. I am sure google can find them for you; they are not available directly in USA; the ones they sell ARE NOT HARDENED and thus, useless. I use a thimble to push them in.
I prefer these because they leave only a tiny tiny hole.
Best, Monika
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One of the reasons I like the Prym brand is that they are relatively cheap and, in most cases, if you put them in straight - they're reusable. I use pliers to pull them out and mostly they come out straight. Back into the box! And, the tiny, tiny holes are good too!
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Permalink Reply by Dianne Graham
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Hi Bronwyn,
I was not happy with the big steel pins, I got big holes in my new blocks. I just purchased the red ones as well as the pin pusher and have played with both, I really love the Red pins. and I think if you are blocking brim and crown three boxes would do the job. I also quite like using dressmaker pins and the pin pusher, It will take a bit to get use to, but it leaves small makes and secure fit to the block.
I generally use a few pins and then use a blocking cord. Basically a string with a special knot that slides down and tightens. I made my first one by researching knot via google (I wish I could remember the name of the knot) It works great.
Good luck
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Permalink Reply by Megan Beverley
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I use the ones that Greer suggested. I have a pin pusher from Morse-Brown too. I find that if I just use the thimble method, the holes aren't too bad. With the pin pusher the holes are larger, but it comes in handy sometimes as I tend to get a dodgey wrist (had it since I was a kid).
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Permalink Reply by Elsie Collins
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I prefer the 1 inch long steel dressmaker pins with the ball head. Any brand will do. They are stronger at a shorter length. I buy them in boxes of 100, about $2.69 each. They do sometimes bend, (cheap enough to discard) and you do need to pull them out with a plier, or the ball can pop off. I like them because they do a fine job, and the holes that they leave are very small.
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Slip not. I use a blocking cord and a ridiculous number of pins --like wearing a belt and suspenders.
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Permalink Reply by Susie Rodgers
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I use the red Morse-Brown ones and they're very good. They are prone to bending which really infuriates me but are easy to straighten with pliers. At college we were told they used to come with a yellow head and the pins were less likely to bend but they were very prone to snapping which is why they changed to bendy ones.
In terms of how many boxes to have I don't think you can ever have too many. 2 are fine for starting out with.
