SPLENDID SAFETY PINS

(re-post)

I suppose safety pins are called 'safety' because the head on them, when engaging the point, protects tender skin from out-of-the-blue lunges by bare pins. Anyone who sews knows exactly what I mean; I don't think it is malicious but more a frivolity, a carelessness amongst straight pin populations. So hooray for Walter Hunt who invented the safety pin in 1849. (You can Google up a storm of further fascinating information about this invention and the man behind it.)

I love safety pins. I use them often in my designs, both out-of-sight and definitely-in-view. Sure, there is the bad rep, the "what if you are in an accident and have to be taken to hospital and in Emergency they find out your bra strap is pinned!" (dire!) warning. I guess this implies a neglect of propriety, a failure to live up to some standard. Okay. Tweak the awareness. Explore a change of attitude.

Safety pins are quite beautiful. Take a good look at one. Simple and yet effective in design, satisfyingly rounded, easy to use but not at all lacksadasical in performance once put to use, glittery in either the brass or chrome. I have seen coloured safety pins and they caught my interest but when I saw a package of black ones - wow - I grabbed them without even looking at the price!

Safety pins seem to come in many sizes, the brass ones being smallest (I wonder why). Then there are kilt pins - safety pins with a reputation to uphold. And some stitch holders for Knitting look like elongated safety pins without the loop-de-loop at the bottom end. I bet there are many more I am not aware of and the thought of coming across these is something to look forward to.

Posted on January 20, 2005 at 10:49 AM | Permalink

I suppose safety pins are called 'safety' because the head on them, when engaging the point, protects tender skin from out-of-the-blue lunges by bare pins. Anyone who sews knows exactly what I mean; I don't think it is malicious but more a frivolity, a carelessness amongst straight pin populations. So hooray for Walter Hunt who invented the safety pin in 1849. (You can Google up a storm of further fascinating information about this invention and the man behind it.)

I love safety pins. I use them often in my designs, both out-of-sight and definitely-in-view. Sure, there is the bad rep, the "what if you are in an accident and have to be taken to hospital and in Emergency they find out your bra strap is pinned!" (dire!) warning. I guess this implies a neglect of propriety, a failure to live up to some standard. Okay. Tweak the awareness. Explore a change of attitude.

Safety pins are quite beautiful. Take a good look at one. Simple and yet effective in design, satisfyingly rounded, easy to use but not at all lacksadasical in performance once put to use, glittery in either the brass or chrome. I have seen coloured safety pins and they caught my interest but when I saw a package of black ones - wow - I grabbed them without even looking at the price!

Safety pins seem to come in many sizes, the brass ones being smallest (I wonder why). Then there are kilt pins - safety pins with a reputation to uphold. And some stitch holders for Knitting look like elongated safety pins without the loop-de-loop at the bottom end. I bet there are many more I am not aware of and the thought of coming across these is something to look forward to.