Pins & Skewers

Upholstery Pins, Skewers and Lay Pins

Shop upholstery pins and skewers for temporarily positioning fabric, aligning furniture-cover panels, checking pattern placement and holding suitable materials before sewing, stapling or tacking.

Livedale supplies traditional 4″ upholstery skewers, C.S. Osborne dressmaker’s pins, twist pins and pearl-head pins in several lengths and pack quantities.

These tools may be used when:

• Fitting upholstery fabric around a furniture frame
• Aligning cushion-cover panels
• Matching stripes and patterns
• Positioning pleats and folds
• Preparing loose covers
• Checking seam placement
• Holding fabric before stapling or stitching
• Marking temporary reference points
• Testing a layout before permanent fixing

Pins and skewers are temporary positioning tools. They must be removed before furniture, cushions or loose covers are completed and put into use.

Shop Upholstery Pins and Skewers by Type

The range includes:

• 4″ upholstery skewers or lay pins
• C.S. Osborne dressmaker’s pins
• C.S. Osborne twist pins
• Short and long pearl-head pins

Choose according to:

• Material thickness
• Number of layers
• Required holding depth
• Whether the fixing is temporary or semi-permanent
• Size and visibility of the head
• Furniture-cover construction
• Pack quantity required

4″ Upholstery Skewers and Lay Pins

The 4″ Upholstery Skewers – Box of 36 are nickel-plated steel skewers, also commonly known as upholsterer’s pins or lay pins.

Their 4″ length makes them useful for temporarily holding upholstery fabric and suitable padding layers in position while the material is adjusted.

Potential uses include:

• Holding fabric around chair and sofa frames
• Positioning outside arms and backs
• Testing folds and pleats
• Retaining material before stapling
• Holding fabric before hand stitching
• Checking pattern alignment
• Positioning temporary furniture-cover sections

The longer shaft provides greater reach than a conventional dressmaker’s pin, but it also requires careful handling.

Insert the skewer at an angle that keeps the point away from hands, finished timber and visible fabric surfaces.

Do not leave skewers concealed inside completed furniture.

Using Upholstery Skewers

Before inserting a skewer:

1. Position the fabric approximately.
2. Check the grain, pattern or pile direction.
3. Smooth the material without overstretching it.
4. Insert the skewer through suitable concealed layers.
5. Recheck the shape and alignment.
6. Make adjustments before permanent fixing.
7. Remove the skewer as the fabric is stapled, tacked or sewn.

Skewers are particularly useful during trial fitting because they can normally be repositioned more easily than permanent staples or upholstery tacks.

Browse Upholstery Vinyl & Fabric for furniture-covering materials.

Browse Upholstery Staples and Upholstery Tacks & Gimp Pins when the fabric is ready for permanent fixing.

C.S. Osborne Dressmaker’s Pins

The range includes two C.S. Osborne No.198 pin sizes:

• C.S. Osborne No.198-20 1¼″ Dressmaker’s Pins – 1lb Box
• C.S. Osborne No.198-24 1½″ Dressmaker’s Pins – 1lb Box

Both products are described as nickel-plated steel pins for holding fabric together.

The 1¼″ version is:

• 20 gauge
• Supplied in a 1lb box
• Approximately 3,000 pins per box

The 1½″ version is:

• 19 gauge
• Supplied in a 1lb box
• Approximately 2,000 pins per box

A lower gauge number indicates a thicker pin, so the 19-gauge 1½″ pin is thicker than the 20-gauge 1¼″ pin.

C.S. Osborne No.198-20 1¼″ Pins

The 1¼″ C.S. Osborne Dressmaker’s Pins provide a relatively fine pin for general fabric positioning and workroom preparation.

They may suit:

• Cushion-cover panels
• Seam preparation
• Pattern matching
• Piping preparation
• Light and medium upholstery fabrics
• Loose-cover construction
• General sewing-room work

The approximate 3,000-pin box is suited to professional workrooms and regular furniture-cover production.

C.S. Osborne No.198-24 1½″ Pins

The 1½″ C.S. Osborne Dressmaker’s Pins provide additional length and a slightly thicker 19-gauge shaft.

They may be preferable where:

• Several fabric layers need to be held
• The upholstery material is more substantial
• A longer pin provides better access
• Pleats or folded sections are being prepared
• Thicker cushion-cover assemblies are being aligned

Choose the shortest and finest pin that holds the materials securely without unnecessarily enlarging the puncture hole.

Pearl-Head Pins

Pearl-head pins provide a clearly visible head that is easier to locate and handle than a plain metal dressmaker’s pin.

The range includes:

• 38mm Pearl-Head Pins – 12 Wheels, 480 Pins
• 55mm Pearl-Head Pins – 12 Wheels, 360 Pins
• 55mm Pearl-Head Pins – Card of 12

Pearl-head pins may be useful for:

• Aligning fabric panels
• Positioning pleats
• Matching patterns
• Marking centre points
• Preparing cushion covers
• Holding trims before sewing
• Temporary loose-cover fitting

Their visible heads can also make them easier to count and remove before the finished item leaves the workroom.

38mm Pearl-Head Pins

The 38mm Pearl-Head Pins are supplied as:

• 12 wheels
• 480 pins in total
• 38mm-long pins
• 4mm heads

The shorter length may suit general sewing-room preparation, lighter fabric assemblies and smaller folds.

55mm Pearl-Head Pins

The 55mm Pearl-Head Pin Wheels are supplied as:

• 12 wheels
• 360 pins in total
• 55mm-long pins
• 5mm heads

The additional length may be useful for thicker fabric arrangements, deeper pleats and multiple layers.

Card of 12 Long Pearl-Head Pins

The 55mm Pearl-Head Pin Card contains:

• 12 pins
• 55mm length
• 7mm oval heads

This smaller quantity may suit occasional work, training, repairs or customers who do not require a full workroom pack.

C.S. Osborne No.199 Twist Pins

The C.S. Osborne No.199 Twist Pins – Box of 100 are nickel-plated pins with clear plastic heads.

They are intended for securing suitable armchair slip covers and comparable loose furniture covers.

Unlike an ordinary straight pin, the twisted shaft is inserted with a rotating movement.

Potential uses include:

• Retaining loose armchair covers
• Holding suitable slip covers against upholstered furniture
• Securing cover sections that tend to move during use
• Positioning suitable protective furniture covers

A twist pin should be inserted only where its point and shaft will not damage:

• Visible timber
• Leather
• Vinyl
• Delicate fabric
• Internal furniture mechanisms
• The user or surrounding upholstery

The clear head is relatively discreet, but the pin must still be positioned where it can be found and removed when required.

Dressmaker’s Pins, Pearl Pins or Skewers?

Choose dressmaker’s pins for:

• Sewing preparation
• Cushion panels
• Pattern matching
• Seam alignment
• General fabric work

Choose pearl-head pins where:

• A more visible head is useful
• Pins need to be counted and removed easily
• Pleats or reference points are being marked
• Additional handling control is required

Choose 4″ upholstery skewers where:

• Greater depth is required
• Fabric is being trial-fitted around a furniture frame
• Layers need to be held before stapling or tacking
• A conventional sewing pin is too short

Choose twist pins where:

• A compatible loose or slip cover needs to be retained on furniture
• A rotating fixing is more appropriate than a straight temporary pin

Pattern Matching and Fabric Alignment

Pins are useful when working with:

• Stripes
• Checks
• Repeating motifs
• Directional fabric
• Velvet and pile materials
• Matched cushion panels
• Furniture with paired arms or panels

Before pinning:

1. Identify the main pattern repeat.
2. Establish the centre line.
3. Align the most visible furniture area first.
4. Pin gradually from the centre outwards.
5. Check the pattern from normal viewing distance.
6. Avoid stretching one panel to force a match.
7. Confirm the layout before cutting or sewing.

Browse Upholstery Rulers & Tape Measures and Tailor’s Chalk & Wax Markers for measuring and marking the layout.

Pins for Cushion and Loose-Cover Making

Pins may help align:

• Cushion top and bottom panels
• Borders
• Zip panels
• Piping
• Corners
• Pattern repeats
• Pleats and gathers
• Loose-cover sections

Browse:

• Upholstery Piping Cords
• Upholstery Zips, Zip Chain & Sliders
• Upholstery Sewing Threads & Bobbins
• Upholstery Shears & Snips

Place pins so that they can be removed safely before the sewing-machine needle reaches them.

Do not sew directly over pins. A sewing-machine needle striking a metal pin can break, deflect or damage the machine.

Working with Leather, Vinyl and Delicate Fabrics

Pins create holes.

On woven fabric, small pin holes may close or become concealed within the construction. On leather, vinyl and some coated materials, the hole may remain permanently visible.

Before pinning:

• Test an offcut
• Keep pins inside the seam allowance
• Avoid repeated repositioning
• Use the finest suitable pin
• Consider clips or another non-piercing method where appropriate
• Keep pinholes away from visible finished surfaces

Browse Upholstery Vinyl & Fabric for furniture-covering materials.

Counting and Removing Pins

Temporary pins and skewers must not remain inside completed furniture, cushions or covers.

A sensible workroom method is to:

• Begin with a known quantity
• Use a magnetic tray or closed container
• Remove pins progressively
• Check seams and folds by hand
• Inspect beneath loose fabric
• Count skewers before and after fitting
• Sweep the work area
• Check completed furniture before delivery

Pearl-head pins and skewers are easier to see than small plain pins, but they can still become concealed beneath fabric and padding.

Safe Handling and Storage

Pins and skewers are sharp.

Keep them:

• In closed boxes or pin wheels
• Away from the edge of the workbench
• Separate from finished upholstery
• Away from children
• Protected from damp and contamination
• Clearly organised by size and type

Discard bent, rusty or damaged pins safely.

Do not:

• Hold pins in the mouth
• Carry loose skewers in clothing
• Leave pins on chairs or floors
• Push directly towards the supporting hand
• Use excessive force
• Insert twist pins into an unidentified hard obstruction
• Leave temporary fixings inside finished furniture

Related Needle and Tool Categories

Return to Upholstery Needles, Pins & Skewers to compare temporary fabric-positioning tools with:

• Buttoning Needles & Tufting Tools
• Curved Upholstery Needles
• Regulator Needles
• Straight Upholstery Needles

Choose pins and skewers for temporary positioning. Choose a sewing needle when thread must pass through the upholstery, a regulator for filling manipulation or a buttoning needle for deep tufting.

Trade Upholstery Pins and Skewers

Livedale supplies upholstery pins, skewers and loose-cover twist pins to professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, cushion makers, soft-furnishing workrooms and training providers throughout the UK.

The range includes smaller packs for occasional work and larger boxes for regular furniture-cover production.

Approved trade customers can access preferential pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose the length, gauge and head style according to the materials being held and remove every temporary pin before the finished item is used.