Fork Pins: The Best Way to Match Seams Perfectly
Nesting seams can be wonderfully gratifying or painfully stressful depending on your level of accuracy. But what if I told you that using simple and inexpensive fork pins could bring you success and accuracy pretty much every time?
Well get excited, my quilty friends, because I'm saying exactly that! These funny looking pins lock your blocks together so well that there is zero moving and shifting while they pass through your sewing machine. Are you ready to be amazed?
Featured in this post is the Voyage quilt pattern. Get it here in the shop!
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How to Use Fork Pins
You pretty much use fork pins like you would use regular pins, except you are pinning both sides of a seam at the same time.
- Press your seams well. If you've been around the SQ blog for a while you already know this is where I plug the wonders of using a tailor's clapper. This simple piece of wood, paired with a hot steamy iron, will give you amazingly flat seams. But don't take my word for it! Try it out and see the mysterious magic yourself!
- Nest your seams. To get perfectly matching seams, the best technique is to press the seams of your two blocks in opposite directions. That way they fit together like a cute little puzzle. Lay right sides together and then...
- Pin both sides of the seams with a fork pin. Make a tiny seam sandwich with your fork pin as the bread and your seam as the peanut butter (the key ingredient to the best kind of sandwich.) It doesn't matter if your fork pins are facing out or in. Do what feels most natural to you.
- Sew slowly over your forks pins. This last point will cause some controversy, but I'm passionate enough about it that I'm saying it anyway. If you sew slowly you shouldn't have an issue breaking the needle in your machine or bending the fork pins. However, anytime you sew over your pins, there is some risk of that happening. If it does happen, simply throw away the bent fork pin and put a new needle in your sewing machine. No big deal.
If you remove the fork pins before sewing over the nested seams, the chances of your seams remaining perfectly inline and nested drop significantly.
I even made a cute little fork pins magnetic dish by super glueing magnets to the bottom of the Rifle Paper Co. ring dish! Now my fork pins feel even fancier than my straight pins.
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See those perfectly matching seams? The fork pins line everything up and the tailor's clapper presses them good and flat. So gratifying!
Where to Buy Fork Pins
You don't need to spend a lot of money on these pins. I bought a pack of Clover pins for under $10 and they work great. My only complaint is that they are slightly thicker than my ultra fine quilting pins so I do need to work them into the fabric with a little more muscle than I'm used to.
Have you used fork pins before?
If you have, what are your tips! Is there a certain brand you love? Tell us about it in the comments!
how do you keep them from splaying in or out? I am still experimenting with them, but like them overall
I haven’t had that problem. Are you pressing them into the fabric like regular pins?
I have the same problem with the fork pins criss crossing whenever I try to pin which is really annoying and not as effective. Maybe the pins are designed for more lightweight fabrics? However, Clover does offer a sturdier version of the same fork pins: Clover Fork Blocking Pins # 3163. I haven’t tried them but some quilters recommend them. They are available on Amazon.
You are the second quilter to sing the praises of fork pins. Now I must have them. Love getting the Voyage started. BTW, speedy delivery‼
I love all your recommendations, so I’d love to try these out. I’m still confused about how they perform differently than just a single straight pin.
They lock the blocks together on both sides of the seam so zero shifting happens. Sometimes with pins the blocks can shift just slightly under the pressure of the foot.
Never tried fork pins but the idea of ring dish plus magnet… genius!! Excuse me as I further delay quilt progress and endlessly scroll the internet for cute ring dishes!!
I have 1 tip for sewing over pins. When you are close to the pin, stop your machine, and use the hand crank wheel to stitch over the pin. Once you are over the pin, resume sewing normally. Even if you hit the pin when using the crank, it doesn’t seem to harm the needle at all – but sometimes the pin . This does slow you down, but it has stopped me from breaking needles and possibly harming my machine.
I agree!
Annie Smith showed this technique in a class she was teaching at my LQS. It has been the key for me to get perfectly matched seams. She encouraged us to “walk” our needle over the fork pin using the hand wheel so as not to break the needle. I did this for awhile but learned if I went very slow I could sew over it and haven’t broken a needle yet. It works every time.
Yes! I finally purchased some fork pins and cannot believe the difference. Always thought I was a good pinner prior but these really do make a difference. Now I get perfectly matched seams 1st time around.
I’m not a very experienced quilter but haven’t heard of these pins. I’m getting better with my seams but I am ordering these pins today. Thank you so much for the tip. I love quilting but am so inexperienced compared to the ladies in my church group – they are so willing to share and help and I’ve found that with all quilters. Quilters are a great bunch of people!!! Thank you all!!!
Hi Kathy,
I have been quilting for a number of years & have been a member of my quilt guild for quite a few years. All the quilters that I have come across have gone out of their way to help me and share their wealth of knowledge. I used to think it was because I was the only male in the class/group but I also now realize it is because quilters are such a giving group of people.
I have been sewing for ages and ages and have never come across these little creatures! Will definitely be trying them out!!!! Thanks for the wonderful tips and sending you prayers and good wishes for a safe delivery!
I purchased these about 2 weeks ago after my Quilt Guild guest speaker mentioned them. They are Clover, but very dull points so very difficult to push through all the layers. I got mine at Joann, but they were in the knitting/crochet section. It seems they are made for blocking your knitted projects, so that’s probably why the points are so dull.
Thanks for this!
I love them but am wary of sewing over them so…… I pin them close to the edge of the seam with just the tips of the pins. Then sew till the pin is right behind the needle, while holding the other end to control it. Then with needle down and seam safely under foot, gently remove the magic fork pin. Takes a little more time but for me it’s worth it. 😊
I have been using fork pins for a long time too, and I prefer to press my seams open where it’s practical to do so. I use Clover brand, and store the needles points down into a tiny tin of thread conditioner. The tiniest bit of lubrication that sticks to the pins helps them glide into the fabric so easily. Before that I would comb the pin down my ponytail (a hint from the old days of using nappy pins and cloth nappies, and is still a useful hint when pinning heavier fabrics with thicker pins).
wait what! please explain both the storage and the ponytail
I think she keeps them point side down in a container of thread conditioner. Think of the thread conditioner as a waxy pin cushion. Combing it down the ponytail (I assume) lubricates the pin with the natural oils in your hair and makes it easier to penetrate the fabric.
Thanks for the tip! I’m converted already and have just ordered some. Question though: will the fork pins interfere with the foot on the sewing machine? I have a 1/4” seam foot with a little black piece of metal- a guard that butts up against the edge of the fabric. Thanks again!
Hmmm…possibly. You’ll have to test it out. One option is to raise the pressure on your foot so that the bar glides over the pins and doesn’t interfere.
I use a 1/4” foot too. Just sew slowly as you get to the foot, push pin down flat and gently let it go under the black guide. They are very fine pins so just need a little encouragement. I don’t sew over the pins, but take them out as they get to the needle.
Hair has its own natural oils in it. So swiping the pins up and down the strands acts as a comb and oil/lubricant adheres to the pin. This, she felt, helps the pin glide in more easily.
I love your pin dish idea and am stealing it. I’ve been scouring the charity shops (thrift stores) and finally found one I love.
What magnets did you use on yours? I just called a place that sells magnets and they recommended a 10mm thick monster – and that would look dreadful!
(Am just toddling off to buy some fork pins….)
I found these small things called mighties magnets years ago. They work pretty well, but are not as powerful as my Zirkel, unfortunately.
I started using forked pins and for the first time my 9 patches line up perfectly. I was amazed how well they work. I would like to fine thinner ones because they can make little holes in your fabric. Now I am making aillion matched seams and all are perfect– made a huge difference in my attitude.
I love the fabric colors in quilt that you used for these photos! What type of fabric and colors did you use?
Thank you! I purchases these fabrics from Side Lake Stitch. They are hand dyed. Aren’t they pretty? 🙂
I will be ordering these today! Never heard of them before. Thanks.
I have been using the fork pins for a few months with great results. I read about the fork pins from another blogger that I follow. I have been taking them out right before sewing over them due to my hesitation of breaking a needle or possibly damaging my machine. Maybe I will try sewing over them very slowly. One thing that helps me with great results is to nest the top seam facing the presser foot while sewing. There is a much less chance of the pressure foot pushing the seams apart as the seams are sewn together. Thanks for all of the great advice.
You have the best tips! These pins work so well! I also bought a tailor’s clapper as you suggested and it’s a big help. I enjoy your blog and you have an adorable family 🙂
I do NOT support sewing over fork pins, or any others. I wrecked my Pfaff machine, which I loved, by hitting a pin. It ruined the timing, and was not able to be repaired permanently, in spite of many trips for repair, and much $$$! DON’T sew over pins! : ( Brenda King Bend, Oregon