Safety pins
Safety pins for sewing, tagging and holding fabric
Steel safety pins from 19 to 57 mm long: Prym steel pins in sizes 3/0 to 4, silver safety pins in sizes 0 to 4, and gold-tone safety pins. Buy them individually or by the box of 500 or 1,000 pins – for sewing workshops, dry cleaners, studios and home use.
Products: 11
What is a safety pin and how is it built
A safety pin is a single piece of metal wire bent into two arms. One arm ends in a point, and the other in a closed clasp that the point locks into. At the base there is a spring coil that pushes the arms towards each other and keeps the pin closed. The clasp covers the point, so the pin doesn't open by itself and doesn't prick while worn. The design was patented by the American Walter Hunt in 1849, and the basic structure has remained almost unchanged to this day.
Size number and length: how to read the sizes
Safety pins are sold by size number, but not all manufacturers number them the same way. So always compare by the length in millimetres. In the Prym series sold in boxes of 1000, the breakdown is:
Size 3/0: 19 mm
Size 2/0: 23 mm
Size 0: 27 mm
Size 1: 34 mm
Size 2: 38 mm
Size 3: 50 mm
Size 4: 57 mm
With other manufacturers, size 0 may be 23 mm and size 1 may be 27 mm. When topping up existing stock or ordering a large quantity, check the length, not just the number.
Which size suits which job
19 to 23 mm: tagging garments at laundries and dry cleaners, attaching labels and notes, temporary repairs on fine fabrics and evening wear.
27 to 34 mm: the everyday size. Holding pattern pieces together, temporarily closing a hem or a placket, and threading thin elastic.
38 mm: threading elastic and cord through a casing, holding quilt layers together before sewing, and folding hems on medium-weight fabrics.
50 to 57 mm: thick fabrics such as denim, wool and fleece, blankets and covers, threading wide elastic, and hanging tags and signs on heavy fabric.
Prym pins, silver pins and gold pins
Prym pins are made of steel with an anti-rust coating, with a polished point that passes through fabric without pulling threads, and a clasp without sharp edges that catch on the weave. The spring is balanced, so the pin opens and closes easily and doesn't loosen after repeated use. The silver pins in sizes 0 to 4 suit everyday work and tagging in bulk. The gold-tone pins are chosen when the pin stays visible: on a dress, a scarf, a costume or packaging.
Single pins or a full box
The pins can be bought individually or in a full box: 1000 pins in the Prym boxes, and 500 or 1000 in the silver series, depending on the size. A full box suits sewing workshops, laundries and dry cleaners, costume studios, race organisers pinning on bib numbers, and kindergartens. For wholesale orders: phone 03-9444226 or WhatsApp 055-2473993.
Common mistakes
Choosing by size number only, without checking the length in millimetres.
A long, thick pin in a delicate fabric such as silk or chiffon. The hole stays in the fabric. For delicate fabric, choose a short pin or a fine sewing pin.
Leaving pins in a garment in the wash. Even a coated pin can leave a stain on wet fabric.
Forcing the pin open sideways. The spring gets bent, and the point no longer locks into the clasp.
More pins and sewing supplies
For precise pinning of patterns, see steel sewing pins, and for working with a large, easy-to-grip head, pearl-head and jewel-head pins. All types of pins are gathered in pins; the rest of the tools are in sewing accessories and sewing equipment.
Related guide: Types of sewing pins: steel, pearl-head, safety pins and what suits a dress form
Frequently asked questions
What is the length of a size 2 safety pin?
At Prym size 2 is 38 mm. The full series: 3/0 is 19 mm, 2/0 is 23 mm, 0 is 27 mm, 1 is 34 mm, 2 is 38 mm, 3 is 50 mm and 4 is 57 mm. At other manufacturers the numbering may differ, so compare by millimeters.
Which safety pin suits threading elastic?
38 to 57 mm, depending on the width of the elastic. For narrow elastic, a 27 to 38 mm pin is enough. For wide elastic, choose 50 or 57 mm, which does not turn around inside the casing and does not open along the way.
Can I buy safety pins individually?
Yes. The pins are sold individually, and you can also buy a whole box of 500 or 1000 pins, depending on the model and size.
How many pins are in the box?
Prym boxes contain 1000 pins. In the silver series there are 1000 pins per box in sizes 0 and 2, and 500 pins per box in size 4.
What is the difference between hardened steel and regular steel in a safety pin?
Hardened steel has undergone a treatment that hardens it. The pin keeps its shape, the spring doesn't tire quickly, and the point stays sharp even after many openings and closings.
Do safety pins rust?
Prym pins have an anti-rust coating. Still, any steel pin may rust in humidity over time. Keep them in a closed, dry box, and do not leave them in a wet garment.
Which safety pins suit labeling in a laundry?
Small pins of 19 to 23 mm. They leave a small hole, hold a note or a tag, and go easily into hems and seams.
What is the difference between a safety pin and a sewing pin?
A sewing pin is a straight, open pin for temporary pinning before sewing. A safety pin closes and the point locks into the cap, so it stays in place even when the garment is in motion.
Are there safety pins in gold?
Yes, there are safety pins in a gold shade, per unit or in a box. Choose them when the pin is visible, for example on a dress, a scarf, a costume or gift wrapping.
Can I buy safety pins wholesale?
Yes. We supply whole boxes and quantities for sewing workshops, laundries, stores and events. For wholesale orders: phone 03-9444226 or WhatsApp 055-2473993.