No more OUCH!

I have been working with heavy fabrics, and doing a lot of precision work.  That means  pins, which mean sore, bleeding fingers and lumpy joins.  I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and my mangled fingertips, and figured that there had to be a better way.  And there is.

I bought a big tub of 200 binder clips at the local discount store for about $5.  There are three sizes of clips, and they completely fit my needs.  I've found some other benefits besides saving the integrity of my skin.  Since the clips are symmetrical, you can't get pricked by a hidden pin on the underside.  If you drop one on the floor, there's much less danger (your pets will appreciate this as well.)  I find that they hold just as well as pins when I am working with thick layers, and they're easier to move around.  They do not distort the fabric, which is very important if you're matching patterns or seamlines.  Best of all, you can apply/remove them with one hand.  I'm hooked!  There are specialty clips on the market just for sewing, but they are one-sided, which makes them less functional in my opinion.  They won't replace pins entirely, of course.  But I am happy to report that I made one of my big "Sally" tote bags yesterday and used four pins during the whole process.